CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zacks.com announces the latest list of top performing Zacks #1 Rank (“strong buy”) stocks. The stocks on the prestigious list with the highest returns last week were Greenhill & Company, Inc. (NYSE: GHL), Blue Nile, Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE), Wynn Resorts, Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN), Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE: TGI) and KMG Chemicals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KMG. Each of these stocks easily outperformed the S&P 500.

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +32% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. To learn more about the Zacks Rank, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=3172.

Here is a synopsis of the last week’s best performing Zacks #1 Rank stocks.

Greenhill & Company, Inc. (NYSE: GHL) gained 14.3% for the week ended Sep 14, making this independent investment banking firm a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank company. Over the past two months, earnings estimates for this year are up 35%, including a gain of 1.8% in the past seven trading days. Greenhill provides financial advice on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters. It also manages merchant banking funds.

The company’s second-quarter report was strong. Greenhill reported earnings per share of $1.47 on revenues of $140.6 million, compared to 45 cents and $59.3 million in the second quarter of 2006. That marks year-over-year increases of 227% and 137% respectively. Greenhill attributed its results to several factors, including high M&A activity, an increasing desire by corporate clients to secure advice and growth of the Greenhill brand. The company believes its momentum remains strong moving forward.

Blue Nile, Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE) was a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank last week with an advance of 13.8%. The company is a leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry. Earnings estimates for this year are up 13% over the past two months.

For its second quarter, announced in early August, Blue Nile enjoyed excellent performances in all areas of its business. Earnings per share of 23 cents beat the consensus by almost 28% and improved from the previous year’s 18 cents. Net sales jumped 26.7% to $72.1 million. Perhaps most importantly, Blue Nile raised its guidance for 2007.

Wynn Resorts, Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN) was a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank company last week, helped by an announcement from Nevada’s Gaming Control Board. Gamblers lost $1.15 billion at Nevada casinos in July, according to the Board, which was up more than 10% from the previous year. Shares of the company advanced 12.5% for the week ended Sep 14.

In its second-quarter report from early August, Wynn Resorts announced earnings per share of 82 cents, reversing a year-ago loss and bettering the consensus by almost 52%. Net revenues soared to $687.5 million from $273.4 million. The revenue increase was fueled by the opening of Wynn Macau and strong Wynn Las Vegas results.

Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE: TGI) received an update from a brokerage analyst last week, which helped the company reach the top performers list. The company has enjoyed solid momentum for a while. In its fiscal first quarter report, it announced income from continuing operations of $1.04, which beat the consensus by more than 28%. Net sales from continuing operations rose 26% to $275 million. The company is confident it can continue generating revenue growth and enhanced operating earnings and profitability for the rest of the year, due to its robust backlog, strength in its markets and its ability to execute.

Shares of Triumph Group rose 12.1% last week. The company designs and manufactures aircraft components and accessories. Net sales for its Aerospace Systems and Aftermarket Services segments each gained 26% in the quarter.

KMG Chemicals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KMG finds itself a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank company for a second time in three weeks. Shares of the specialty chemicals company increased 11.7% last week. The last time KMG Chemicals reached a prominent position on the list was for the week ended Aug 31, gaining 18.3%. Earnings estimates for the fiscal year ended in July are up 17% over the past two months, while expectations for the fiscal year ending July 2008 advanced 20%.

For its fiscal third quarter, KMG Chemicals reported a profit of 34 cents per share, which beat analysts’ consensus by 70%. This marked the second straight quarter with a double-digit earnings surprise, having done so by 30% last quarter. Net sales jumped 33.3% to $28 million, compared to $21 million in the prior-year period. The solid quarterly numbers were a direct result of strong performances from all of its segments, according to the company. KMG Chemicals was featured as a value stock of the day at Zacks.com on Aug 21.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of +32%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 129% annually (+5 % vs. +12%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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Zacks Rank performance is the total return (price changes + dividends) of equal weighted portfolios, consisting of those stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank, assuming zero transaction costs. These returns are not the result of a backtest; these are actual returns since 1988. The stocks in the Zacks Rank portfolios were available to Zacks clients before the beginning of each month (monthly rebalancing). Performance results from 1988 through June 2007 are based on a subset of all Zacks Rank stocks that excludes stocks covered by only one analyst and ADR’s.

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