Top Performing Stocks for the Week Ended Oct 10

The five best performing stocks on the Zacks #1 Rank List last week were: Celadon Group Inc. (CLDN - Snapshot Report), The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (PLCE - Snapshot Report), Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (PCL - Snapshot Report), Emergency Medical Services Corporation (EMS - Snapshot Report) and Nintendo (NTDOY).

Celadon Group Inc. (CLDN - Snapshot Report) was able to gain 3.7% during the worst point drop in market history last week; a good indication that the Zacks #1 Rank can pick out winners in even the most difficult of circumstances. The freight service provider is scheduled to report its fiscal first quarter results on Oct 21.

In its fiscal fourth quarter, CLDN announced earnings per share of 10 cents, which declined year over year but was able to surpass the consensus by 4 cents. Revenue advanced 17.4% to $154.6 million. Earnings estimates for this fiscal year, ending June 2009, are up 18.6% from 3 months ago.

The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (PLCE - Snapshot Report) recently announced that same-store sales for September were flat with last year's 2% decrease; a strong showing in an industry being pounded by the economic malaise. The result helped the specialty retailer of children's merchandise gain 1.4% last week, which was enough to make it a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank. Net sales for the month increased 2% to $160.7 million.

Earnings estimates for this fiscal year, ending January 2009, are up almost 30% from 2 months ago. Furthermore, analysts currently expect profit for next fiscal year, ending January 2010, to rise approximately 18% year over year.

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (PCL - Snapshot Report) moved forward by 1% last week, which was an impressive accomplishment during a very rough period. At the moment, analysts expect earnings for this year at $1.17, which is 3.5% higher than 3 months ago. Furthermore, the most accurate estimate for this year is at $1.26, which suggests the potential for upside moving forward.

PCL will report its third-quarter results on Oct 27. In its second quarter, the company reported earnings per share that declined year over year but beat the consensus.

Emergency Medical Services Corporation (EMS - Snapshot Report) made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List last week with a gain of only 0.72%. Earnings estimates for this year and the third quarter are higher than 3 months ago by 7.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Furthermore, analysts currently expect next year's profit to improve by about 8.7% over this year.

In its second-quarter report from August, EMS raised its 2008 earnings guidance to between $1.70 and $1.75, compared to its earlier outlook of $1.57 to $1.63. For the quarter, earnings per share of 43 cents advanced from the prior year's 35 cents. It also marked a surprise of almost 10.3% over the consensus. Net revenue advanced 10.5% to $571.1 million.

Nintendo (NTDOY) has watched earnings estimates for this fiscal year, ending March 2009, rise by 14.3% over the past 3 months and 2.3% over the past 30 days. Expectations for next fiscal year are up 11.4% and 2.2%, respectively, in those time frames. In addition, analysts currently expect profit for next fiscal year to be approximately 3.3% better than this fiscal year. NTDOY moved higher by almost 0.4% last week, which was enough to make the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List.

Thanks in part to the Wii and DS game players, Nintendo raised its profit and sales guidance for this fiscal year in late August. The company announced that profit should improve approximately 26% from its previous outlook.