Today we are featuring top-performing “Income" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of companies.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Income Equity Funds.

3 Strong Samples

Azzad Ethical Income (AEIFX) seeks current income and capital with long-term capital appreciation as a secondary consideration.

The fund normally invests at least 80% of assets in equity securities of dividend paying companies. It may invest in foreign securities and acceptable fixed income bank deposits or securities.

Aluminum Corp of China Ltd. (ACH), Wyeth (WYE) and Buckle Inc. (BKE) are among the fund’s key holdings.

Pioneer Equity Income A (PEQIX) was incepted in July 1990. The investment seeks current income and long-term growth of capital.

The fund invests at least 80% of total assets in income producing equity securities of U.S.

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  Aeropostale Inc.’s (ARO) fiscal second-quarter net income surged 83.3% year over year to $38.6 million. Earnings per share came in at 57 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The performance was also higher than the company’s upgraded guidance of 54 cents to 55 cents per share announced earlier this month. The specialty retailer for teenagers recorded a robust 20.1% year-over-year growth in sales to $453 million driven by a 12% expansion in same-store sales. The result was also helped by an 8% growth in weighted square footage as the company added 48 stores across the U.S., Canada and Dubai, compared to the year-ago quarter. Low-priced teen retailers such as Aeropostale and Buckle Inc. (BKE) have been able to negotiate recessionary headwinds successfully by offering value to price conscious customers. On the other hand, a more expensive competitor, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (...

Lubrizol Corp. (LZ) recently spiked on its preannouncement of second-quarter earnings that are projected to come in above expectations.

LZ Hikes Outlook

The company sees adjusted earnings of $2.02 per share. The quarterly results are scheduled for release on July 30.

Shares have been outperforming the market and are 16% ahead of where they were trading 3 weeks ago, when LZ was last featured as a Growth and Income pick.

Analysts Followed Suit

Wall Street analysts upped their second-quarter earnings forecasts to $2.02 per share from last week's $1.21.

For the year, analysts are calling for earnings of $4.25 per share, versus last week's $4.25. For 2010, the consensus estimate of $4.71 is above last week's $4.68. The most accurate estimate for both years is a more bullish $4.81.

Read the June 26, 2009 commentary on LZ.

Last Week's Growth and Income Zacks Rank Buy

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The Zacks Rank Buys featured in this article are: Gymboree Corp (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 7, 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: Buckle, Inc. (BKE), Nordson Corporation (NDSN), Healthsouth Corp. (HLS) and SYNNEX Corporation (SNX).     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 stocks

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Shares of Dress Barn, Inc. (DBRN) are up more than 9% today on heavy volume of 3 million shares, compared to the average of around 1.14 million.

< ?DART(15);?> The company has made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for Thursday after announcing a merger agreement with Tween Brands, Inc. (TWB). (By the way, shares of TWB have soared about 30% in response to the deal.)

Earnings estimates for DBRN have been steady for the past month, but remain higher than 2 months ago. Analysts currently expect $1.05 for the fiscal year ending July 2009, which is 14% higher than 60 days ago.

Meanwhile, the consensus for the fiscal year ending July 2010 is $1.23, or approximately 17% atop this fiscal year's outlook. The past 2 months have seen an almost 13% advance in the guidance.

A Move to Diversify

Specifically, the

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The Zacks Rank Buys featured in this article are: Elbit Systems Ltd. (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 12, 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: Buckle Inc. (BKE), Ross Stores Inc. (ROST), Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM) and Big Lots Inc. (BIG).     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

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Buckle, Inc. (...

Buckle Inc. (...