Zacks Buy List Highlights: World Wrestling Entertainment, AU Optronics Corp., AK Steel Holding Corporation and Trico Marine Services

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Every day on Zacks.com, four stock picks are made based on criteria for the each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE), AU Optronics Corp. (NYSE: AUO), AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS) and Trico Marine Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMA).

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +32.2% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Here is a synopsis of today’s Zacks Rank Buy Stocks:

Aggressive Growth – World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE)

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is putting a Full Nelson on the competition. It is interesting to note that its consumer products division showed impressive growth even though the economy is struggling. These results show that the company could be immune to an impending recession. Over the past 30 days, this year's earnings estimates have risen almost 10% to 87 cents per share.

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

Growth & Income – AU Optronics Corp. (NYSE: AUO)

AU Optronics Corp. recently posted preliminary consolidated and unconsolidated revenue for January. While the results registered slight decreases from December, year-over-year results increased by significant margins. AU Optronics’ ROE of 27% sits high above the industry average of 7%. The company’s net profit margin of 14% also boasts a comfortable lead over the industry’s average of 2.3%.

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

Momentum – AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS)

AK Steel Holding Corporation has been benefiting from the shifting dynamics in the domestic and global steel markets. Domestic supplies have been diminishing as importers attempt to avoid negative currency translations, while global demand is surging as a result of emerging market demand from countries like China and India. These conditions led to very strong full-year results for AK Steel, with income growing to $387.7 million from just $12 million in 2006.

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

Value – Trico Marine Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMA)

Trico Marine Services, a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy), company is finding that servicing the oil and gas sector during record high crude prices translates into higher profits. The company easily beat fourth quarter estimates by 67.61 percent and is seeing record day rates for some of its vessels.

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

The free special report, “Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions,” provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of +32.2%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 129% annually (+5.3% vs. +12.1%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

The performance of the Zacks Rank portfolios for annual and year-to-date periods are the linked monthly total returns (price changes + dividends) of equal weighted hypothetical portfolios, consisting of those stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank, assuming monthly rebalancing and zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios. The hypothetical portfolios were created at the beginning of each month from January 1988 forward based on the values of the Zacks Rank available to Zacks' clients before the beginning of each month. The portfolios created monthly from 1988 through September 2006 exclude ADRs and are comprised of stocks that have the indicated Zacks Rank and were covered by at least two analysts at the time of the stocks inclusion in the portfolio. Starting in October 2006 and going forward, the portfolios are comprised of all stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank and do not exclude ADRs, which is more reflective of the list of stocks that customers will find on the Zacks web sites. These performance numbers have been audited from 1995 through 2003 by Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP.

Performance information for other Zacks’ portfolios and strategies is available at: http://www.zacks.com/performance

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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.