CHICAGO, Jul 01, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

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: Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED), AO Smith Corp. (NYSE: AOS), Banco De Chile (NYSE: BCH) and Conn's Inc. (Nasdaq: CONN).

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 +26%. 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 -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED)

Medifast, Inc. analysts are raising estimates after a record setting quarter. The stock should see more investor attention after being added to a well known index.

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

Growth & Income -- AO Smith Corp. (NYSE: AOS)

AO Smith Corp. recently announced that it is experiencing better-than-expected demand in the sales of China water heaters and commercial water heaters.

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

Momentum -- Banco De Chile (NYSE: BCH)

Banco De Chile continues to pressure its multi-year high at $66.20 after posting an awesome 43% earnings surprise in late April. Estimates have since been on the rise, with the next-year estimate now projecting bullish 28% growth.

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

Value -- Conn's Inc. (Nasdaq: CONN)

Conn's Inc. has surprised on the Zacks Consensus two quarters in a row but sales have recently taken a dive. Is retail telling us the recovery is fading?

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

How to Regularly Access Top Zacks Rank Picks for Free: http://at.zacks.com/?id=7154

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=7155.

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.

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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.

SOURCE: Zacks.com

Zacks.com 
Aggressive Growth Stocks: 
Contact: Bill Wilton 
Phone: 312-265-9277 
or 
Growth & Income Stocks: 
Contact: Rob Plaza 
Phone: 312-265-9442 
or 
Momentum Stocks: 
Contact: Michael Vodicka 
Phone: 312-265-9226 
or 
Value Stocks: 
Contact: Tracey Ryniec 
Phone: 312-265-9232 
Email: pr@zacks.com 
Visit: www.zacks.com