Zacks.com Announces That Charles Carlson Highlights the Following Stocks: Exxon Mobil, Motorola, and Regions Financial.

CHICAGO -- Charles Carlson, editor of the DRIP Investor newsletter, recommends that investors stay with their oil stocks. Discover Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM). Also, read about Motorola (NYSE:MOT) and Regions Financial (NYSE:RF). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=84.

Highlights from the September 29 Featured Expert column by Charles Carlson include:

Oil prices, spurred by supply concerns, have continued to move higher, carrying with them oil stocks. Indeed, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), along with other major oil companies, have been posting all-time highs. The strength in the oil sector begs the question: How high is too high? To be sure, calling a top in oil prices -- and, therefore, a top in oil stocks -- has been a fool's errand of late. Just when it seems prices can't rise any more, another storm or supply-channel issue arises to lift prices even higher. Obviously, at some point oil prices will top out, and a sustained downward move in oil prices will cause selling in oil-related issues. Still, quality oil stocks have a lot going for them, including strong cash flows -- which will lead to sharply higher dividends -- and streamlined operating structures that will let them mint money even if oil prices drop back to the $50s. For that reason, Charles Carlson recommends that investors stay with their oil stocks, provided, of course, that these issues do not overwhelm their portfolios. Among the oil giants, Exxon remains an appealing holding. Exxon has a very user-friendly direct purchase plan.

One Editor's Portfolio stock on which Carlson has been beating the drum for several months is Motorola (NYSE:MOT), and the stock has responded by moving to new highs. New products have been well received, and the firm promises to remain at the cutting edge of the cellular phone business. Motorola has also been shedding non-critical businesses. Along these lines, the firm is reported to be exploring the sale of its automotive-electronics unit. A sale could fetch more than $1 billion. Revenue and profits are growing at rapid rates, and further growth is expected. Motorola offers a direct-purchase plan whereby any investor may buy shares directly, the first share and every share.

If you are concerned about the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on stocks in the Editor's Portfolio, the issue with perhaps the most direct exposure is Regions Financial (NYSE:RF). The company is a leading banking concern in the South, with outlets in a number of areas hit by the storms. The damage from the hurricanes could cause an uptick in loan defaults in the near term. However, the massive rebuilding that will be required in that region spells opportunity for the bank. Regions' direct-purchase plan has a minimum initial investment of $1,000. Subsequent investments may be as little as $100.

Read Charles Carlson's complete profiles of the stocks above and take a look at all the stocks in the Editor's Portfolio by clicking: http://at.zacks.com/?id=85.

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