Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: St. Jude Medical, Abbott Laboratories, The Children's Place and Posco

2008-07-24 21:47:03 -

- 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: St. Jude Medical, Inc (NYSE: STJ), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), The Children's Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE) and Posco (NYSE: PKX).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at at.zacks.com/?id=88

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +30%. 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 - St. Jude Medical, Inc (NYSE: STJ)

St. Jude Medical has a history of positive earnings surprises, upward estimate revisions and non cyclical-demand. The company's second-quarter net income was up 20.65% from the same quarter last year, and its stock price has responded, recently advancing back to the 52-week high.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4309

Growth & Income - Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT)

Abbott Laboratories recently released stellar results for the second quarter and hiked its full-year 2008 guidance. Nearly all covering analysts responded by increasing their full-year estimates. The company offers ROE of 28%, above the industry average of 27%. In early June, Abbot declared a quarterly dividend of 36 cents per share. ABT's dividend yield of 2.5% stands high above the yields offered by its peers as most companies within its industry group offer no dividend.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4310

Momentum - The Children's Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE)

The Children's Place is succeeding in executing its long-term strategy of increasing its profitability. The company sold its interest in 200 Disney stores back to Disney in early May, has tempered its capital spending this year and is aiming to more effectively manage its inventory levels. All of this has translated into a soaring stock price, having more than doubled in 2008.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4311

Value - Posco (NYSE: PKX)

Posco makes big profits as steel demand remains strong worldwide and prices continue to rise. Second quarter revenues rose 28.3% compared to a year ago. The company has a forward P/E of only 9.06.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): at.zacks.com/?id=4312

How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free: at.zacks.com/?id=88

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

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. Investors are invited to register for their free subscription at at.zacks.com/?id=91

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

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 for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Zacks.com
Aggressive Growth Stocks:
Contact: Michael Vodicka
Phone: 312-265-9226
or
Growth & Income Stocks:
Contact: Alex Kolb
Phone: 312-265-9149
or
Momentum Stocks:
Contact: Michael Vodicka
Phone: 312-265-9226
or
Value Stocks:
Contact: Tracey Ryniec
Phone: 312-265-9232
Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: www.zacks.com