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Close your eyes and imagine it's 1975. Inflation is high, jobs are scarce and the government decides the best way to stimulate the economy is to raise taxes. Nowadays, that approach doesn't seem to make much sense, but smart people once believed that the best way to help the common man was to tax him as much as possible, then turn around and dole out entitlements to keep folks afloat.
What changed this thinking was a little curved line on a piece of graph paper. During the Ford administration, a young economist named Arthur Laffer decided to prove graphically that higher taxes were bad and lower taxes were so good, they could actually boost government revenue, not shrink it. (There's an apocryphal story about him excitedly drawing a picture on the back of a cocktail napkin.)
How? Think of a pure curve, starting at zero and going to 100, with the peak of the hump somewhere in between (more on that later). At zero, if the government assessed no taxes, the government would have no revenue. But, at 100, if the government taxed all the income at a dollar-for-dollar rate, the government would have nothing either, since folks would have no incentive to work if they were handing over all their paycheck to the Feds.
Somewhere in between was the ideal rate between taxing so the government can stay in business, but not crippling regular folks. Ideally, low taxes are better, according to Laffer, since it gives more money to consumers to spend and thus stimulate the economy. In fact, the Laffer curve was the foundation of what became Supply-Side Economics.
And, for the record, Laffer never took credit for the idea, saying economists had been promoting the idea for centuries. Of course, none of them had a napkin.
Home / Markets / Industries / Energy
Friday, May 09, 2008
Zacks Buy List Highlights: Big Lots, Snap-on, Cimarex Energy Co. and Amkor Technology
Comtex
CHICAGO, May 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Every day on Zacks.com, four stock picks are made based on criteria for the each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Snap-on, Inc. (NYSE: SNA), Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) and Amkor Technology (Nasdaq: AMKR).
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 - Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG)
Big Lots, Inc. is growing operating profits and generating ample cash flow despite a difficult retailing environment. It's recently reported fourth quarter produced a nice earnings surprise. Over the past four quarters, it has posted an average surprise of 39.7%.
Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4309
Growth & Income - Snap-on, Inc. (NYSE: SNA)
Snap-on, which is trading very close to a 52-week high, declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share in late April. The company's dividend yield of 2.0% sits well above the industry average of 0.7%. Prior to declaring a dividend, this solid Growth & Income pick announced a robust first quarter with higher earnings and sales, which included 44% of the sales from outside the United States. SNA said it expects full year 2008 sales and earnings to exceed 2007 levels. Wall Street is also bullish on the company's future, pegging current full-year 2008 earnings forecasts at $3.93 per share, versus last month's $3.72.
Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310
Momentum - Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC)
Cimarex Energy just posted another great quarter in which its profit more than doubled from the same period last year. The company's excellent results were driven by higher production and a significant increase in the average selling prices of both gas and oil. Moving forward, Cimarex says its plan to invest $1.1 to $1.3 billion in 2008 in development and production projects, which should lead to a production increase between 8% and 12% on the year. Higher volumes, higher prices, this looks like a virtual formula for another great quarter.
Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4311
Value - Amkor Technology (Nasdaq: AMKR)
Amkor Technology is benefiting from the growing worldwide demand for consumer electronic devices as sales for the first quarter rose 7.4% year-over-year. The company has surprised on estimates three out of the last four quarters on average of 27.44%. Amkor's forward P/E is 8.73, well under the industry average of 28.9.
Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4312
The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93.
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.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks Rank Buy stocks and highlights those stocks poised to outperform the market. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=90.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros http://at.zacks.com/?id=91.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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
Zacks.com Aggressive Growth Stocks: Roopak Chakravarty Phone: 312-265-9188 or Growth & Income Stocks: Alex Kolb Phone: 312-265-9149 or Momentum Stocks: Michael Vodicka Phone: 312-265-9226 or Value Stocks: Tracey Ryniec Phone: 312-265-9232 Email: pr@zacks.com Visit: www.zacks.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
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