Zacks Buy List Highlights: Intuitive Surgical, Intevac, Inc., Salesforce.com, and Del Monte Foods Co.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List. The #1 Rank stocks highlighted today are Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) and Intevac, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVAC). Further, Zacks announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) and Del Monte Foods Co. (NYSE:DLM). To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +33% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%.

Here is a synopsis of why ISRG and IVAC have a Zacks Rank of 1. Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to only 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks:

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) recently posted third-quarter earnings of 55 cents per share, topping last year's 17 cents and soaring past the consensus estimate by about 96%. The company noted that its quarterly financial results reflect the continued adoption of da Vinci Surgery, which enables surgeons and medical centers to provide the high-value procedures sought after by today's highly informed patients. Earnings estimates for the year ending December 2005 were revised upward by 12 cents, or almost 8%, over the past seven trading days.

Intevac, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVAC) recently released third-quarter earnings of 29 cents per share, which more than tripled last year's seven cents and exceeded analysts' expectations by approximately 26%. The company mentioned that its quarterly results reached record levels in terms of both revenue and profitability. Full year 2005 earnings estimates are above one month ago levels by two cents, or about 3%.

Here is a synopsis of why CRM and DLM have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Note that a #2 Buy rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks:

Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) recently delivered fiscal third-quarter non-GAAP earnings of five cents per share, surpassing last year's two cents and outpacing the consensus estimate by 25%. The company said this has been a quarter of seismic shifts in its industry, and the strength of its numbers clearly indicates that the market is moving toward salesforce.com. During the past five quarters, CRM was ahead of analysts' expectations four times and matched estimates once.

Del Monte Foods Co. (NYSE:DLM) topped or matched earnings estimates four times out of the past five quarters. In early September, the company posted fiscal first-quarter earnings of eight cents per share, eclipsing the consensus estimate by 60% and outperforming the year prior result. DLM noted that its aggressive supply chain cost reduction program continues to deliver savings.

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About the Zacks Rank

For over 16 years, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of +33%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 155.5% annually (+4.6% vs. +11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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