Another day, another dollar. The difference is that yesterday's loss became today's gain. There was a weak wholesale inflation reading that kept the inflation hawks at bay and less-bad, or better than, expected earnings did the rest.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,214.54 +79.20 (0.87%)
S&P 500 989.53 +9.80 (1.00%)
Nasdaq 1,955.92 +25.08 (1.30%)

Top 10 Analyst Calls

For all their best efforts, companies sometimes run into more problems than they can handle alone. Many turn to an outfit in Chicago skilled at dealing with various kinds of external challenges.

Huron Consulting Group (NASDAQ: HURN) helps clients address troubles associated with litigation, investigations, regulatory compliance, financial distress and other sources of conflict or change. The company also helps clients with customer and capital market performance, through implementation of operational changes. Huron provides services to both financially sound and distressed organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions and healthcare organizations.

The firm pleased investors earlier in the month, when it reported Q1 EPS of 55 cents and revenues of $116 million. Analysts had been looking for 51 cents $112.3 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 53-57 cents (50 cent consensus), Q2 revenues to $117-$121 million ($115.14M consensus), FY07 EPS to $2.24-$2.37 ($2.22 consensus) and FY07 revenues to $482-$495 million ($482.22M consensus). JMP Securities and UBS subsequently declared the stock a "buy" and issued price targets in the $74-$80 range. HURN shares popped into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern on the news. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Altogether, brokers recommend the shares with three "strong buys" and three "buys." Analysts expect a 27% growth rate, through the next year. The HURN Sales Growth rate (86.50%), EPS Growth rate (66.67%), Return on Assets (13.82%), Return on Investment (17.45%) and Return on Equity (28.54%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 94% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $28.70 and $70.12. A stop-loss of $57 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.