2008-08-01 23:17:01 -

- 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: ITT Educational Services, Inc. (NYSE: ESI), Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO), FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) and EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME).

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 - ITT Educational Services, Inc. (NYSE: ESI)

ITT Educational Services recently announced solid second-quarter results, including higher than expected earnings, more successful graduates, and optimistic guidance for the rest of the year.

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

Growth & Income - Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO)

Flowers Foods, which announced a definitive agreement to acquire ButterKrust Bakery in Lakeland, Florida, boosted its dividend by 20% in late May. Its dividend yield of 2.1% is a standout in its industry. A few days before hiking its dividend, the company posted first-quarter earnings of 39 cents per share. The result was ahead of last year's 31 cents and topped the consensus estimate by 11.43%.

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

Momentum - FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN)

FTI Consulting has been one of the few companies to benefit from the financial stress circulating through our economy, as other companies turn toward FTI for assistance navigating challenging times. Analysts are bullish on the company's future, projecting 23% earnings growth for the next-year period.

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

Value - EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME)

EMCOR Group reported a record contract backlog at the end of the second quarter as revenues rose 25.6%. The company has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 19.14%. EMCOR's forward P/E is 12.28.

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:
Tracey Ryniec
Phone: 312-265-9232
Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: www.zacks.com