As has been reported previously on Zacks.com, the chip industry may very well be in the early stages of a recovery. (See "Q2 Results Show Chip Recovery".) Of the 231 stocks on today's Zacks #1 Rank List, six of them are from the electronic components-semiconductors industry.

Today, we'll be focusing on National Semiconductor Corporation (NSM), which is a Zacks #1 Rank Top Performer with a gain of about 5%. Volume is at 4 million shares, which is below the daily average of 6.5 million.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year, which ends in May 2010, is up 11.8% over the past 2 months to 38 cents per share. There are 21 covering analysts for the period.

Next fiscal year doesn't end until May 2011, but the Zacks Consensus Estimate for now stands at 62 cents, accounting for no change in the

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS), which was recently recognized for outstanding business performance, continues to see higher forecasts from analysts ahead of reporting next week. Current year earnings projections of $1.18 per share are 4% higher than the estimates of 3 months ago.

Award-winning Performance

The company recently announced that its founder and Chairman of the Board Blake Roney received the International Stevie Award as the top chairman of the board by the 2009 International Business Awards, which is the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business. Nu Skin added that this recognition came on the heels of the company's largest revenue year ever.

Bullish Forecasts

Analysts' current year earnings projections of $1.18 per share were hiked by 4% over the past 3 months.

For 2010, earnings estimates of $1.35 per share are above the 3 months-ago level of $1.31.

Second-quarter forecasts of

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 21, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Longtop Financial Technologies, Ltd (LFT), National Semiconductor Corporation (NSM), Rovi Corp. (ROVI) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here

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TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (TQNT) hasn't released any significant news of late and won't announce its second-quarter results until Jul 22, yet the company is a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank stock today with a gain of more than 8%.

< ?DART(15);?> There's been discussion of late that TQNT will be able to capitalize on the mania surrounding smartphones, since it makes components for Apple's iPhone. But in addition to that, there is evidence that the semiconductor industry could be in the early stages of a recovery, as highlighted in today's Zacks Industry Rank feature titled "Second-Quarter Earnings Outlook".

Including TQNT, there are currently 9 companies from the electronic components - semiconductors industry on the Zacks #1 Rank List, which includes 223 stocks today. Those other companies include Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (ASX), Exar Corporation (EXAR) and National Semiconductor Corporation (NSM).

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Over the last decade we have seen the explosion of the wireless market. When they were first introduced to the public, cellular phones were the size of a briefcase. Now, they are smaller than a deck of cards and can make calls, take photos, and access the internet. According to Wireless Intelligence, the GSM Association’s market intelligence unit, by 2011 there will be upwards of four billion mobile handsets worldwide. Findings indicate that an increasing number of units purchased globally will have GPS and positioning capability. GTX Corp (GTXO.OB) is in the midst of implementing an accelerated plan to capitalize on consumers’ continued interest in wireless technology.

GTX, a developer of customizable two-way Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Position Location Systems (PLS) applications, is now moving from development stage to production level. Since 2002, GTX has developed, patented, and integrated miniaturized cellular location-transmitting

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - March 19, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week's analysis include Centex Corporation (CTX), Intel Corporation (INTC), Stericycle Inc. (SRCL), Tesoro Corporation (TSO) and U.S. Steel Corporation (X).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This week: Q1 Earnings: Winners and Losers

First-quarter profits are going to stink. The consensus projections call for S&P 500 (SPX) profits of $16.33, which equates to a decrease of approximately 14% from a year prior.

On a company-specific basis, the numbers could be worse. Median earnings are likely to decline 19.3%. More than 10% of S&P 500 members are expected to report triple-digit drops in profits (57 companies with declines of 100% or more). Conversely,

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Highlighted stocks include Centex Corporation (...

After years of planning and development, GTX Corp (GTXO.OB), a company that has created miniaturized GPS tracking and cellular location-transmitting technology platforms, is now in a position to get products into the hands of consumers. GTX has created 2-way Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Position Location Systems (PLS) that can be applied to customized products. The company recently announced that Alteon Capital Partners has been retained to advise GTX in the launch of its products.

With the addition of Alteon Capital Partners, GTX continues to follow its strategy to build a team of premier strategic advisors. Alteon specializes in advising clients on financing, transformation and repositioning, corporate development, and value recovery services. Estimates indicate that by 2011 there will be more than four billion mobile handsets worldwide. Dr. Gilbert Amelio, managing partner at Alteon, will take a lead role in advising the company

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Aeropostale, Inc. (

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GTX Corp. announced this week that it is accelerating its “go-to-market” strategy through product expansion and the addition of Dr. Gilbert Amelio of Alteon Capital Partners as a Strategic Advisor.

The number of people subscribing to wireless communication services has been increasing every year. In fact, the number of mobile handsets is projected to surpass four billion in 2011 according to Wireless Intelligence, the GSMA’s market intelligence unit. As this number continues to grow, so will the number of handsets that have GPS and positioning capability.

GTX Corp is implementing an aggressive plan to capitalize on this burgeoning opportunity by leveraging its intellectual property portfolio and product line with state-of-the-art Location Based Solutions. Continuing its strategy of building a team of premier strategic advisors, the company is bringing on Dr. Gilbert Amelio and George Lauro, Managing Partners of Alteon Capital Partners.

Dr. Amelio will advise GTX Corp on advancing in the GPS

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