Highlighted stocks include Dress Barn, Inc. (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 30, 2009 - 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: Geokinetics, Inc. (GOK), Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM), Wright Express Corp. (WXS) and Aaron's Inc. (AAN).     Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

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

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Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include Cubic Corporation (CUB), Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST), Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY), Aaron's, Inc. (AAN) and DeVry Inc. (DV).

Cubic Corporation (CUB) has watched analysts hike earnings estimates since it was last featured as a Growth and Income pick in Late May. For the fiscal year ending September 2009, Wall Street forecasts of $2.05 per share are up 2% over the past month and 8% over the past 60 days.

For the following year, analysts see earnings of $2.23 per share, versus last month's

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Aaron's, Inc. (AAN) has traded well ahead of the market over the past year, spiking on a record first quarter. The company, which offers an industry-leading yield of 0.21%, recently declared a dividend of $.017 per share.

Company Description

Aaron Rents caters to the moderate-income customer, offering affordable payment plans and quality merchandise. The company is considered a pioneer in the furniture rental industry, leasing and selling residential and office furniture, consumer electronics as well as home appliances and accessories.

The company was founded by R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. who has held the position of Chairman since it's inception in 1955. Aaron Rents has more than 1,590 company operated and franchised stores in the United States and Canada. The Company also manufactures furniture and bedding at 12 facilities in five states.

Rewarding Shareholders with Income

Aaron Rents, which offers an industry-leading yield of

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Aaron’s Inc. is a NYSE-listed company, founded in 1955 in Atlanta, GA, formerly known as Aaron Rents, that operates 1,053 and franchises 504 consumer electronics, appliance, and residential/office furniture sales/lease stores in the U.S.A. and Canada. Some of the items AAN offers include widescreen, LCD televisions, computers; upholstered living-room furniture like sofas, sofa beds, chairs, modular sofas; bedroom furniture like bedding, mattresses, and box springs; dining room furniture; washers, dryers, refrigerators, lawn tractors; office furniture like desk, credenzas, conference tables, bookcases, and chairs. These items come from brands such as JVC, Mitsubishi, Philips, LG, Sony, Dell, HP, Simmons, Frigidaire, GE, and Sharp.

It is obvious by just looking at the business that Aaron’s Inc. is in that you do not need a Master’s degree in Computer Science to fully understand what this company is doing. While that is good …

Aaron’s Inc (NYSE: AAN): Stock of the Day

Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

Renting Becomes Fashionable… Or Not?

After the bell yesterday, we had a double whammy on earnings surprises.

Both Aaron’s Inc (NYSE: AAN) and Rent-a-Center (Nasdaq: RCII) reported upside surprises… but the end result couldn’t be more different.

Aaron’s reported EPS of $0.65 versus an expected $0.52 percent, a 25% surprise.

It appears as though Aaron’s 1,577 total locations has found new cash-strapped consumers looking to rent or lease rather than purchase home furnishings. Revenues increased 15% for the first quarter, year-over-year.

So did the same happen at Rent-A-Center? Yes… kind of.

Rent-A-Center checked in with $0.65 per share, 20% over the expected $0.54.

But the EPS surprise came from some cost cutting measures that improved margins, not from revenue growth.

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Aaron's Inc (AAN) Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOY) ATS Medical Inc (ATSI) Banco Santander SA (STD) Bankinter SA (BKNIY) Boise Inc (BZ) The Cheesecake Factory Inc (CAKE) Coinstar Inc (CSTR) Danvers Bancorp Inc (DNBK) Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ) Dresser-Rand Group Inc (DRC) First Community Bancshares Inc (FCBC) Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (FDP) Health Management Associates Inc (HMA) Healthsouth Corp (HLS) Ikanos Communications Inc (IKAN) Inventure Group Inc (SNAK) Kubota Corp (KUB) Middleburg Financial Corp (MBRG) NetEase.com Inc (NTES) Netflix Inc (NFLX) Neutral Tandem Inc (TNDM) Northrim BanCorp Inc (NRIM) P F Chang's China Bistro (PFCB) Pozen Inc (POZN) Ruby Tuesday Inc (RT) Steven Madden Ltd (SHOO) The TJX ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Aarons Inc (AAN) Amkor Technology Inc (AMKR) Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.B) Crocs Inc (CROX) Cytori Therapeutics Inc (CYTX) Dana Holding Corp (DAN) Depomed Inc (DEPO) Endologix Inc (ELGX) First Place Financial Corp (FPFC) Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc (GMCR) Hecla Mining Co (HL) Internet Initiative Japan Inc (IIJI) Mag Silver Corp (MVG) Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) Medco Health Solutions Inc (MHS) Mercury Computer Systems Inc (MRCY) MutualFirst Financial Inc (MFSF) Navios Maritime Partners LP (NMM) Nissan Motor Co Ltd (NSANY) Nu Skin Enterprises Inc (NUS) Old Republic International Corp (ORI) Rackspace Hosting Inc (RAX) S Y Bancorp Inc (SYBT) Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) Skyworks Solutions Inc (SWKS) TriQuint Semiconductor ...