Zacks Upgrades and Revisions Strategy highlights: Apple Inc., Michael Baker Corp., Hansen Natural Corp. and LHC Group, Inc.

Business Wire, May 29, 2009

CHICAGO -- Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices. Couple that with the proven benefits of upgrades in ratings from brokerage firms and you have a strategy that delivered a 23.3 return in 2006. Four stocks meeting this screen’s exclusive criteria are: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Michael Baker Corporation (AMEX: BKR), Hansen Natural Corporation (NASDAQ: HANS) and LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG). View the entire list of stocks for the Upgrades and Revisions Profit Track at http://at.zacks.com/?id=1844

Here are details on four companies currently identified by the Upgrades and Revisions Profit Track:

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) qualifies for this profit track with historical EPS growth of 78.39% over the past 5 years and a recent EPS surprise of 22.02%. The screen calls for 5-year historical EPS growth greater than 17% and an EPS surprise of greater than 10% in its most recent quarter. AAPL’s first-quarter EPS amounted to $1.33 per share, compared to $ 1.16 a year earlier. The Zacks #2 Rank company designs, manufactures and markets personal computers and related personal computing and communicating solutions.

Michael Baker Corporation (AMEX: BKR) is a Zacks #1 Rank company that reported solid first-quarter earnings of 88 cents per share, marking an EPS surprise of 22.22%. BKR satisfies this screen’s parameters with a per share price of $38.84 and a historical EPS growth rate of 48.83% over the past 5 years. BKR, through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, construction, and operations and technical services worldwide.

Hansen Natural Corporation (NASDAQ: HANS) is a Zacks #1 Rank company that earned its place on this profit track with 5-year historical EPS growth of 73.17% and an EPS surprise of 24.32%. In the first quarter, HANS’ year-over-year net earnings increased to 46 cents per share from 29 cents, while analysts expected 37 cents. HANS is engaged in the business of marketing, selling and distributing natural sodas, fruit juices, and juice cocktails.

LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) enjoys 5-year historical EPS growth of 25.10% and is a Zacks #1 Rank company. For the first quarter, LHCG reported earnings of 62 cents, which exceeded the analysts’ expectation of 48 cents. LHCG provides post-acute healthcare services primarily to Medicare beneficiaries in rural markets in the southern United States.

Discover all the current stocks currently on the Upgrades and Revisions Profit Track at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=1869

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.

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