Zacks Brokerage Buy List: Cisco, Citigroup, ConocoPhillips and Eli Lilly.

CHICAGO -- Today Zacks.com releases the names of four more stocks that are on their coveted Brokerage Buy List portfolio. This portfolio includes just those stocks that currently appear on the core recommended lists of at least three of the top 14 brokerage firms. These stocks are considered the best large-cap stocks to own for the long term according to Wall Street's top players. Since January 2003, this portfolio has generated an annualized double-digit return. Here are four stocks that are currently members of this prestigious list: Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY). View the entire list of stocks on the Brokerage Buy List at http://at.zacks.com/?id=139

Here are the explanations as to why these stocks are on the Brokerage Buy List:

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) announced an agreement in mid-November to acquire Scientific-Atlanta, which is a leading provider of set-top boxes, end-to-end video distribution networks and video system integration. Cisco will pay $43 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Scientific-Atlanta, and assume outstanding options, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.9 billion, or approximately $5.3 billion net of Scientific-Atlanta's existing cash balance. Cisco's president and CEO stated that the combination brings unmatched experience and innovation in delivering large scale video systems and networks, while further extending Cisco's commitment to and leadership in the service provider market. Cisco remains on the lists of six leading brokerages. For its fiscal first quarter, the company posted earnings of 25 cents per share, excluding items, which topped the consensus by more than 4% and advanced from the year earlier. Net sales advanced 9.7% year-over-year to $6.5 billion.

Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) felt an impact from Hurricane Katrina in its third quarter, but remains one of the large-cap stocks to own for the long term with four of the top brokerage firms. Revenues in the quarter jumped 15% to $21.5 billion, as the company experienced a solid performance in its corporate and capital markets driven businesses. During the quarter, corporate and investment banking revenues advanced 35%. Such strength helped the company to offset sluggish revenue growth at its U.S. consumer franchise.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) announced, earlier this week, an agreement in which the company will acquire Burlington Resources for $35.6 billion. Burlington Resources is one of the world's largest independent oil and gas companies, and holds one of the industry's leading positions in North American natural gas reserves and production. The move was met with a good deal of skepticism on Wall Street, but ConocoPhillips' chairman and CEO said the acquisition will expand the company's portfolio of high quality, low-risk, long-lived gas reserves, and make it a leading producer of natural gas in North America. ConocoPhillips remains one of the best large-cap stocks to own with three of the leading brokerages. In its third quarter, the company reported earnings per share of $2.68 on total revenues of $49.7 billion. The earnings result improved from $1.43 in the prior year, while total revenues advanced from $34.7 billion. Earnings per share beat the consensus by more than 7%.

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is considered one of the best large-cap stocks to own for the long term by three of the leading brokerages. Eli Lilly said earlier this month that it is uniquely positioned to deliver sustained earnings growth, due to its products, pipeline and the fact that the firm expects no major patent expirations for the rest of the decade. The company expects 2006 earnings per share of $3.10 to $3.20, or 8% to 12% compared to expected 2005 adjusted earnings. Since 2001, the company said it has tripled its portfolio of products with nine new product launches and nine new indications and line extensions. Eli Lilly also expects earnings for 2005 to be at the high end of its guidance range.

To discover all the other profitable stock portfolios at Zacks.com, use this link: http://at.zacks.com/?id=140

About Zacks Brokerage Buy List

Zacks has developed many successful ways for individual investors to profit from the stock picking prowess of Wall Street professionals. The Brokerage Buy List is yet another powerful tool that investors can wield in order to improve their investment results. This portfolio is comprised of the core stocks recommended by at least three of the Top 14 brokerage firms. These are the kind of large-cap stocks that are best for long- term investors. Since January 2003, this portfolio has generated an annualized double-digit return. To learn more about the Brokerage Buy List, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=141

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 to compile, analyze, and distribute investment research to both institutional and individual investors. The guiding principle behind Zacks work is the belief that investment experts, such as brokerage analysts and investment newsletter writers, have superior knowledge about how to invest successfully. The goal is to unlock these pros' profitable insights for individual investors hard-pressed to find this valuable information in one source. A free subscription to "Profit from the Pros" weekly e-mail newsletter provides the best way to use these experts' insights for more profitable investing. Register for a free subscription to the Profit from the Pros newsletter at http://at.zacks.com/?id=142

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.

(a) The S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500") is a well-known, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard and Poor's. The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs, and represents the gross returns before management fees.

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.