Zacks Releases Four "Strong Buy" Stocks: China Medical Technologies, Accenture, CSX Corporation and Western Digital

Business Wire, April 4, 2008

CHICAGO -- 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 stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value. Today's four highlighted picks are: China Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMED), Accenture Ltd. (NYSE: ACN), CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) and Western Digital Corporation (NYSE: WDC).

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 - China Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMED)

China Medical is a cheap stock with lots of upside. The company is keeping up its end of the bargain by routinely exceeding analyst views. CMED has posted an average surprise of 19.1% over the past four quarters. During the last month, this year's earnings estimates have increased six cents to $1.58 per share. Analysts expect a further 47% jump to $2.31 next year.

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

Growth & Income - Accenture Ltd. (NYSE: ACN)

Accenture, a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) company, posted fiscal second-quarter earnings of 64 cents per share in late March, exceeding the consensus estimate by 12% and surpassing the year-prior result. Net revenues of $5.61 billion jumped ahead of the previous year's total by 18%. The company upped its earnings guidance for the full fiscal year as did Wall Street. The great thing about Accenture is that its solid fundamental growth is not its only positive feature. The consulting company also offers income, currently yielding about 1.2%. ACN also boasts an appealing ROE of 73%, which is well above the industry average of 11%.

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

Momentum - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX)

CSX Corporation shares received a very nice little pop when the company boosted its first quarter guidance on Mar 31. This news came on the heels of the company's very solid fourth-quarter and full-year results in which its quarterly profit was up 5% from the same period last year. Put these two factors together and you have a recipe for a stock that is on the move. CSX shares are up close to 30% on the year.

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

Value - Western Digital Corporation (NYSE: WDC)

Western Digital is showing no signs that a global slowdown is affecting the hard drive market as electronic gadgets remain hot with consumers. The company is a hybrid of both a growth and a value pick. Earnings are projected to grow by 13.1% over the next five years yet Western Digital has a 2008 P/E of only 6.75.

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.