NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ(r)) (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index(r), effective with the market open on Monday, December 24, 2007.
"The NASDAQ-100 Index is a diverse, world-renowned benchmark comprised of many of the world's largest growth companies," stated NASDAQ Executive Vice President John L. Jacobs. "It is the basis of more than 580 products in 37 countries. Although the components of the NASDAQ-100 Index are determined by an open, objective, and rules-based process -- they are ultimately chosen by investors."
The following five issues will be added to the NASDAQ-100 Index: Hologic, Inc. (Nasdaq:HOLX), Focus Media Holding Limited (Nasdaq:FMCN), Hansen Natural Corporation (Nasdaq:HANS), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (Nasdaq:STLD), Stericycle, Inc. (Nasdaq:SRCL).
The NASDAQ-100 Index is composed of the 100 largest non-financial stocks on The NASDAQ Stock Market(r) and dates to January 1985 when it was launched along with the NASDAQ Financial-100 Index(r), which is comprised of the 100 largest financial stocks on NASDAQ(r). These indexes were originally designed to segment NASDAQ into two major industry groups to support media coverage and to act as benchmarks for financial products such as options, futures, and funds. The NASDAQ-100 is re-ranked each year in December, timed to coincide with the quadruple witch expiration Friday of the quarter.
On a cumulative price return basis, the NASDAQ-100 Index has risen over 1571% since inception, and it has outperformed several major domestic and international stock indexes for the ten-year period ended November 30, 2007, although past performance is not indicative of future performance. For the most recent one, five, and ten-year periods ended November 30, 2007, the cumulative return of the NASDAQ-100 Index was 16.63%, 87.18%, and 98.87%, respectively.
The NASDAQ-100 Index is the basis of the PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq:QQQQ), which aims to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond with the NASDAQ-100 Index performance. In addition, options, futures and structured products based on the NASDAQ-100 Index and the PowerShares QQQ Trust trade on various exchanges.
As a result of the re-ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index, the following five companies will be removed: LM Ericsson Telephone Company (Nasdaq:ERIC), Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTEN), Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:ROST), Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq:SEPR), XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:XMSR).
NASDAQ is the largest U.S. equities exchange. With approximately 3,100 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology. NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks as well as a leading liquidity pool for trading NYSE-listed stocks. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at www.nasdaq.com or the NASDAQ Newsroom at www.nasdaq.com/newsroom/.
To learn more about the criteria for inclusion to the NASDAQ-100, visit http://dynamic.nasdaq.com/dynamic/nasdaq100_activity.stm.
Notes to Editors:
The sponsor of the NASDAQ-100 Trust(sm), a unit investment trust, is PowerShares Capital Management LLC ("PowerShares"). NASDAQ, NASDAQ-100 Index, NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock, and QQQ are registered trademarks of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and have been licensed for use by PowerShares Capital Management LLC, QQQ's sponsor. NASDAQ makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in QQQ and makes no warranty and bears no liability with respect to QQQ, the NASDAQ-100 Index, its use or any data included therein. PowerShares is a trademark of PowerShares Capital Management LLC. Shares are not FDIC insured, may lose value and have no bank guarantee.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of PowerShares QQQ. PowerShares Capital Management, LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Distributors, Inc.
An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus which contains this and other information about QQQ, a unit investment trust, please contact your broker, call 800.983.0903 or visit www.powershares.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Company Briefs:
The following are brief descriptions of the five companies to be added to the NASDAQ-100 Index in descending order based on market capitalization as calculated in the NASDAQ-100 Index annual re-ranking review. Securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market that meet the eligibility criteria were ranked by market capitalization using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP) as of the end of October and total shares outstanding filed in a public Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) document through the end of November.
Hologic, Inc. is a diversified diagnostic and medical product and device company dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women. Hologic's core business units are focused on mammography and breast biopsy, radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer, cervical cancer screening, treatment of excessive menstrual bleeding, osteoporosis assessment and preterm birth screening. The Bedford, Massachusetts, company had a market capitalization of $8.5 billion at the time of ranking.
Focus Media Holding Limited is a multi-platform digital media company in China. It operates an out-of-home advertising network, targeting urban consumers with audiovisual digital displays, poster/digital frames and LEDs, at strategic locations and points of interest. It is also a provider of mobile handset advertising and internet marketing solutions in China. The Shanghai, China, company's American Depositary Receipt's had a market capitalization of $6.9 billion at the time of ranking.
Hansen Natural Corporation markets and distributes fruit juices, fruit juice Smoothies, juice cocktails, iced teas, lemonades, energy drinks, and still water. The Company distributes its beverages under the Hansen's Natural brand name in the United States and overseas. The Corona, California, company had a market capitalization of $6.3 billion at the time of ranking.
Steel Dynamics, Inc. owns and operates five electric-arc furnace mini-mills, five steel fabrication plants and recently purchased OmniSource Corporation, a ferrous scrap processor. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, company had a market capitalization of $5.1 billion at the time of ranking.
Stericycle, Inc. is in the business of managing regulated waste and providing an array of related services. The Company's services include medical waste and sharps disposal management, product recalls and retrievals, OSHA compliance training, pharmaceutical and medical device returns, healthcare on-site waste stream management, pharmaceutical waste disposal, medical safety products sales and high volume notification services. The Lake Forest, Illinois, company had a market capitalization of $5.1 billion at the time of ranking.
Note:
Neither The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. nor any of its affiliates (collectively "NASDAQ") makes any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any representation about the financial condition of any company. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the NASDAQ-100 Index and the companies and securities that comprise the index. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ's control. These factors include, but are not limited to factors detailed in NASDAQ's annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.
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