Zacks Releases Four ''Strong Buy'' Stocks: Priceline.com, Vimpel-Communications, Potash Corp. and Boots & Coots International Well Control

CHICAGO--(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 stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value. Today’s four highlighted picks are: Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN), Vimpel-Communications (NYSE: VIP), Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT) and Boots & Coots International Well Control (AMEX: WEL).

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 – Priceline.com Incorporated (Nasdaq: PCLN)

It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that Priceline.com Incorporated embodies aggressive growth. Its share price has increased from about $100 per share in the beginning of this year to Tuesday’s closing share price of $123.06. This is during a time when most companies have struggled. PCLN boasts a much more bullish share price increase over a full-year period as its share price more than doubled its March 19, 2007 level of $54.20 per share. The company’s fundamentals spell out aggressive growth also as evidenced by fourth-quarter net income of $32.9 million, versus the year-prior $13.2 million.

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

Growth & Income – Vimpel-Communications (NYSE: VIP)

Vimpel-Communications recently posted fourth-quarter and full-year 2007 results, noting that revenues exceeded $7 billion and grew at a remarkable rate of 47%. The company exhibited growth in many areas, but growth is not the only story for this Growth & Income pick. VIP also offers a dividend yield of 0.9%, which is better than the industry average. The company’s ROE of 31% also tops the industry average of 10%.

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

Momentum – Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT)

Potash Corp. continues to benefit from the big boom in agricultural as demand for its crop nutrient products continues to surge. The company's fourth quarter results, reported on Jan 24, were awesome. Revenue jumped 39% and income more than doubled from the same period last year. Estimates continue to rise, with the current-year estimate gaining 29 cents in just the last 30 days and moving to its current projection of $7.51 per share.

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

Value – Boots & Coots International Well Control, Inc. (AMEX: WEL)

Boots & Coots is finding growth and higher profits in being specialists in oil well emergency response. The company surprised on earnings by 166.67% in the fourth quarter. Analysts forecast juicy year-over-year growth of 113.64% for 2008. The company trades with a P/E of only 6.41.

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.