Zacks Releases Four Powerful "Buy" Stocks: Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Casey's General Stores, Peabody Energy Corp and Layne Christensen Company

Business Wire, Oct 17, 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 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: Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULTA), Casey's General Stores (Nasdaq: CASY), Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU) and Layne Christensen Company (Nasdaq: LAYN).

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 30%. 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 - Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULTA)

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance continues to aggressively expand its footprint across the U.S. The beauty retailer and salon is also coming of off its third earnings surprise and is priced at a reasonable PEG ratio of 0.58.

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

Growth & Income - Casey's General Stores (Nasdaq: CASY)

Casey's General Stores has been trading ahead of the broader market amid recent turmoil and over the long-term. CASY has been consistently outperforming the Dow Jones ($DJI), S&P 500 (SPX) and the Nasdaq (COMP). The company offers a dividend yield of 1.2%, while the majority of its industry peers pay no dividend at all.

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

Momentum - Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU)

Peabody Energy Corp. just posted amazing third-quarter results. The company's share price is trading sharply lower on the year, creating an opportunity to purchase shares in this growth stock at a discounted price.

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

Value - Layne Christensen Company (Nasdaq: LAYN)

Layne Christensen Company has seen its stock fall in the market sell-off despite posting record revenues that grew 23.8% in the second quarter. LAYN has surprised on earnings 3 out of the last 4 quarters on average by 19.18%. Layne has a forward P/E of 8.05.

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.

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