Zacks Buy List Highlights: Shanda Interactive, Corning Incorporated, American Science and Engineering and Metal Management

Business Wire, Sept 5, 2007

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 Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq: SNDA), Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW), American Science and Engineering, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASEI), and Metal Management, Inc. (NYSE: MM).

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of 32.2% 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 - Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq: SNDA)

Shanda Interactive just turned in an impressive quarter that took some analysts by surprise. The company has made it a habit of exceeding analyst expectations, which is a prerequisite for an explosive growth stock. Earnings estimates for this year have jumped a dime in just the past week to $1.56 per share. They rose 15 cents for next year. The stock sports an outstanding ROE of 32%.

Growth & Income - Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW)

Corning Incorporated exceeded analysts' earnings expectations in six consecutive quarters and in nine out of the past 10. The company reported solid results for its second quarter in late July. Consensus earnings estimates for this year and next have risen over the past two months. Earnings per share are expected to grow 19% over the next 3-5 years. The Board of Directors recently approved a $500-million share repurchase plan and declared a quarterly cash dividend of five cents per share.

Momentum - American Science and Engineering, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASEI)

American Science and Engineering, Inc. has been on a tear to new highs. Its fiscal first-quarter report was excellent and it even initiated a dividend. Over the past month, earnings estimates for this year have soared over 15%, and much more for next year. Technically, the stock just hit new 52-week highs, and the old resistance level should turn into new support.

Value - Metal Management, Inc. (NYSE: MM)

Metal Management, Inc. topped the Street's earnings estimate in five out of the past six quarters by an average margin of 27.3%. On Jul 30, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 7.5 cents per share of common stock. Consensus earnings estimates for both this year and next are up over the past two months. This Zacks #1 Rank stock has a price-to-book ratio of 2.5, compared to 4.7 for the market and 2.8 for the industry.

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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 32.2%. 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% annually ( 5.3% vs. 12.1%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

Zacks Rank performance is the total return (price changes dividends) of equal weighted portfolios, consisting of those stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank, assuming zero transaction costs. These returns are not the result of a backtest; these are actual returns since 1988. The stocks in the Zacks Rank portfolios were available to Zacks clients before the beginning of each month (monthly rebalancing). Performance results from 1988 through June 2007 are based on a subset of all Zacks Rank stocks that excludes stocks covered by only one analyst and ADR's.

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