Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT), Casey's General Stores Inc. (CASY), Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY), Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI).

< ?DART(15);?> Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT), which is scheduled to report on its first quarter later this month, continues to outpace the market, and analysts' estimates remain bullish.

A Surge in Share Price on Upbeat Projections

Shares of RNT climbed 12% since we last featured the stock as a Growth and Income pick in late March.

Wall Street has RNT's full-year 2009 earnings per share pegged at $1.81 per share, up from $1.75 over the past 3 months. For the following year, projections of $2.05 were increased from $1.90 over the past 3 months.

Earnings forecasts for the first quarter stand at 51 cents per share, up from the 3 month-ago

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American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI) has been trading ahead of the market on solid fundamentals and upbeat Street forecasts. Analysts see earnings per share growth coming in at 66% for the current fiscal year followed by 14% growth next year.

< ?DART(15);?> Company Description

American Science & Engineering, Inc. provides innovative X-ray inspection systems.

With 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, ASEI's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices.

The company's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. ASEI's systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and

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Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI), AAON Inc. (AAON), Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT) and NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NTLS).

< ?DART(15);?> Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) has seen bullish forecasts from Wall Street. Analysts are projecting earnings of $4.92 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2009, an increase of 5 cents over the past 2 months. For the following year, analysts are calling for earnings of $5.42 per share.

The company exceeded analysts' estimates over the past 4 consecutive quarters by an average of 5.4%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company is scheduled to announce fiscal second-quarter results on April 15.

Industry Recognition

BDX recently announced its first-time appearance on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Fortune 500 list of green power purchasers. The company said its purchasing green power

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American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI) continues to see higher earnings estimates on record results. Analysts upped fiscal year forecasts by 2% over the past month.

< ?DART(15);?> Company Description

American Science & Engineering, Inc. provides innovative X-ray inspection systems.

With 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, ASEI's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices.

The company's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. ASEI's systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling.

The company's customers include

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Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include McDonald's Corporation (MCD), Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI), Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) and Republic Services, Inc. (RSG).

< ?DART(15);?> McDonald's Corporation (MCD) recently released solid sales results, which included global comparable sales that increased 7.1% in January. In the U.S., January comparable sales jumped 5.4%.

Sales were Up for January

In early February, MCD announced January sales, noting that 2009 is off to a good start and continues to appeal to customers with quality, affordable meal options and unparalleled convenience.

The company's comparable sales increased 7.1% in January. In the U.S., January comparable sales jumped 5.4%.

In Europe, comparable sales also increased by 7.1%, where the U.K., France and Russia emerged as the leaders in sales. The combination of premium menu offerings, classic favorites and everyday affordability continue to deliver results

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American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI) recently announced fiscal third-quarter results, which included a record revenue total that was 53% above the previous year's level.

< ?DART(15);?> Company Description

American Science & Engineering, Inc. provides innovative X-ray inspection systems.

With 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, ASEI's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices.

The company's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. ASEI's systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling.

The company's customers include leading

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Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. (SHEN), DeVry, Inc. (>DV), Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI) and NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NTLS).

< ?DART(15);?>

Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. (SHEN) has, for the most part, traded in line with the broader market since it was last covered as Growth and Income pick in mid-January. The company continues to offer solid fundamentals, including an industry leading dividend yield and very little debt.

Strong Fundamentals

Shenandoah's dividend yield of 1.2% is ahead of the industry average as most of the company's peers pay no income.

The company has a solid balance sheet, showing a low debt to equity of 8%.

The company's earnings per share are expected to grow by 14% over the next 3 – 5 years, compared to the industry average of 10%.

Growth in the Third Quarter

In

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Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include DeVry, Inc. (DV), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (ASEI), Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM) and Yum! Brands (YUM).

< ?DART(15);?> DeVry, Inc. (DV) continues to see higher earnings estimates. Analysts are calling for earnings of $2.23 per share for the year ending June 2009.

Wall Street Has Consistently Issued Bullish Forecasts on DV

The current projection of $2.23 per share was increased by 1 cent in just the past week. One month ago, analysts were forecasting $2.20 per share. The most accurate earnings estimate is most bullish at $2.25.

DeVry's fiscal second-quarter report is scheduled for release on Jan 15.

Solid Performance in a Tough Market

The Zacks #1 Rank (“strong buy”) stock was up by more than 10% during 2008, soaring past the Dow Jones ($DJI), S&P 500 (SPX) and NASDAQ (COMP).

The company also

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Aeropostale Inc (ARO) American Science & Engineering Inc (ASEI) Arrow Electronics Inc (ARW) Baker Hughes Inc (BHI) Cemex SAB de CV (CX) Central European Distribution (CEDC) Coherent Inc (COHR) First Cash Financial Services Inc (FCFS) GameStop Corp (GME) Glacier Bancorp Inc (GBCI) Griffon Corp (GFF) Gushan Environmental Energy Ltd (GU) Hewitt Associates Inc (HEW) Hutchison Whampoa Ltd (HUWHY) Massey Energy Co (MEE) Navios Maritime Holdings Inc (NM) Osteotech Inc (OSTE) Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (PTEN) Planar Systems Inc (PLNR) Robbins & Myers Inc (RBN) Rofin-Sinar Technologies (RSTI) Sasol Ltd (SSL) Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (SCR) Sims Group Ltd (SMS) SJW Corp (SJW) St Jude Medical Inc (STJ) Sterling Bancorp (STL) ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Accenture Ltd (ACN) Air Liquide (AIQUY) American Physicians Service Group Inc (AMPH) American Science & Engineering Inc (ASEI) Apollo Group Inc (APOL) BlueLinx Holdings Inc (BXC) BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) Cemex SAB de CV (CX) China Direct Inc (CDS) Coherent Inc (COHR) GSC Investment Corp (GNV) Hoku Scientific Inc (HOKU) Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) Intrepid Potas Inc (IPI) Key Energy Services Inc (KEG) Kindred Healthcare Inc (KND) Monsanto Co (MON) NCR Corp (NCR) Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (PTEN) Presstek Inc (PRST) Quest Resource Corp (QRCP) Ralcorp Holdings Inc (RAH) Sims Group Ltd (SMS) Skilled Healthcare Group Inc (SKH) Smith International Inc (SII) Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo SA (TSP) ...