Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: Energen Corp., Williams Companies, Nordson Corp. and Spectra Energy Corporation

The four highlighted picks are: Energen Corp. (NYSE: EGN), Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB), Nordson Corp. (Nasdaq: NDSN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) and Spectra Energy Corporation (NYSE: SE).

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 - Energen Corp. (NYSE: EGN)

Energen Corp. shares have been pumping out great returns for the last two years, advancing behind continued growth in the company's earnings. As a holding company for other energy companies, Energen has provided itself with more diversification and stability, a quality that is paying-off right as some energy companies have suffered losses on the heels of crude's decline.

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

Growth & Income - Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB)

Williams Companies, a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) name, just declared a dividend of 11 cents per share. The company noted that the dividend is payable Sept. 8, 2008 to holders of record at the close of business on Aug. 22, 2008. WMB has a solid history of paying income since 1974 and is expected to have a future of strong growth as its earnings per share are estimated to grow by 15% over the next 3 - 5 years. The industry average earnings growth expectation is much lower at 8%.

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

Momentum - Nordson Corp. (Nasdaq: NDSN)

Nordson Corp. shares have been in rally mode for most of 2008, recently rebounding after a small setback and racing back to the 52-week high. Estimates have been climbing with the share price, providing much desired fundamental strength to a great move. The company is bullish on its future, recently raising its third-quarter earnings projection while reporting its second-quarter results.

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

Value - Spectra Energy Corporation (NYSE: SE)

Spectra Energy is cashing in on its natural gas infrastructure as commodity prices soar. The company has beaten 3 out of the last 4 quarters by 17.77%. Spectra has a forward P/E of 13.53.

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.

SOURCE: Zacks.com

Zacks.com Aggressive Growth Stocks: Contact: Michael Vodicka Phone: 312-265-9226 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