CHICAGO, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

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The four highlighted picks are: Entegris, Inc (Nasdaq: ENTG), The Valspar Corporation (NYSE: VAL), Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS) and Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC).

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

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 – Entegris, Inc (Nasdaq: ENTG)

Entegris, Inc shares jumped on a recent earnings surprise. But, thanks to rising estimates and shares retracing, ENTG is also a great value. Now could be a great time to get into this Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy).

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

Growth & Income – The Valspar Corporation (NYSE: VAL)

The Valspar Corporation recently delivered solid first quarter results as strong customer demand more than offset rising raw material prices and a declining gross margin..

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

Momentum – Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS)

Basic Energy Services has been one of the hottest names in energy, recently surging to a new multi-year high after reporting strong Q1 results that came in well ahead of expectations. With estimates jumping on the news, this Zacks #1 rank stock is will help you drill into momentum.

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

Value – Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC)

Don't write off Intel Corporation just yet. The tech titan surprised everyone by recently reporting record first quarter results. This Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) is cheap, trading at just 9.9x forward estimates.

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

How to Regularly Access Top Zacks Rank Picks for Free:  http://at.zacks.com/?id=7154

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 http://at.zacks.com/?id=7155  

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 http://at.zacks.com/?id=91

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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.

Zacks.com

Aggressive Growth Stocks:
Contact: Bill Wilton
Phone: 312-265-9277

or

Growth & Income Stocks:
Contact: Rob Plaza
Phone: 312-265-9442

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

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.