CNBC Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge - Wednesday, Week 3

[Scroll down for answers to today's Bonus Bucks trivia questions.]

And gap up they shall.

All three very special picks from yesterday (Daktronics, WuXi PharmaTech, and Chico's) went on to beat their respective earnings expectations.  And since we were aiming for volatility as well as upside surprises, those one-day positions might pay off handsomely.

Shortly after the open, they were all enjoying bounces, but none as splendidly as Daktronics, which not only walloped expectations, but issued strong guidance for 2009.

Daktronics (DAKT): +17.6%
WuXi PharmaTech (WX): +1.7%
Chico's FAS (CHS): +6.1%

Of course, they can always drift back down during the session and we can't sell them until the close, but all in all, it looks like a decent day.

Here are a few fresh ones, using the same screening and evaluation criteria as before.  In addition to being eligible for the contest, each of the companies below will report earnings today after the close or tomorrow before the open (meaning they have the potential for significant one-day moves if bought before 4 pm today).  Of these 16 names, the final 4 (in bold green) might be worth some extra attention (based on the amount of analyst coverage, the difference between the high and consensus analyst estimates, recent revisions to those estimates, today's price move, the stock's historical volatility, and the company's earnings surprise track record).

• Men's Wearhouse (MW)
• Apollo Investment Corp (AINV)
• Dyncorp Intl (DCP)
• Omnivision Tech (OVTI)
• Dress Barn (DBRN)
• DSW INC (DSW)
• Big Lots (BIG)
• H.J. Heinz (HNZ)
• Joy Global (JOYG)
• Costco (COST)
• Mechel OAO (MTL)
• Sears Holdings (SHLD)
• Golar LNG (GLNG)
• Ansoft Corp (ANST)
• Sycamore Networks (SCMR)
• TiVo (TIVO)

(Consider all of the above to be for entertainment purposes and not meant to be used as real-world investment recommendations.  The goals and strategies of the Portfolio Challenge are not to be confused with those of sensible investing.)

---

See all related posts in the CNBC Portfolio Challenge archive:

• Week 3: Tuesday
• Week 2: Friday
• Week 2: Thursday
• A New Fly In the Ointment
• Week 2: Wednesday
• Currency Trading Resumes
• Week 2: Tuesday
• Week 2: Monday
• More Technical Difficulties
• Prize Poll
• Week 1: Friday
• Week 1: Thursday
• The Airing Of Grievances
• Week 1: Wednesday
• Week 1: Tuesday
• Technical Difficulties, Orders Cancelled
• Week 1: Monday
• Week 0

To receive additional updates by e-mail, drop a line here with the word "Subscribe" in the subject header.

---

Wednesday May 28th

Throughout the contest, each day's answers will be at the top of the CNBC Portfolio Challenge archive as soon as the questions are published, so bookmark accordingly.

Daily Trivia:

Squawk Box:  "In the last paragraph of "Stocks Don’t Like Obama" Larry Kudlow concludes that:"

  Answer:  McCain can still win

Squawk On the Street:  "In "Emerging Money: Up For '08" how many of Tim Seymour's trades were part of the Emerging Money Top 20 list?"

  Answer:  Three

The Call:  "CNBC Guest Blog: In "Calling Out The Confidence Game" what ancient pseudo-science did Jerry Bowyer refer to?"

  Answer:  Phrenology

Power Lunch:  "In a May 27 CNBC Stock Blog, how did Dan Genter describe corporate dividends?"

  Answer:  Weapon of choice

Street Signs:  "On May 27, what small- and mid-cap businesses did "market pro" David Twibell praise?"

  Answer:  Regional & community banks

Closing Bell:  " In May 27's Lightning Round, what energy play did Cramer recommend?"

  Answer:  Frontline