Zacks Buy List Highlights: Grant Prideco, Inc., MetLife, Inc., CorVel Corporation, and Olympic Steel, Inc

Business Wire, June 15, 2006

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Everyday on Zacks.com, four stocks are selected based on how well they match the criteria for the four main schools of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are Grant Prideco, Inc. (NYSE: GRP), MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), CorVel Corporation (Nasdaq: CRVL), and Olympic Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS).

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of 33% 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 see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Here is a synopsis of today's Zacks Rank Buy Stocks:

Aggressive Growth - Grant Prideco, Inc. (NYSE: GRP)

Grant Prideco, Inc. trades at a low PEG ratio despite strong growth and rising expectations. The company has recorded explosive earnings growth and is expected to maintain a strong growth rate into the future. Since GRP last reported in April, analysts have raised their full-year estimates for both 2006 and 2007. Nonetheless, the stock trades at a PEG ratio of just 0.43.

Growth & Income - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET)

MetLife, Inc. exceeded analysts' earnings expectations for seven consecutive quarters by an average margin of 14.1%. Earnings per share grew 28.3% over the past five years and are forecasted to grow 10.5% over the next 3-5 years. After the company's first quarter produced solid results, MET raised its full-year 2006 earnings per share guidance. MET increased its 2005 annual dividend by 13%.

Momentum - CorVel Corporation (Nasdaq: CRVL)

CorVel Corporation made a new 52-week high on Tuesday, as it continues to react to the improving fortunes of the company. Currently the stock is trading above its 200-day moving average, and the moving average itself is in a positive slope. With no resistance above the market and the fundamental fortunes of the stock improving, CRVL looks to improve in price during the summer.

Value - Olympic Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS)

Olympic Steel, Inc., a Zacks #1 Rank stock, exceeded analysts' earnings expectation for four straight quarters by an average margin of 27.7%. The company recently completed its acquisition of Tinsley Group PS&W Inc., a fabricator of heavy construction equipment components. Consensus earnings estimates have been on the rise. The Board of Directors at ZEUS recently approved a quarterly cash dividend. The company has a price-to-book ratio of 1.4.

Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." A $10,000 investment in the Zacks Rank list made in 1988 would now be worth $1.82 million - equivalent to a 33% annualized return! 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 129.7% annually ( 5.2% vs. 11.9%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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(a) The S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500") is a well-known, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard & Poor's. The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs, and represents the gross returns before management fees.