Zacks.com Announces That Richard Moroney Highlights the Following Stocks: Delphi Financial Group, Houston Exploration, Allstate Corporation, ChevronTexaco and ConocoPhillips

Business Wire, March 22, 2005

CHICAGO -- Richard Moroney, editor of the Dow Theory Forecasts newsletter, says that shrewd investors can still find a number of quality stocks available at low valuations. Learn about Delphi Financial Group (NYSE:DFG), Houston Exploration (NYSE:THX), Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL), ChevronTexaco (NYSE:CVX) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=84

Highlights from the March 21st Featured Expert column by Richard Moroney include:

Across-The-Board Value Stocks

Delphi Financial Group (NYSE:DFG) provides group employee-benefit products, primarily to small and midsized employers. Strong premium growth for the company's two main products -- group disability, and excess workers'- compensation insurance -- are driving gains. Higher interest rates and greater invested assets are increasing investment income, boosting overall profit growth. In 2000, Delphi began constructing a more conservative investment portfolio, which has lessened earnings volatility.

Houston Exploration (NYSE:THX), a producer of natural gas and crude oil, operates in Texas and the Rocky Mountains and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Natural gas represents more than 90% of reserves and production. Production increased 15% in 2004, mostly through acquisitions. During the year, the company drilled 211 wells with an 84% success rate. Management expects 2005 production growth of 6% and capital spending of $446 million, up 21% from 2004. With around 70% of its 2005 production hedged, Houston Exploration is better positioned than many of its peers to weather a decline in energy prices. The stock looks cheap based on a variety of measurements even when compared to its peers, which tend to be inexpensive relative to the market.

Other Across-the-Board Value Stocks include:

Allstate Corporation's (NYSE:ALL) business is conducted principally through Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company and their subsidiaries. Allstate is engaged, principally in the United States and Canada, in the personal property and casualty insurance business and the life insurance and savings business.

ChevronTexaco (NYSE:CVX) is engaged in every aspect of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production; refining, marketing and transportation; chemicals manufacturing and sales; and power generation. In addition, the company develops and commercializes advanced energy technologies, including fuel cells, photovoltaics, advanced batteries and hydrogen storage.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is a major international integrated energy company with operations in some 49 countries.

Read Richard Moroney's commentary, and take a look at his complete Across-the-Board Values list, by clicking: http://at.zacks.com/?id=85

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