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: Micrus Endovascular Corp. (Nasdaq: MEND), Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG), Central Garden & Pet Company (Nasdaq: CENT) and Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP).

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 -- Micrus Endovascular Corp. (Nasdaq: MEND)

Micrus Endovascular Corp. posted an unexpected profit last quarter and estimates have spiked.

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

Growth & Income -- Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG)

Packaging Corporation of America recently declared a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share. The company offers a dividend yield of 2.9%, beating the industry average of 1.8%. Shares have been outpacing the market, closing in on a 52-week high.

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

Momentum -- Central Garden & Pet Company (Nasdaq: CENT)

Central Garden & Pet Company is surging on higher estimates and another solid quarter that produced earnings that were better than expectations.

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

Value -- Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP)

Plains Exploration & Production Company is seeing production volumes pick up in the Haynesville Shale even as crude and natural gas prices remain far below 2008 prices. The company trades with a forward P/E of 9.02.

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.

SOURCE: Zacks.com

Zacks.com 
Aggressive Growth Stocks: 
Contact: Bill Wilton 
Phone: 312-265-9277 
or 
Growth & Income Stocks: 
Contact: Alex Kolb 
Phone: 312-265-9149 
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 
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about 
the performance numbers displayed in this press release.