Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: Encore Capital Group, Inc., American Express Company, Arena Resources Inc. and Avnet, Inc.

2009-11-24 23:06:06 -

Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECPG :

cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ), American Express Company (NYSE: AXP : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ), Arena Resources Inc. (NYSE: ARD : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) and Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at at.zacks.com/?id=88 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.


Here is a summary of today's selected stocks that are now highly rated by Zacks:

Aggressive Growth – Encore Capital Group, Inc. : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. (Nasdaq: ECPG : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. )


Encore Capital Group, Inc. just set a new 52-week high following the recent earnings report, which topped expectations.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4309 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

Growth & Income – American Express Company : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. (NYSE: AXP : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. )


American Express Company has seen recent upward revisions of the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings. Shares staged a nice advance lately, outpacing the market by about 20% over the past 3 months.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4310 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

Momentum – Arena Resources Inc. : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. (NYSE: ARD : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. )


Arena Resources Inc. has posted big gains over the last 8 months on strong earnings and elevated energy prices.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4311 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

Value – Avnet, Inc. : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. (NYSE: AVT : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. )


Avnet, Inc. recently saw quarter over quarter growth as the global recession eased. The company is trading with a forward P/E of 13.2.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4312 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..



How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free: at.zacks.com/?id=88 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

Underlying the four free stock picks is a simple truth that first appeared in a Financial Analysts Journal article published in 1979. Leonard Zacks, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from M.I.T. found that "earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Zacks #1 Rank is awarded to a stock when analysts sharply upgrade their estimates of what the company will earn.

Today, Zacks is promoting its stock recommendations by offering four daily picks free to those who register at at.zacks.com/?id=88 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..



About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Len Zacks. The company continually processes stock reports issued by 3,000 analysts from 150 brokerage firms. It monitors more than 200,000 earnings estimates, looking for changes.

Then, when changes are discovered, they’re applied to help assign more than 4,400 stocks into five Zacks Rank categories: #1 Strong Buy, #2 Buy, #3 Hold, #4 Sell, and #5 Strong Sell. This proprietary stock-picking system continues to outperform the market by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.


More Free Stock Picks

Each weekday, new Zacks #1 Rank or Zacks #2 Rank stock picks are released on the free email newsletter, Profit from the Pros.

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Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Visit www.zacks.com/performance : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



Zacks.comAggressive Growth Stocks:Contact: Bill WiltonPhone:

312-265-9277orGrowth & Income Stocks:Contact: Alex
KolbPhone: 312-265-9149orMomentum Stocks:Contact:
Michael VodickaPhone: 312-265-9226orValue Stocks:Contact:
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