Zacks Releases Four "Strong Buy" or "Buy" Stocks: Canadian Solar, Fluor Corporation, Complete Production Services and Gulf Island Fabrication

Business Wire,  May 22, 2008  

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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: Canadian Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ), Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), Complete Production Services, Inc. (NYSE: CPX) and Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (Nasdaq: GIFI).

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 -- Canadian Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar is shining brightly these days. The entire sector is performing well and CSIQ is no exception. The earnings estimates trend is solidly bullish for CSIQ. Over the past week, this year's estimates have increased four cents to $1.60 per share. Analysts expect a huge 74.1% jump in earnings next year to $2.79 per share.

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

Growth & Income -- Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR)

Fluor Corporation recently posted first-quarter results that reflected growth in many areas, and as if that wasn't enough, FLR is rewarding shareholders with income. Quarterly earnings per share of $1.50 outpaced the year-ago 94 cents and eclipsed the consensus estimate by 19%. The company has also been quite bullish on its earnings guidance. FLR offers a solid ROE of 22%, which trounces the industry average of 9%. The company's dividend yield of 0.5% stands out in its industry as most of its peers offer no dividend.

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

Momentum -- Complete Production Services, Inc. (NYSE: CPX)

Complete Production Services, Inc. is cashing in on servicing oil companies that are flush with cash from sky-rocketing energy prices. The company's first-quarter results, reported on Apr, 24, were solid, showing a 12% increase in revenue when compared to the same period last year. Analyst estimates are up, and the company's stock price has been steadily advancing for the last three months.

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

Value -- Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (Nasdaq: GIFI)

Gulf Island Fabrication is benefiting from the hot crude market as demand is strong for drilling and production platforms. The company has surprised on estimates the last four quarters on average of 29.38%. Gulf Island has a forward P/E of 14.60.

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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