Zacks Brokerage Buy List: First Data, Liberty Media, Nokia and Viacom.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004

Today Zacks.com releases the names of 4 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 15 brokerage firms. These stocks are considered the best large cap stocks to own for the long term according the Wall Streets top players. In 2003 this portfolio gained +28.5% outpacing the S&P 500. Here are 4 stocks that are currently members of this prestigious list: First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC), Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE:L), Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA.B). View the entire list of stocks on the Brokerage Buy List at http://at.zacks.com/?id=139

Here is a synopsis of why these stocks are on the Brokerage Buy List:

First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC) is a global leader in electronic commerce and payment services. Last week the company announced that it has completed its merger with Cashcard Australia Limited, a leading electronic payments service provider in the Australian marketplace. The combined entity will process more than 1 billion electronic payment transactions per year and operate over 8,000 ATMs in Australia. Just a bit earlier, FDC announced that its 2004 earnings per share will be 17 cents higher than previously expected, due to the gain from the sale of its 67% ownership interest in GCA. It said it now expects 2004 earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of $2.17 to $2.35. The company will announce first quarter numbers on April 22, 2004. Three top brokerage firms are expecting positive results and have FDC listed on their Focus Lists as a top stock.

Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE:L) has an impressive portfolio of media assets including; Starz Encore Group LLC, Discovery Communications, Inc., and QVC Inc. Yesterday it was reported that Liberty Media is in talks with News Corp to buy some of its international TV assets. There are certain small assets that the company feels fit Liberty better than News Corp. This continues a relationship between the two companies. Liberty acquired a 9.15% News Corp voting interest in January for 21.2 million non-voting shares and $693 million cash. Liberty also announced recently that it intends to spin-off to its shareholders a separate company comprised of its international businesses. The transaction, which is intended to be tax-free to shareholders, will create a new publicly-traded company called Liberty Media International, Inc. (LMI). This might be a great time to get on board with three of the top brokerage firms already recommending Liberty as a Core Holding.

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. The good news for the first quarter was that overall mobile device industry volume continued to grow at a very healthy pace of 29%, according to its preliminary estimate. However, Nokia's own first-quarter mobile device volume growth of 19%, slower than the market, reflected that Nokia was not able to fully exploit the usual seasonal market pick up in March. This doesn't seem to deter four of the top brokerage firms which are recommending Nokia as a Core Holding. Long-term device market share targets remain unchanged at 40%. The company's ability to release innovative products continue to be a strength. To date this year, Nokia has launched nine phone models: five with cameras, including their first mega-pixel camera phone; four CDMA phones; and the second generation N-Gage, the N-Gage QD game deck. The company's solid profitability should help alleviate any concerns investors have regarding the slower sales in the first quarter and look at good things longer-term.

Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA.B) is a diversified entertainment company with operations in six segments: Networks, Entertainment, Video, Parks, Publishing and Online. The company will report results for the first quarter 2004 on Thursday, April 22. Earlier this year a rift between Viacom and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) and its DISH Network made news as Dish Network clients went without their MTV. The issue was quickly resolved and the companies announced a long-term, multi-channel agreement. In February, Viacom reported that for the full year 2003, revenues increased +8% to a record $26.6 billion from $24.6 billion in the prior year. Advertising revenues also increased +8%. Affiliate fees for Cable Networks were up +9%. Also contributing to the company's revenue growth was an +11% increase at Entertainment, driven primarily by DVD sales. The company also announced that it will pursue the divestiture of Viacom's approximately 81% interest in Blockbuster, based on the conclusion that Blockbuster would be better positioned as a company completely independent of Viacom. This is an exciting time for Viacom and its shareholders and one-third of the top brokerage firms are recommending VIA.B on their Focus Lists.

To discover all the other profitable stock portfolios at Zacks.com then follow 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 3 of the Top 15 brokerage firms. These are the kind of large cap stocks that are best for long- term investors. In 2003 this portfolio gained +28.5% outpacing the S&P 500. To learn more about the Brokerage Buy List then visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=141

About Zacks

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