Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: Encore Capital Group, Inc., Harris Corp., Micrus Endovascular Corp. and Whirlpool Corporation

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – January 14, 2010 – 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: Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Snapshot Report), Harris Corp. (HRS - Analyst Report), Micrus Endovascular Corp. (MEND) and Whirlpool Corporation (WHR - Analyst Report).
    
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

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 – Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Snapshot Report)
Encore Capital Group, Inc. continues to trade at excellent valuations and analysts are projecting excellent growth over the next few years.

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

Growth & Income – Harris Corp. (HRS - Analyst Report)
Harris Corp. is outperforming the market on bullish forecasts. Analysts polled by Zacks are calling for earnings of $3.86 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2010, an upward revision of 54 cents over the past 3 months.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310
  
Momentum – Micrus Endovascular Corp. (MEND)
Micrus Endovascular Corp. is up huge over the last nine months after bottoming out with the overall market in early 2009. The company's strong Q3 results from November gave shares an extra push higher.

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

Value – Whirlpool Corporation (WHR - Analyst Report)
Whirlpool Corporation has seen international sales jump, especially in Brazil. WHR is trading with a forward P/E of 13.03.

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

How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free:  http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607
 
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=5607 

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=5642

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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.

Zacks.com

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

or

Growth & Income Stocks:
Contact: Alex Kolb
Phone: 312-265-9149

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.
 

Read the full analyst report on ECPG

Read the full analyst report on HRS

Read the full analyst report on MEND

Read the full analyst report on WHR