CHICAGO, April 24, 2012 /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: Valmont Industries (NYSE: VMI), WD-40 Company (Nasdaq: WDFC), Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH) and Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (NYSE: BLX).

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

From 1988 through the present – a period that included serious corrections and recessions – the Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the market with a fully documented average gain of +28% per year.

Here is a summary of today's selected stocks that are now highly rated by Zacks:          

Aggressive Growth – Valmont Industries (NYSE: VMI)
Valmont Industries is a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) following six straight positive earnings surprises and higher earnings estimates.

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

Growth & Income – WD-40 Company (Nasdaq: WDFC)
Estimates have been rising for WD-40 Company after the company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates on both the top and bottom lines, and management provided 2012 guidance above consensus.

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

Momentum – Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH)
Rarely will a stock that misses earnings estimates be selected as a momentum rank-buy; but given the details of the report, Sonic may have upside from these levels.

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

Value – Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (NYSE: BLX)
The Latin American banks look intriguing despite the chaos going on in Europe. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. recently reported first quarter results and easily blew by the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) is also an attractive value stock, with a forward P/E of just 9.2.

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

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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.

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SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.