As business has discovered, successful methods of advertising on the Internet are constantly changing and keeping up requires expert help. There is an outfit in Reston, Virginia that stays abreast of the latest trends by constantly surveying a very large group of online consumers.

comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) quantifies behavior in the digital world, on the basis of responses from a global cross-section of more than two million consumers. These panelists have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior. They also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Company analysts use the information so obtained to help corporate customers enhance their marketing initiatives. comScore serves more than 700 clients, including Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE).

The firm pleased investors earlier in the week, when it issued upside guidance for Q3 results. Management now sees EPS of 15-17 cents and revenues of $22.1-22.5 million. On average, analysts had been looking for 12 cents and $21.89 million. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $4.2-4.6 million, compared to previous guidance of $3.4-3.5 million.

Passing through a store check-out line is no longer a simple matter of handing the clerk some cash and waiting for your change. Nowadays, the process involves an array of technical devices for identification, scanning, printing, data transmission and security evaluation. There is a Greenville, South Carolina firm that knows all the equipment and distributes systems to some 18,000 resellers.

ScanSource (NASDAQ: SCSC) is a distributor of specialty technical products for automatic identification/data capture, point of sale, and communications applications. It provides such devices as bar code scanners, receipt/label printers, PC-based terminals, pole displays, call center equipment and electronic security products. The firm sells equipment from such manufacturers as Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO), IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

ScanSource got the Street's attention earlier in the week, when it guided fiscal Q1 revenues to $546-$554 million. That range was up from prior guidance of $525-$545 million and topped the consensus Street estimate of $535.5 million. SCSC shares popped on the news and have begun defining a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Stocks frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with one "strong buy," one "buy," four "holds" and one "sell." Analysts see a 17% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The SCSC P/E ratio (19.78), PEG ratio (1.13), Price to Sales ratio (0.42), Price to Book ratio (2.56), Sales Growth rate (21.47%) and Revenue per Employee ($2.01M) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $25.22 and $34.14. A stop-loss of $27.75 looks good here. Note that the company is expected to report Q1 results on October 25, after the close.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Given the steady need for emergency and surgical transfusions, it's imperative that routine blood bank tests be performed quickly and accurately. A leading maker of systems that automate such work is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia.

Immucor (NASDAQ: BLUD) provides automated systems used by hospitals, clinical laboratories and blood banks to detect and identify certain properties of the cell and serum components of human blood, prior to transfusion. Products are primarily used to type blood and detect foreign antibodies. The firm received FDA clearance for its third-generation automated analyzer, the Galileo Echo, in June of this year.

When it comes to O.T.C. drug products, folks are often surprised to learn that a single Tennessee outfit is responsible for nearly thirty of the best known names. It was founded 128 years ago, as the Chattanooga Medicine Company.

Chattem (NASDAQ: CHTT) provides over-the-counter drugs, personal care products and dietary supplements. Offerings include such pain treatments as dental analgesic Benzodent, topical analgesic Aspercreme, muscle pain reliever Flexall, menstrual symptom reliever Pamprin and analgesic Icy Hot. The company also makes sleep aid Melatonex, medicated powder Gold Bond and Mudd facial masks. Chattem sells its products in eighty countries, through such merchandisers as CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), Safeway (NYSE: SWY) and Walgreen (NYSE: WAG).

The company surprised investors last week, when it reported Q3 EPS of 83 cents and revenues of $109 million. Analysts had been expecting 74 cents and $106 million. Management also guided FY07 EPS to $2.96-3.06 ($2.95 consensus) and FY08 EPS to $3.69-3.89 ($3.56 consensus).

If you use a credit card, the chances are pretty fair that you have done some business with an Atlanta outfit that facilitates electronic transactions around the world.

Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) is a high-volume payments processor of electronic transactions and related money transfers. It performs point-of-sale credit card, debit card and check authorization functions for merchants and financial institutions and offers corporate and government clients benefit transfer processing and electronic tax payment services. The firm also facilitates money transfers from the US and Europe, primarily targeting immigrants who send funds to their home countries. MasterCard (NYSE: MA) is a client. Western Union (NYSE: WU) is a competitor.

The firm had good news for investors last week, when it announced fiscal Q1 EPS of 54 cents and revenues of $311 million. Wall Street has been expecting 50 cents and $294.6 million. The company attributed the successful quarter to a solid increase in merchant service revenues, continued organic expansion and favorable results from an Asia-Pacific joint venture with HSBC. Management also guided FY08 EPS to $1.87-1.96 ($1.91 consensus) and FY08 revenues to $1.20-$1.25 billion ($1.19B consensus). Barrington Research subsequently reiterated its "outperform" on the shares.

When they are in the market for electrical and industrial construction products and MRO supplies, many of the biggest firms around go to an outfit that represents some 29,000 suppliers and offers more than a million products. It serves about 110,000 customers worldwide.

WESCO International (NYSE: WCC) is a leading distributor of electrical construction products and electrical/industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies. The firm operates seven automated distribution centers and approximately 400 full-service branches around the world. Clients include ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG), Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NYSE: GT) and Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN).

The company pleased investors last week, when it announced that it had completed a $400 million stock repurchase program and had authorized a new program for the same amount. CIBC World Markets and Bank of America Securities subsequently initiated coverage of the stock with "buy" ratings. The stock popped on the news and has since moved into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Manufacturing processes that were unimaginable a generation ago are now commonplace, thanks to the development of laser technology. A leader in the art of fabricating lasers for the broad spectrum of current industrial applications is headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts.

GSI Group (NASDAQ: GSIG) supplies precision technology components, lasers, and laser-based manufacturing systems to the electronics, semiconductor, medical, aerospace and industrial markets. Its Precision Technology segment offers air bearing spindles; encoders; optical scanners; thermal printers; general optics; and lasers that are used for welding, cutting, drilling, surface marking and engraving of metal and plastic parts. The company's Semiconductor Systems segment designs, develops and supplies production systems that enable the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. Hitachi (NYSE: HIT) is a competitor.

The company pleased investors last week, when it guided Q3 EPS to 16-18 cents and Q3 revenues to $82-84 million. Its previous predictions had been for 9-13 cents and $77-82 million. Analysts were expecting 11 cents and $80.6 million. Management cited follow-on orders from an existing customer and final acceptance of a multi-system order from a new customer for the improved view.

In biotechnology, corporate success is a function of approved drugs, pipeline activity and positive cash flow. By those standards, one of the most successful firms in the industry is a 27-year-old Thousand Oaks, California outfit that was among the first developers of blockbuster biopharmaceuticals.

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) is a biotechnology firm engaged in the discovery and manufacture of human therapeutics. It markets products in the areas of supportive cancer care, nephrology, inflammation, and oncology. Principal offerings include anemia treatments Aranesp and Epogen, rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel, and white blood cell stimulator Neupogen. Amgen has marketing alliances with Hoffmann-La Roche and Kirin. Competitors include Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) and Novartis (NYSE: NVS).

The stock popped last month on word an FDA advisory panel had rejected a proposal to set a specific target for red blood-cell levels in kidney-failure patients being treated with Aranesp, Epogen and Procrit. The latter is manufactured by Amgen, but sold by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). The panel's decision, if accepted by the FDA, could boost sales of the medications. Since the initial gain, the AMGN share price has been defining a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the stock with six "strong buys," six "buys," 18 "holds" and one "sell." The AMGN P/E ratio (16.19), PEG ratio (1.50), Price to Book ratio (3.73), Price to Cash Flow ratio (12.07), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (16.98), Operating Margin (32.57%), Net Profit Margin (27.35%), Return on Assets (12.65%), Return on Investment (15.02%), Return on Equity (24.41%) and Net Income per Employee ($203.25k) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 76% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 100, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Indexes. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $48.30 and $77. A stop-loss of $48.65 looks good here. Note that the firm is expected to release third quarter results on October 25, after the close.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

There has been considerable debate about the role of momentum in sports. In a landmark study, Thomas Gilovich and several colleagues provided evidence that the "hot hand" in basketball was nothing more than a myth. Since then, there has been considerable research suggesting that many of the old saws about sports are untrue, and a movement toward more enlightened analysis has emerged, best exemplified in Michael Lewis' book Moneyball.

In this weekend's Wall Street Journal, Allen St. John wonders about the idea of "momentum" heading into baseball's post-season.

He writes that "while much is often made about late-season momentum as a harbinger of playoff success, in reality the relationship between the two is small... The playoffs are truly a second season. Only once since the advent of the wild card has the team with the best regular-season mark (the 1998 Yankees) won the World Series."

So if your favorite team has limped into the post-season, don't worry about it! Occasionally, there are legitimate reasons to fret over lost momentum. If a team has experienced a disastrous September because of injuries to its top starters, that will be a problem heading into the post-season -- not because of momentum, but because the pitchers are likely to remain unavailable!

I would argue that investors should look at the stock market the same way. Rather than buying into the idea of "momentum" in the stock market (I've seen no evidence that such a phenomenon really exists), think about factors that actually effect the business. Leave the cliches about "fighting the tape" and "moving averages" to the old wives.

Efficient transportation of bulk industrial fluids is a tricky specialty. When plans call for movement by inland waterways, one of the best known U.S. specialists is an outfit down in Houston.

Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) is the largest inland tank barge operator in the United States, transporting petrochemicals and agricultural chemicals via a fleet of some 900 barges and 240 towboats. The firm also owns and operates four ocean-going barge and tug units, transporting dry-bulk commodities along the coast. Further, Kirby is a leading provider of diesel engine services for the marine, rail and industrial markets. Customers include Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) and Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW).

The company pleased investors earlier in the week, when it announced that it was expecting Q3 EPS to exceed sixty cents. That topped the average Street expectation for a 58 cent per share profit. Management cited strong demand and favorable pricing environments in all of its transportation markets for the positive view. Cantor Fitzgerald subsequently reiterated its "buy" rating on the shares and boosted its price target to $53. The stock popped on the news and has since moved into a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with five "strong buys," two "buys" and three "holds." Analysts see a 20% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The KEX PEG ratio (1.12), Price to Cash Flow ratio (13.25), Sales Growth rate (18.37%), EPS Growth rate (27.27%) and Return on Assets (7.98%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 89% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $30.54 and $44.90. A stop-loss of $38.40 looks good here. Note that the firm is expected to release third quarter results in late October.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Competition among makers of electronic devices is intense and that gives component suppliers known for reliability and reasonable prices a solid advantage. When it comes to analog chips, many of the big name OEMs look to an outfit in Milpitas, California.

Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL) is engaged in the design and manufacture of analog integrated circuits. Its product families address power management and signal processing functions. The firm offers a portfolio of application specific standard products and general purpose proprietary products for high-end consumer, industrial, communications, and computing markets. The company sells its devices to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers and contract manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Intersil customer list includes Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and IBM (NYSE: IBM).

Shareholders were pleased last week to learn that the company is also a supplier of semiconductor components for the new Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPod nano. The stock popped on that news and has since moved into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with six "strong buys," nine "buys," six "holds" and three "sells." Analysts expect a 23% growth rate, through the next year. The ISIL Price to Book ratio (1.86), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (22.90), Operating Margin (20.15%) and Net Profit Margin (19.48%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions own about 95% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 400 MidCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $22.42 and $35. A stop-loss of $28.60 looks good here. Note that the firm is expected to announce Q3 earnings and revenues in mid-October. Management issued upside guidance for those results, on September 4.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Any firm doing business with a significant science & engineering component needs quick access to organized, up-to-the-minute technical information. There is an Englewood, Colorado outfit that provides that access to some of the biggest corporations in the world.

IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) provides documents, decision-support tools and related services to customers in a variety of technical fields. The firm's Energy division delivers oil and gas data on exploration, development, production, and transportation activities to energy producers and oil companies. Its Engineering division provides technical specifications and standards, regulations, parts data, design guides and other information to customers in the defense, aerospace, construction, energy, electronics and automotive industries. Customers include Boeing (NYSE: BA) and DuPont (NYSE: DD) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM).

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q3 EPS of 43 cents and revenues of $183.4 million. Analysts had been expecting 36 cents and $174.9 million. Management also guided FY07 revenues to about $672-$683 million, versus consensus of $666.92 million. The share price popped on the news and then began consolidating the gain in a bullish "flag" pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with two "strong buys," three "buys" and two "holds." Analysts see a 19% growth rate through the next year. The IHS Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (30.89), Sales Growth rate (31.07%), EPS Growth rate (48.28%) and Net Profit Margin (11.30%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 66% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $30.82 and $57.64. A stop-loss of $49.25 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

No matter what your business, you are in good shape when you develop solid client bases in both the commercial and government arenas. There is a Melville, New York telecom equipment outfit that is firmly established on both sides of the equation.

Comtech Telecommunications (NASDAQ: CMTL) designs and produces equipment used in telecommunications systems. Products include modems, frequency converters, RF microwave amplifiers, microwave radios and satellite transceivers and antennas. The devices are used by satellite systems integrators, communications service providers, defense contractors, medical system manufacturers and oil companies. Comtech also provides satellite-based messaging services and location tracking. Customers include Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Army.

A well-known Cleveland-based greeting card company was founded over a hundred years ago by a family that bought ornate post cards from German manufacturers and sold them to local merchants. The firm subsequently introduced the self-serve card display, developed the number one online greeting card destination in the world and invented such iconic characters as Holly Hobbie, Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears.

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) designs, manufactures and sells greeting cards and other social expression products. It offers everyday and seasonal cards, gift wrap, party goods, stationery and giftware. It also distributes greetings over the Web. The company operates about 500 retail outlets in North America. Its products are sold in some 125,000 retail stores worldwide. Target (NYSE: TGT) and CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) are major retail customers.

Investors were pleased last week, when the company reported Q2 EPS of 16 cents and revenues of $377.4 million. Analysts had been looking for a seven cent loss and $337.5 million. The CEO attributed the solid numbers to improved performance in the firm's card business and careful management of costs. Management also guided FY08 EPS to $1.35-1.55, versus Street consensus of $1.45.

There is an outfit in New York with a foundation in corsets, but a current portfolio that encompasses a variety of well-known intimate and sports apparel brands. Lately, it is trying to lose a little weight.

The Warnaco Group (NASDAQ: WRNC) designs, manufactures, markets, licenses and distributes a range of intimate apparel, sportswear and swimwear. Items are offered under such owned and licensed brands as Warner's, Olga, Lejaby, BoDY Nancy Ganz, Speedo, Anne Cole, Cole of California, Catalina, Chaps, Ocean Pacific, Nautica, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. The firm sells apparel to about 50,000 department, mass merchandise and specialty stores in North America, Europe and Mexico. Customers include Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Target (NYSE: TGT) and Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST).

The firm pleased investors last week, when it announced that it intended to sell its Catalina, Anne Cole and Cole of California swimwear brands. Management also said it engaged Goldman Sachs to explore strategic alternatives for its Lejaby, Rasurel and Elixir intimate apparel and swimwear brands. Further, the company boosted its 2007 EPS guidance to $2.05-$2.15 ($2.02 consensus) and 2007 revenue guidance to about $1.98-$2.03 billion ($1.99B consensus). JP Morgan subsequently raised its rating on the shares to "overweight." Lazard Capital reiterated its "buy" and boosted its price target to $47. The stock popped on the company announcement and then began defining a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Stocks often leave flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers now recommend the issue with two "strong buys," four "buys" and four "holds." The WRNC P/E ratio (17.92), PEG ratio (1.04), Price to Sales ratio (0.92), Price to Book ratio (2.43), Price to Cash Flow ratio (11.63), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (26.05) and EPS Growth rate (150.38%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutional investors hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 400 MidCap Index. Through the past 12 months, it has traded between $18.86 and $41.78. A stop-loss of $33.90 looks good here. Note that the firm is expected to report Q3 results in early November.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.