Zacks Buy List Highlights: Mercury Interactive Corporation, Toll Brothers, QLogic Corporation and Western Digital Corporation.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted Zacks #1 Ranked list. The #1 ranked stocks highlighted today include the following companies: Mercury Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ:MERQ) and Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL). Further they announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QLGC) and Western Digital Corporation (NYSE:WDC). To see the full Zacks #1 Ranked list or the rank for any other stock then visit. http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buys) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +33.4% since inception in 1988. During the recent Bear market from 2000 through 2002, the Zacks #1 Ranked stocks gained +43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%.

Here is a synopsis of why these stocks have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks:

Mercury Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ:MERQ) earnings estimates for the December 2005 year are above levels from two months ago by 18 cents, or approximately +13%. In early February, the company reported fourth quarter non-GAAP net income of 42 cents per diluted share, which beat the consensus figure of 38 cents. Revenue improved +34% year-over-year to $204.3 million from $152.0 million. Mercury Interactive said that 2004 was its most successful year ever, adding that its customers are expanding their investments in Mercury Optimization Center offerings as they take an enterprise approach to streamlining IT.

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) earnings estimates for the year ending October 2005 climbed 85 cents, or almost +12%, from two months ago. In early March the company reiterated continued strong demand for luxury homes, stating that its well ahead of last year as community count now stands at 225, compared to 205 a year-ago. Toll Brothers posted fiscal first quarter earnings of $1.33 per diluted share in late February, outperforming last year's 62 cents and exceeding the consensus by almost +17%.

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

QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QLGC), which has topped or matched the consensus for the past 13 consecutive quarters, released non-GAAP fiscal third quarter net income of 48 cents per diluted share in January. That result improved upon last year's 39 cents and exceeded the consensus by about +4%. Third quarter net revenues increased +10% over the prior year to a record $150.3 million. QLogic stated that growth in its revenues during the third quarter was primarily driven by double digit sequential growth for both HBAs and switches.

Western Digital Corporation (NYSE:WDC) recently announced its fiscal third quarter earnings per share guidance of 29 cents to 31 cents, which was higher than the consensus and its previous forecast of 16 cents to 19 cents. One of the reasons cited for the increase was better than anticipated consumer demand for hard drives. The company has experienced a number of upward revisions from analysts, and earnings estimates for the year ending June 2005 advanced by 2 cents, or almost +3%, over the past 60 trading days.

Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report; "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions" Is available free to provide this insightful background. Download a free copy now to prosper in the years to come. http://at.zacks.com/?id=89

About the Zacks Rank

For over 15 years, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988 the #1 Ranked stocks have generated an average annual return of +33.4%. During the recent Bear market from 2000 through 2002, the Zacks #1 Ranked 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). And since 1988 the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Ranked Strong Sells by 133.5% annually (12.21% vs. 5.23% respectively). Thus, the Zacks Rank system can truly be used to effectively manage the portfolio trading.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks #1 Ranked stocks highlighting those stocks poised to outperform the market. http://at.zacks.com/?id=90

The Zacks Rank, and all of its recommendations, is created by Zacks & Co., member NASD. Zacks.com displays the Zacks Rank with permission from Zacks & Co. on its web site for individual investors.

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 Profit from the Pros http://at.zacks.com/?id=91

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 & 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.