2008-08-21 21:37:08 -

- 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: Dresser-Rand Group, Inc (NYSE: DRC),

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), Almost Family, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFAM) and UniFirst Corp. (NYSE: UNF).

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 - Dresser-Rand Group, Inc (NYSE: DRC)

Dresser-Rand Group continues to make strategic acquisitions and recently announced solid second-quarter results. While the company has seen quarterly earnings grow more than 78%, it remains reasonably priced with a PEG ratio of .58.

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

Growth & Income - Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT)

Abbott Laboratories, which is trading near a 52-week high, announced stellar results for the second quarter and boosted its full-year 2008 guidance in mid-July. Wall Street earnings forecasts have moved higher since. Full-year 2008 estimates of $3.27 per share advanced from $3.23 over the past 60 trading days. Year 2009 projections of $3.65 climbed from $3.60 over the same time frame.

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

Momentum - Almost Family, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFAM)

Almost Family continues to post strong results in this depressed economic environment. The company's second-quarter results were far ahead of analyst expectations and its share price has been rallying in response to higher earnings estimates.

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

Value - UniFirst Corp. (NYSE: UNF)

UniFirst Corp. recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of 3.75 cents per share. The company noted that the dividend will be paid on Oct. 3 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 12.

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