Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.10 for the third quarter, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents. However, earnings was substantially lower than $2.08 recorded during the corresponding period of last year. The better-than-expected results in the quarter were driven by increased sales volumes and reduced costs compared to the second quarter and the year-ago period.   Consolidated sales volumes improved 3% to 20 million BOE, i.e., 217 thousand BOE per day, primarily driven by increased volumes in the United States and West Africa. Volumes rose in the U.S. supported by ongoing development activity at Wattenberg, the return to full production of Ticonderoga, and the impact of the Raton gas project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Reduced facility maintenance downtime helped increase natural gas volumes in West Africa. However, volumes declined in North Sea due to the Dumbarton performance. Daily ...

The world’s largest offshore driller, Transocean Ltd. (RIG), bagged a 455-day contract for its ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig Sedco Express from a subsidiary of Noble Energy Inc. (NBL). The contract is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2010 after the expiry of Sedco’s current contract as well as completion of maintenance work and mobilization. Transocean is expecting approximately $241 million revenue from this contract.   A couple of weeks ago, Transocean's ultra-deepwater drillship Discoverer Clear Leader started its operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico under a five-year contract with Chevron Corp. (CVX). Clear Leader features Transocean’s patented dual-activity drilling technology designed to enable parallel drilling operations from a single derrick that saves time as well as money in deepwater well construction in comparison to conventional rigs.   We believe that the long-term fundamentals of the deepwater market continue to remain strong. With a number ...

Today we are featuring top-performing "Aggressive Growth" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in high-risk equity securities to achieve maximum growth.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Aggressive Growth Equity Funds.3 Superior Examples

Waddell & Reed Adv New Concepts A (UNECX) was incepted in June 1983. The fund seeks capital growth by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of U.S. and foreign mid-cap companies.

Kimberly A. Scott has been lead manager at the fund since February 2001. The fund has topped the total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3- and 5-year periods.

The fund's top holdings include Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC), Global Payments Inc. (GPN) and Noble Energy Inc. (NBL).

Transamerica Premier Focus Inv

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Today we are featuring "technology equity" mutual funds, which invest at least 50% of their assets in companies that develop or are expected to benefit from advanced technologies.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the Zacks #1 Rank Technology Equity Funds list.

Fidelity Select Software and Computer Service (FSCSX) incepted in July 1985 and is managed by the Fidelity Group. The fund primarily invests in securities of companies engaged in software or information-based services.

The fund may invest a significant percentage of assets in a single issuer and also in securities of foreign issuers. The fund offers dividends and capital gains (if any) twice a year in April and December. This zacks#1 Rank fund has an expense ratio of .85%.

In 2008, the fund outpaced 34.37% of its peers in terms of annual return. FSCSX's top holdings include Microsoft Corp. (

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