Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: ITT Educational Services, Allied World Assurance Company, Steve Madden Ltd. and Hormel Foods Corporation

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – April 29, 2009 – 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. (ESI - Analyst Report), Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd. (AWH - Snapshot Report), Steve Madden Ltd. (SHOO - Snapshot Report) and Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL - Analyst Report).
    
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 +28%. 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. (ESI - Analyst Report)
ITT Educational Services beat analysts estimates once again as student enrollment continues to surge.

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

Growth & Income – Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd. (AWH - Snapshot Report)
Allied World is seeing bullish estimates from Wall Street ahead of its first-quarter report. Earnings forecasts for the full year are at $7.46 per share, up 4 cents from last month and 24 cents higher than the projections of 2 months ago. AWH is scheduled to report on May 7.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310
  
Momentum – Steve Madden Ltd. (SHOO - Snapshot Report)
Steve Madden pre-reported excellent first-quarter results last week that were far ahead of expectations, giving the company's share price a very nice boost.

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

Value – Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL - Analyst Report)
Hormel Foods, the food and meat products manufacturer, has surprised on estimates 5 out of the last 6 quarters. The 118-year old company recently announced its 323rd dividend payout. HRL is trading at 12.12x forward earnings.

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=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 http://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 http://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.

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.
 

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