In This Issue: •Earnings Impressions: The S&P 500 just notched another quarter of double-digit profits. Here are the trends we see behind the numbers.
•STARS Status: Changes in S&P analysts' STARS rankings for August 7 through August 11.
•Budgeting for Long-Term Care: Consider an insurance policy before your independence vanishes in the haze.
•Acing the Buffett Test: These stocks might satisfy the "Oracle of Omaha."
•The Right REITs: Interested in income? Consider REIT preferreds.
•Master List Stocks Update: Our three supervised Master List groups of stocks, recommended as core holdings for long-term investors, are regularly featured on these two pages. The Small/Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio is highlighted this week.
•S&P's Platinum Portfolio: This portfolio offers the best of both worlds: S&P's STARS ranking system, based on fundamental analysis, and Fair Value, S&P's proprietary quantitative model. Some of the Companies Featured: Alexandria R.E. Equities
Amkor Technology
Analog Devices
Ballard Power
Boston Beer
Caremark Rx
Cephalon
Deutsche Bank
Federated Department Stores
Google
ImClone Systems
Playboy Enterprises
Sirva
SunTrust Banks
Websense
Xcel Energy | 
