HURCO COS INC HURC

Mar 12, 2007

Hurco Companies Inc. (HURC), first presented as a Value pick on Dec 15, has returned over 48%. The company recently surprised to the upside by 42.4% when it reported first-quarter fiscal 2007 earnings per share of 84 cents. HURC earned 48 cents per share in the same quarter last year. Consensus earnings estimates continue to trend higher for HURC. Read our Dec 15 analysis.

Updates to Previous Value Zacks Rank Buy Stocks

On Mar 6, The Warnaco Group, Inc. (WRNC) was upgraded by Morgan Keegan to outperform from market perform. Consensus earnings estimates for both this year and next are up over the past 30 days. Read our Jan 17 analysis.

The Board of Directors at Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMN) declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable on Mar 30 to shareholders of record as of Mar 16. Read our Oct 12 analysis.

Last Week?s Value Zacks Rank Buy Stocks

Universal Corporation (UVV) recently reported strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Consensus earnings estimates for this Zacks #1 Rank stock have been on the rise for both this year and next over the past 30 days. UVV has a price-to-book ratio of 1.8, compared to 4.2 for the market. The company is currently yielding 3.3% and has a five-year average dividend yield of 3.7%. Read the full analysis of UVV.

Consensus earnings estimates have been on the rise for Allianz SE (AZ). The Board of Directors recently announced a 90% increase in the company?s dividend. AZ has a current dividend yield of 0.96%. The company has a price-to-book ratio of 1.7, compared to 4.2 for the market. Read the full analysis of AZ.

GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GBL) recently reported record fourth-quarter earnings per share. Results for the full year were also solid. The consensus estimate for this year is up over the past 30 days. The Board of Directors has returned value to its shareholder base through both dividend distributions and share buybacks. GBL has a price-to-book ratio of 2.7, compared to 4.2 for the market. Read the full analysis of GBL.

Lennox International, Inc. (LII), which was first highlighted as a Value stock on Dec 1, is up over 20%. The company recently reported record full-year 2006 results. Consensus estimates for both this year and next are up over the past 30 days. On Dec 11, the Board of Directors upped its quarterly cash dividend by 18%. LII has a price-to-book ratio of 2.9, compared to 4.2 for the market. Read the full analysis of LII.

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