Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers: LodgeNet Entertainment, Ciena, CorVel Corporation, CT Communications and Copa Holdings

Business Wire, Dec 19, 2006

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com announces the latest list of top performing Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks. The stocks on the prestigious list with the highest returns last week were LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: LNET), Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL), CT Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCI) and Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA). Each of these stocks easily outperformed the S&P 500.

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of 31.8% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. To learn more about the Zacks Rank, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=3172.

Here is a synopsis of the last week's best performing Zacks #1 Rank stocks.

LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: LNET) rose 18.3% over the past week, which was more than any other Zacks #1 Rank company. On Dec 13, the leader in interactive TV and broadband solutions to hotels entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc., which owns On Command. The purchase price is $380 million. On Command provides interactive media services to about 830,000 hotels rooms, and also owns 80% of the capital stock of The Hotel Networks, Inc. LodgeNet Entertainment reached a 52-week high on Dec 14.

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) recently reported its first quarterly profit in five years, helping this Zacks #1 Rank company gain 13.56% last week. The networking equipment maker announced fiscal fourth-quarter earnings per share of 14 cents, reversing a year-ago loss and topping the consensus by about 55%. Revenue of $160 million jumped 35.3% year over year from $118.2 million, marking the 11th sequential quarterly increase. CIEN credited the strong numbers to the execution of its revised business strategy. Analysts responded by raising their forecasts for fiscal 2007 by three cents to 86 cents per share.

CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL) is a Zacks #1 Rank company with earnings estimates for the fiscal years ending March 2007 and March 2008 gaining 18.2% and 43% respectively over the past two months ago. The company was one of the top performers last week with a rise of 12.1%. The managed care services provider also reached fresh 52-week highs on Dec 13 through Dec 15.

CT Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCI) was one of the top performing Zacks #1 Rank companies last week with a gain of approximately 11.8%. Recently, Standard & Poor's announced that it would add CT Communications to its SmallCap 600 Index after the close on Tuesday. CT Communications is a provider of integrated telecommunications and related services to residential and business customers. Over the past two months, earnings estimates for this year and next are up 13.3% and 11.7% respectively.

Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA) announced last week that November load factor rose to 75.8%, compared to 69.9% a year ago, while traffic moved forward 28.4% to 449.4 million revenue passenger miles from 350 million. Capacity improved 18.3% to 592.6 million available seat miles from 500.7 in November 2005. Analysts reacted by adjusting their earnings forecasts upward. The new consensus estimate calls for full-year profits of $3.05, 28 cents above the forecast of just a month ago. In response to positive load factor numbers and revised earnings estimates, shares of CPA gained 10.1% last week and hit a fresh 52-week high on Dec 13.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of 31.8%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 143.6% annually ( 4.8% vs. 11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

To view the current Zacks #1 Rank List and to see additional Zacks Rank resources, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=3173.

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