GTI

[setravis]

CHICAGO, May 27, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 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: Barnes Group Inc. (B, Trade), Celanese Corp. (CE, Trade), Badger Meter Inc. (BMI, Trade), GrafTech International Ltd. (GTI, Trade). 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:

Barnes Group Inc. (B, Trade) reported first-quarter results on May 2. Year-over-year net profits improved to $33.4 million, or 60 cents per share, from $27.7 million. Analysts were expecting earnings of 53 cents per share. B satisfies this screen's parameters with a Zacks #1 Rank and a historical EPS growth rate of 26.4% over the past five years. B increased it's fiscal 2008 guidance and expects to generate earnings in the range of $2.30 to $2.39 per share. Barnes Group is an international aerospace and industrial components manufacturer.

Celanese Corp. (CE, Trade) is a leading global producer of value-added industrial chemicals. The company had a good first quarter, reporting year-over-year revenues that increased to $1.8 billion from $1.5 billion. CE also raised its fiscal 2008 year guidance to between $3.60 and $3.85 per share, compared to its earlier outlook of between $3.40 and $3.85 per share. Moreover, this Zacks #1 Rank delivered an EPS surprise of 11.58% in its most recent quarter and has five-year historical EPS growth of 20.19%.

Badger Meter Inc. (BMI, Trade) is a Zacks #1 Rank company that has earned its place on this profit track with five-year historical EPS growth of 19.27% and an EPS surprise of 28.12%. In the first quarter, BMI's year-over-year net profits increased to $6.02 million from $2.57 million. BMI manufactures and markets flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities and industrial customers worldwide. In late April, BMI announced that it will be moving its stock listing to NYSE.

GrafTech International Ltd. (GTI, Trade) qualifies for this profit track with historical EPS growth of 53.74% over the past five years and a recent EPS surprise of 39.47%. (This screen calls for five-year historical EPS growth greater than 17% and an EPS surprise of greater than 10% in its most recent quarter.) GTI's first quarter EPS amounted to 53 cents, compared to 27 cents a year earlier. Analysts were expecting earnings of 38 cents per share. This Zack's #1 Rank is a global company with more than 120 years of experience in the carbon and graphite industry.

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.

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=4616

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Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

SOURCE: Zacks.com


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Copyright Business Wire 2008
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52wk Range: 11.50 - 26.09
Volume: 3,434,890
Avg Vol (3m): 2,054,430
Market Cap: 2.77B
P/E (ttm): 17.24
EPS (ttm): 1.555

Technicals
Record Price High
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
11.03%above 13-day EMA
29.05%above 50-day EMA
RS Rating: 97 

Fundamentals
Coverage Initiated: Buy

Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $2,589.69 
P/E Ratio: 16.18 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: 08/07/2008
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

[setravis]

Volume supported trend...

Popped up on technical screen - the story behind the stock: company in debt engages in selective downsizing, focusing on retention of more productive units - with improved pricing. Target of scandal with price fixing several years ago. With improved bottom line pays down debt to one half prior amount, resulting in greatly improved money-flow.

Produces electrodes used to melt iron/steel in steel production which presently is in steady uptrend since 2000. With overhaul of company, more favorable demand and pricing the company is poised for growth profitably, with the downside of prior mishaps. They will need to maintain efficiency if they grow through acquisition.

[setravis]

This stock did not follow the trend it had after earning release in previous three quarters.

I have been waiting for its pull back in order to take position.

But this time its shares never went down.  I am still waiting for it to  pull back.

Good company and I made good money bought at $14.00 and sold it at $20 before earning release.

We might see a pullback as people take some of their profits from this one.

[setravis]

A pullback...
Volume supported trend.

Volume: 1,215,649
Avg Vol (3m): 2,085,900
Market Cap: 2.70B
P/E (ttm): 16.84
EPS (ttm): 1.56
Div & Yield: N/A (N/A)

Technicals
Close Below the 13-day MA
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
1.40%above 13-day MA
10.32%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 96 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $2,685.68 
P/E Ratio: 16.78 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: 08/07/2008
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

Below are the 6 month and a 4 year chart.......

[setravis]

Earnings forecast.......
TA plus earnings forecast make this a buy. Price Objective......14


Technicals
Close Above the 50-day MA
Close Above the 13-day MA

Last Price Quote is:
12.03%above 13-day MA
12.60%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 90 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $953.11 
P/E Ratio: 4.36 
PEG Ratio: 0.372727 
Next Earnings: 02/19/2009
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

[setravis]

Poised to Pop: GrafTech (GTI).......
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at GTI.

GrafTech's beaten-down price as a historic opportunity:
Slowdown has spooked this stock down into just stupid multiples. A return to multiples even on the bottom end of the historical range will blow this one out of water, even if steel is a little sluggish in 2009.

The steel companies all have suffered recently...
However, steel inventory is down and everyone must order graphite electrodes again. [GrafTech] beat the expectation in Q4 and expects a small loss in Q1. They have done the necessary cutbacks and Q2 should be a turnaround quarter.

What do you think about GrafTech, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard.
It doesn't take much research to know that this thing can and will run big time over the next few years...

52wk Range: 3.55 - 27.98
Volume: 2,216,226
Avg Vol (3m): 2,178,540
Market Cap: 1.01B
P/E (ttm): 4.74
EPS (ttm): 1.79
Div & Yield: N/A (N/A)

Technicals
13-day EMA Cross Above 50-day MA
Gap Up

Last Price Quote is:
17.96%above 13-day MA
19.44%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 37 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $1,010.92 
P/E Ratio: 4.75 
PEG Ratio: 1.81538 
Next Earnings: 04/30/2009
Last Analyst Rating: Buy


Below are the 6 month and 4 year charts...

[setravis]

updated chart look...

[setravis]

updated chart look...
Golden Cross looming!