Monday, October 23, 2006

Calls of Note Part 6

- Ryan Beck & Co comments on American Science & Engineering (NASDAQ:ASEI) after GovExec.com reported that the Congress allocated about $50 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide security systems to scan commercial cargo leaving and entering the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The article describes the selection of Chemonics International, a private consulting firm with close government ties that is involved in projects in a substantial number of countries to improve economic conditions and living standards.

The firm has spoken to representatives of ASEI and Chemonics but were unable to confirm a contract award as of Friday.

Apparently, Chemonics solicited and received proposals from a number of suppliers and, according to the article, has selected equipment from ASEI and Nuctech, ASEI's partner in China under an agreement where ASEI supplies Z Backscatter modules for installation on Chinese-built vehicle chassis.

On the other front, the U.S. Air Force has begun the process that we think should lead to an order for an OmniView Gantry System for installation at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina. This would likely be identical to those ordered recently for use at the Port of Charleston and for the King's Bay Ballistic Missile Submarine Base in Georgia.

Firm is not revising forecasts at this time; however, based on recent disclosure of 240 Z Backscatter systems deployed, they think that F07 is shaping up as a very solid year from a financial point of view. Reiterates Outperform rating and 12-month price target of $72 per
share.

Notablecalls: I like this call. I think it's actionable.

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