Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: Stepan Co., Target Corporation, Gap and Maidenform Brands

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 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: Stepan Co. (NYSE: SCL), Target Corporation
(NYSE: TGT), Gap, Inc. (NYSE: GPS) and Maidenform Brands, Inc. (NYSE: MFB).

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 +28%. 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 - Stepan Co. (NYSE: SCL)

Stepan Co. crushed Wall Street expectations with its latest earnings report.
Shared are moving sideways right now, but may resume the upward climb soon.

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

Growth & Income - Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT)

Target Corporation recently announced first-quarter earnings of 69 cents per
share, surpassing the consensus estimate by 15%. Sales of $14.4 billion came in
above last year`s $14.3 billion.

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

Momentum - Gap, Inc. (NYSE: GPS)

Gap is weathering the weak economy better than many of its competitors,
reporting first-quarter results last week that better than expected.

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

Value - Maidenform Brands, Inc. (NYSE: MFB)

Maidenform Brands, the maker of women's intimate apparel, saw sales leap 16.4%
in the first quarter as shapewear remained hot. The company has surprised on
estimates 4 consecutive quarters on average by 26.88%. MFB is trading with a PEG
ratio of 0.86.

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.

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.

Copyright Business Wire 2009