Zacks' Discount Fundamental Strength Strategy Highlights: Benchmark Electronics, Computer Task Group, Lifetime Brands and Ross Stores

Business Wire, July 20, 2007

CHICAGO -- Combining strong underlying fundamentals with low valuations can lower risk and increase portfolio returns. Zacks' Discounted Fundamental Strength Profit Track strategy has generated double-digit returns for six consecutive years, including a 34% gain in 2006. For the first month of 2007, this Profit Track returned 7.3%. Four stocks that currently have both fundamental strength and discounted valuations are Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE), Computer Task Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTGX), Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCUT) and Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST). View the entire list of stocks for the Discounted Fundamental Strength Profit Track at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2142.

Here are details about four companies currently identified by the Discounted Fundamental Strength Profit Track:

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE) has a very low debt to equity level of 0.01 and its current ratio stands at 2.58. The company reported first-quarter results in late April, stating that it saw strong booking performance in the first quarter derived from both existing and new customers. While earnings per share came in a penny below analysts' expectations, this was the first miss during the past five consecutive quarters. Second-quarter results will be available on July 26, 2007.

Computer Task Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTGX) will announce results for the second quarter on July 24, 2007. CTGX released first-quarter earnings of seven cents per share in late April. The result was ahead of last year's five cents and a penny above analysts' expectations. The company noted that earnings were at the high end of their guidance and revenues at the mid point. CTGX has a current ratio of 1.63 and a price to sales multiple of 0.27.

Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCUT) recently announced that it entered into a letter of intent to acquire the Gorham[R], Kirk Stieff[R], Whiting(TM) and Durgin(TM) sterling silver businesses from Lenox Group Inc. In early May, Lifetime Brands posted a first-quarter loss of ten cents per share, which was above estimates of an eleven-cent loss. Despite the loss, the company reported revenues of $103.8 million, up 39.5% from last year. The loss was attributed to the acquisition of Syratech, a home-decor company, whose sales are heavily weighted toward the end of the year. LCUT's current ratio is 2.60 and its price to sales multiple is 0.56.

Ross Stores Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) recently reported sales of $545 million for the five weeks ended July 7, 2007, versus $490 million for the five weeks ended July 8, 2006. Same store sales for the five weeks ended July 7, 2007 grew 4% on a year-over-year basis. The company satisfies the criteria of this Profit Track with a PEG ratio of 0.87 and a price to sales multiple of 0.75.

Discover all the current stocks currently on the Discounted Fundamental Strength Profit Track at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2143.

About Profit Tracks

What is a "Profit Track"? Each Profit Track is a successful stock picking strategy with proven results through the Bear Market of 2001-2002 and the Bull run started in 2003. On Zacks.com we have created these nine unique screens to offer investors great strategies to potentially outperform the market in the years ahead. In 2006, the Low Price Stocks strategy was the top performing Profit Track with a return of 56.5% followed by the Discounted Fundamental screen with a 34% return. To see all nine strategies along with philosophy, past performance and current stocks, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=1838

All the Profit Track strategies were created and backtested using the Research Wizard software from Zacks Investment Research. If you like this screening strategy, but want to narrow down the list of stocks and even improve the performance, then you should start a free trial to this powerful stock picking tool. Learn more about the Research Wizard free trial offer and our new special report "Top 10 Stock Screening Strategies" at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2156

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