Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: First Cash Financial Services, A.O. Smith Corp, Stone Energy and Worthington Industries

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Apr 12, 2011, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, April 12, 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.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)

The four highlighted picks are: First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCFS), A.O. Smith Corp (NYSE: AOS), Stone Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: SGY) and Worthington Industries Inc. (NYSE: WOR).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free.

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 – First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCFS)

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. raised its guidance, resumed its buyback program and announced an acquisition which has analysts feeling bullish.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!)

Growth & Income – A.O. Smith Corp (NYSE: AOS)

A.O. Smith Corp announced in December 2010 that it was selling its Electrical Products segment to focus more on growing its water heating and water treatment businesses in fast-growing markets, such as China.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!)

Momentum – Stone Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: SGY)

Stone Energy Corp. has been trading like a rock star, recently hitting a new multi-year high as crude jumps above $110 a barrel. With estimates on the rise and a compelling valuation, this Zacks #1 rank stock is a momentum player.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!):

Value – Worthington Industries Inc. (NYSE: WOR)

Manufacturing continues to be the hot spot as the global recovery gains momentum. Worthington Industries Inc. recently easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 32%, sending shares to new 52-week highs. Despite the share surge, the company is still a value.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!)

How to Regularly Access Top Zacks Rank Picks for Free

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 here.

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.

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SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.