Zacks Buy List Highlights: Acuity Brands, Hewlett-Packard Co., Walter Industries and Worthington Industries

Business Wire, April 16, 2008

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Every day on Zacks.com, four stock picks are made based on criteria for the each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI), Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), Walter Industries Inc. (NYSE: WLT) and Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR).

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of 32.2% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Here is a synopsis of today's Zacks Rank Buy Stocks:

Aggressive Growth - Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI)

Acuity Brands is seeing the light. Strong margins, new products, and pricing power have all helped earnings. Over the past month, this year's earnings estimates have jumped 22 cents to $3.92 per share. All three covering analysts have increased their forecasts as well. The company has posted an average surprise of 7.7% over the past four quarters.

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

Growth & Income - Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ)

Hewlett-Packard Co. is scheduled to report fiscal second-quarter results on May 15, 2008. The company continues to be a solid Growth and Income pick. HPQ announced first-quarter results in mid-February, setting its non-GAAP full-year 2008 guidance at a range of $3.50 to $3.54. Wall Street has earnings pegged at $3.52 for the year ending October 2008, versus the two months-ago forecasts of $3.36. HPQ sports a dividend yield of 0.7%, a solid yield considering that HP is operating in an industry that is not big on paying dividends.

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

Momentum - Walter Industries Inc. (NYSE: WLT)

Walter Industries shares have been surging forward on the company's ability to increase its metallurgical coal production capacities. Metallurgical coal is a primary component used to produce steel. In addition, the company announced in February that it is initiating a strategic restructuring of its homebuilding and financing division in order to separate that segment from its natural resources segment. This should provide the company with additional financial flexibility in order to better leverage opportunities in its resources division.

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

Value - Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR)

Worthington Industries is benefiting from the hot steel sector as the company sells to a diverse group of industries, including the expanding agricultural sector. The company has beaten Wall Street estimates in two out of the prior four quarters on average of 7.56%. Worthington has a P/E of 13.73.

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

The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of 32.2%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 129% annually ( 5.3% vs. 12.1%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks Rank Buy stocks and highlights those stocks poised to outperform the market. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=90.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros http://at.zacks.com/?id=91