Helmerich & Payne Inc.  (NYSE: HP) is primarily engaged in the contracting of company-owned drilling equipment to major oil and gas exploration companies. Drilling rigs, equipment, personnel and camps are provided on a contract basis so that the Company's customers may explore for and develop oil and gas from onshore areas and from platforms in offshore areas. The Company is one of the largest land and offshore platform drilling contractors in the world. The Company has two operating segments: Contract drilling and Real estate. The contract drilling segment is composed of three segments: U.S. land drilling; U.S. offshore platform drilling; and international drilling. The Company's operating revenues are mostly generated from their contract drilling segment. The Real Estate segment owns, develops, and operates commercial real estate mainly in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The stock's price gained 40.4% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 73.3%); 68.0% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 79.1%); and 91.9% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 253.2%). The Company is classified as a mid-cap growth company (with a market cap of $7.17B) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was incorporated on 1940. Its principal executive offices are located at Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Company has 6,444 employees.

Sector: Energy; Industry: Oil Well Services & Equipment; Ticker: HP;  Exch: NYSE;  07/03/08 Closing Price: $68.76

     Comstock Resources, Inc.  (NYSE: CRK) acquires, explores for and develops oil and gas deposits. Comstock's historic growth has come from acquisitions of producing oil and gas properties. The Company own interests in 1,766 producing wells which are primarily located in  East Texas/North Louisiana South Texas and Mississippi regions onshore and the offshore Gulf of Mexico. Comstock's reserve base at the end of 2006 was 851.4 bcfe. These reserves were 77% natural gas, 23% crude oil and were 66% developed. The Company's properties have an average reserve life of 12.7 years.

The stock's price gained 110.0% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 57.3%); 149.7% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 96.6%); and 187.6% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 179.8%). The Company is classified as a mid-cap growth company (with a market cap of $3.97B) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was incorporated on 1919. Its principal executive offices are located at Frisco, Texas. The Company has 138 employees.

Sector: Energy; Industry: Oil & Gas Operations; Ticker: CRK;  Exch: NYSE;  07/11/08 Closing Price: $85.43

      Clean Harbors, Inc.  (NASD: CLHB) , is one of the largest providers of environmental services and the largest operator of non-nuclear hazardous waste treatment facilities in North America based on a 2005 industry report. The Company services approximately 65% of North America's commercial hazardous incineration volume, 23% of North America's hazardous landfill volume, and is an industry leader in total hazardous waste disposal facilities. The Company perform environmental services for a diversified industry base with over 45,000 customers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The stock's price gained 23.8% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 7.9%); 48.3% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 60.4%); and 63.3% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 9.6%). The Company is classified as a mid-cap growth company (with a market cap of $1.85B) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 2 (Less than average). The Company was incorporated on 1980 and its principal executive offices are located at  in Norwell, Massachusetts. The Company has 4,769 employees.

Sector: Services; Industry: Waste Management Services; Ticker: CLHB;  Exch: NASD;  07/25/08 Closing Price: $79.09

1. Clean Harbors is a "PowerRated" buy stock. (TradingMarkets; June 3, 2008)
2. Clean Harbors' record 2008 1Q financial results.  (SmartBrief; May 7, 2008)
3. Clean Harbors' strong 2007 4Q and year-end financial results. (Smartbrief; February 27, 2008)

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       Axsys Technologies Inc.  NASD: AXYS)  is a leading designer and manufacturer of precision optical solutions for defense, aerospace, homeland security and high-performance commercial applications. These sophisticated solutions are typically found in applications that demand the finest optical surfaces, highest accuracy and tightest motion control tolerances. Application examples include weapon systems, long-range surveillance cameras and highly precise imaging telescopes. Axsys  typically sell its products to government institutions such as the U.S. Border Patrol, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, or to large defense contractors for integration into larger platforms.

The stock's price gained 28.5% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 19.7%); 88.4% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 41.6%); and 205.6% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 66.8%). The Company is classified as a small-cap growth company (with a market cap of $817.21M) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was incorporated in 1959 and its principal executive offices are located in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. The Company has 822 employees.
 
Sector: Technology; Industry: Scientific & Technical Instruments; Ticker: AXYS;  Exch: NASD;  08/15/08 Closing Price: $73.47

    Robbins & Myers, Inc.  (NYSE: RBN)  is a leading supplier of highly engineered, critical equipment and systems for the global energy, chemical and industrial markets. The Company operates under three operating groups; Fluid Management Energy Systems, Process Solutions and Packaging. Fluid Management Systems provides systems solutions for the oil and gas exploration, production and pipeline markets; and fluid control devices, or industrial pumps and pumping equipment, serving the wastewater treatment, specialty chemicals, food & beverage, pulp & paper and oil & gas industries.

The stock's price gained 17.2% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's -14.6%); 37.5% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 51.8%); and 73.4% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 20.2%). The Company is classified as a mid-cap growth company (with a market cap of $1.58B) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was originally established in 1878 by Chandler Robbins and James Myers. and was incorporated in 1889 as the Robbins & Myers Co. The Company's  principal executive offices are located in Dayton, Ohio. The Company has 3,233 employees.
 
Sector: Capital Goods; Industry: Miscellaneous Capital Goods; Ticker: RBN;  Exch: NYSE;  08/22/08 Closing Price: $45.64

     Icon Plc Ads  (NASD: ICLR)  is a contract research organization (“CRO”), providing outsourced development services on a global basis to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialize in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support Clinical Development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. The Company is one of a small number of companies with the capability and expertise to conduct clinical trials in all major therapeutic areas on a global basis. As of December 31, 2007, Icon conducted its operations in 67 locations in 36 countries, providing Phase I - IV Clinical Trial Management, Drug Development Support Services, Data Management and Biostatistics and Central Laboratory and Imaging Services.

The stock's price gained 17.9% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 43.4%); 20.3% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 38.0%); and 85.1% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 86.3%). The Company is classified as a mid-cap growth company (with a market cap of $2.41B) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 2 (Less than average). The Company began its operations in 1990. The Company's  principal executive offices are located in Dublin, Ireland. The Company has 6.510 employees.
 
Sector: Healthcare; Industry: Biotechnology & Drugs; Ticker: ICLR;  Exch: NASD;  08/29/08 Closing Price: $40.73

  Almost Family, Inc.  (NASD: AFAM) and its subsidiaries is a leading, regionally-focused provider of home health services. The Company's service locations are (in the order of their revenue significance) in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri . The Company has two reportable segments, Visiting Nurse (VN) and Personal Care (PC). The VN segment, operating primarily under the trade names "CaretendersTM" and "Mederi-Caretenders," provides a comprehensive range of Medicare-certified home health nursing services to patients in need of recuperative care, typically following a period of hospitalization or care in another type of inpatient facility. The VN services are often provided to patients in lieu of additional care in other settings, such as long term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.

The stock's price gained 48.3% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's 44.6%); 98.0% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 49.5%); and 127.4% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's -8.4%). The Company is classified as a small-cap growth company (with a market cap of $318.86M) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was incorporated 1985. The Company's  principal executive offices are located in Louisville, Kentucky. The Company has 4,800 employees.
 
Sector: Healthcare; Industry: Healthcare Facilities; Ticker: AFAM;  Exch: NASD;  09/19/08 Closing Price: $39.22

  Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  (NASD: QCOR) developes and commercializes pharmaceutical drugs primarily in the United States. The Company currently owns two commercial products, H.P. Acthar ® Gel (“Acthar”) and Doral ® (quazepam). Acthar is a highly purified preparation of the adrenal corticotropin hormone. Acthar is specially formulated to provide prolonged release after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. Acthar was approved by the FDA in 1952 and is used in a wide variety of conditions, including the treatment of periodic flares associated with MS, infantile spasm, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome, and various forms of arthritis (collectively called joint pain).

The stock's price gained 17.8% over the past 3 months (vs. the Industry's -45.9%); 68.4% over the past 6 months (vs. the  Industry's 6.5%); and 45.5% over the past 12 months (vs. the Industry's 14.6%). The Company is classified as a small-cap growth company (with a market cap of $519.63M) that is rated to outperform the market over the next six months with a Risk Level of 3 (Average). The Company was founded 1990. The Company's  principal executive offices are located in Union City, California. The Company has 32 employees.

Sector: Healthcare; Industry: Biotechnology & Drugs; Ticker: QCOR;  Exch: NASD;  12/12/08 Closing Price: $8.00

STOCK GRADE (ASG): 39.02  (Average)               

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SUMMARY; KEY STATS (Yahoo)
EXPANDED BUSINESS DESCRIPTION (Reuters)
STOCK INFO/RESEARCH (MSN)
COMPETITORS (CNN Money)
OWNERSHIP (MSN)
KEY DEVELOPMENTS (MSN), RECENT NEWS (MSN) & HEADLINES  (Yahoo)
HISTORICAL PRICES (Yahoo) & PRICE CHART (IQChart)
RISK LEVEL: 3 (Average) (MSN)
COMPANY'S WEB SITE

Management's Effectiveness (Trailing 12 Mo.)	. . .	Return on Equity:	162.34%
Profitability (Trailing 12 Mo.)	. . .	Profit Margin:	61.60%
Stock's Growth Record (Trailing 12 Mo.)	. . .	Revenue:	289.18%
	. . .	EPS:	388.44%
	. . .	Price:	49.26%
	. . .	Dividend:	NA
PE & EPS (Trailing 12 Mo.)	. . .	Price/Earnings:	11.10
	. . .	Earnings/Share:	0.72
Price / Share (Pick Date, Closing Price)	. . .	Pick Date 12/12/2008:	$8.00
COMMENT: The stock's pick price (of $8.00) is under the 13-day EMA and the 50-day EMA price range; i.e., lower than  the 13-day EMA price (of $8.83) and the  50-day EMA (of $8.07) by -9.45% and -0.87% respectively. This suggests that the pick price IS presently timely AND advantageous buy price for the stock.  (Note: A stock's EMA price changes with time. SEE also: ACE'S report "ACE'S "Timely" & "Untimely" Stocks - How to Use and How They Perform" ).	. . .
Price / Share (13-day EMA)	. . .	12/12/2008:	$8.83
Price / Share (50-day EMA)	. . .	12/12/2008:	$8.07
Price / Share (13-day EMA)	. . .		Current:
Price / Share (50-day EMA)	. . .		Current:
Price / Share (Current)	. . .	Current Price	Quote
Price / Share (Historical)	. . .	Historical Price	Quote

SPECIAL NOTE:

1. Bullish biotech stocks. (SmartBriefs; November 20, 2008)
2. Questor reports strong 3Q 2008 results. (Answers.com; October 30, 2008)

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  Last modified: 10/12/14