Schaeffer's Top and Bottom Ranked Stocks Features Baxter International, Chico's FAS, Avaya, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, and Symbol Technologies

Business Wire, May 18, 2005

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the May 18 edition of Schaeffer's Top and Bottom Ranked Stocks are Baxter International (NYSE:BAX), Chico's FAS (NYSE:CHS), Avaya (NYSE:AV), Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE:FCX), and Symbol Technologies (NYSE:SBL). Schaeffer's Top and Bottom Ranked Stocks screener is just one of the many features written everyday at http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com - the home of Bernie Schaeffer and Schaeffer's Investment Research. The information used to compile this commentary is derived from the Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard Filter. Below is a quick overview of some of the heavy hitters that are seeing some particularly high or low rankings. For a complete list of the stocks on our High/Low Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard Filter, sign up for an unlimited access free trial to Schaeffer's Gold. http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PRGLD3M&PAGE=1 .

Schaeffer's Top and Bottom Ranked Stocks for Wednesday, May 18, 2005:

Baxter International - Ranking 8.0

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) has recently pulled back to support at its rising 20-day moving average, and could now use this trendline to springboard higher. The shares have climbed steadily higher since April 2003, more than doubling in value. The equity has also rallied along the support of its 10-month and 20-month moving averages since July 2003. Surprisingly, investors are not completely convinced that BAX can sustain this uptrend. The equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) sits at 0.69 and is higher than 59 percent of all those taken during the past 52 weeks. Wall Street also has its doubts, as 10 of the 14 analysts following the medical products and services company rate it a "hold." This configuration leaves ample room for further upgrades, which could give the stock a boost. The stock's Equity Scorecard ranking rests at an impressive 8.0 out of 10, indicating that BAX may still have additional upside ahead of it.

Click on the following link to see the Monthly Chart of BAX since January 2003 with 10-Month and 20-Month Moving Averages: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13214 .

Chico's FAS - Ranking 8.5

Trendy fashion retailer Chico's FAS (NYSE:CHS) has broken through overhead resistance at the 30 level and looks to resume its stellar uptrend. Furthermore, after a brief pullback, the stock has reclaimed the support of its 10-week and 20-week moving averages. The shares have also enjoyed the steadfast support of their ascending 10-month and 20-month trendlines. However, investors are attempting to call a top to the stock's rally. The equity's SOIR of 0.91 is higher than all but seven percent of the readings taken during the past year. Short interest also edged three percent higher to 29.7 million shares, or 17 percent of the stock's total float. What's more, it would take more than 19 days to cover these bearish bets at the security's average daily trading volume. An unwinding of these positions could fuel a sharp rally in the shares. Looking ahead, CHS is slated to report earnings after the close on May 26. The Street is forecasting a profit of 25 cents per share, besting its year-ago gain of 20 cents per share. Historically, the stock has been a strong performer in the earnings confessional, meeting or beating the consensus estimate in each of the past five quarters.

Click on the following link to see the Monthly Chart of CHS since May 1998 with 10-Month and 20-Month Moving Averages: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13214 .

Avaya - Ranking 3.0

According to Yahoo! Finance, Avaya (NYSE:AV) provides communications systems, applications, and services that help enterprises transform their businesses by redefining the way they work and interact with their customers, employees, business partners, suppliers and others. Its product offerings include Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems; appliances, such as telephone sets; multi-media contact center infrastructure and applications in support of customer relationship management; unified communications applications, and traditional voice communication systems. The security has steadily declined under its 10-day and 20-day moving average since late December, shedding roughly 49 percent. The stock is also trekking lower under pressure from its declining 10-week trendline and has broken below long-term support at its 10-month and 20-month moving averages. Despite the equity's lackluster performance, optimism continues to blanket the shares. AV's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) rest at 0.37 and is lower than 81 percent of all those taken during the past 12 months. And while short interest edged eight percent higher in April, the stock's short-interest ratio rests at a paltry 2.23 days to cover. This light accumulation of bearish bets reduces the chances of the equity benefiting from a short-squeeze situation. Wall Street is also smitten with the shares, as nine of the 14 brokerage firms following AV give it a "buy" or better. This combination of optimistic sentiment and poor technicals has earned the stock a Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard ranking of 3.0 out of 10.