Zacks Releases Four "Strong Buy" or "Buy" Stocks: Big Lots, Abbott Laboratories, Cellcom Israel Ltd. and Mirant Corporation

Business Wire,  April 24, 2008  

Tags: Abbott Laboratories Inc., stock

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CHICAGO -- Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry's leading independent research firm highlights a Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy stock or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value. Today's four highlighted picks are: Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL) and Mirant Corporation (NYSE:MIR).

Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buys have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +31%. 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%.

To see the secret behind this performance, investors are invited to download the free special report, Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions. http://at.zacks.com/?id=4422.

Here is a summary of today's Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy Stocks:

Aggressive Growth - Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG)

Big Lots, Inc. is growing operating profits and generating ample cash flow despite a difficult retailing environment. It's recently reported fourth quarter produced a nice earnings surprise. Over the past four quarters, it has posted an average surprise of 39.7%.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4423

Growth & Income - Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT)

Abbott Laboratories recently posted first-quarter results, demonstrating strong growth. Earnings and sales increased with help from the company's blockbuster drug Humira. ABT is a rewarding pick from a dividend perspective as well. The company increased its quarterly dividend to 36 cents per share, which is 10.8% higher. ABT's dividend yield is very competitive within its industry, at 2.8%, as most pharmaceuticals do not pay a dividend.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4424

Momentum - Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL)

Cellcom Israel Ltd. shares have been rallying for the last two weeks after briefly dipping lower and trading beneath the $30 mark. With this stock trading above $34, it is now once again in range to challenge the 52-week and all-time high just above $35. The fundamentals support the share growth trajectory, with the company reporting excellent full-year and fourth-quarter results on Mar 18. In addition, estimates continue to rise. The current-year estimate has tacked on six cents in just the last 30 days, moving to its current projection of $2.41 per share.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4425

Value - Mirant Corporation (NYSE: MIR)

Mirant is using its size to generate outsized profits in the electricity market. The company is giving $4.6 billion back to shareholders in the form of stock repurchases. Mirant is trading at 13x forward earnings.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4426

The Zacks Rank Discovery

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.

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 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=4427

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.

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

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