Zacks.com features the following top stocks in the machinery industry: Illinois Tool Works, Danaher Corporation, Dover Corporation, and IDEX Corporation.

CHICAGO -- Diversified machinery companies still hold potential for investors. Read about Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (NYSE:ITW), Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR), Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) and IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX). Discover the full story at Zacks.com http://at.zacks.com/?id=96.

What Do The All Stars Recommend:

Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (NYSE:ITW) earned $1.06 per share for its first quarter compared to 93 cents in the year-earlier period. The result matched Wall Street expectations. Revenues advanced 13% to $3.074 billion. The quarter's robust performance was attributed to two main factors; ongoing strength in the North American Specialty Systems' business units, along with contributions from acquisitions and translation. For the full year, Illinois Tool Works now expects earnings per share between $5.06 and $5.20. The mid-point of that range would represent earnings growth of 17%.

Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) announced a solid first quarter performance late last month. Diluted earnings per share of 58 cents jumped 29% from the same period in 2004 and also edged past the consensus by almost 2%. Sales improved 18.5% to $1.83 billion. Core revenues contributed 4% of the sales growth while acquisitions accounted for 13% and currency gains made up 1.5%. The company said it's well-positioned to deliver positive results for the balance of the year. Therefore, Danaher increased its guidance for the year to between $2.67 and $2.77, compared to its earlier forecast of $2.62 to $2.72.

Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) reported first quarter results last month that showed the company building on momentum established in 2004. Dover earned $100.3 million, or 49 cents per diluted share, during the quarter, compared to $83.8 million, or 41 cents, in the prior year. The result matched Wall Street expectations. Furthermore, sales jumped 17% to $1.45 billion from $1.24 billion. "I am encouraged by the fact that our results showed sequential improvement in sales, earnings, bookings and backlog, which suggest that we are likely to see continued improvement in the coming quarter," stated Ronald L. Hoffman, CEO.

IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX): Diluted earnings per share for IDEX's first quarter reached 45 cents, moving past the consensus by more than 2%. The result was also 10 cents better than the year-earlier total and marked the 11th straight quarter of year-over-year earnings growth. Sales advanced 17% to a new record of $252.1 million. Meanwhile, orders advanced 12% to $266.6 million while base business orders, which exclude acquisitions and foreign currency translation, advanced 5%.

For full analysis and top picks for this sector, click: http://at.zacks.com/?id=97.

About Zacks All Star Analyst Survey

Learn which brokerage analysts are the best in their field and what stocks they're recommending today at Zacks All Star Analyst survey.

This exclusive survey, created with Fortune Magazine, reveals the "Best-of-Breed" brokerage analysts. They are the select group of winners from a field of 5,500 brokerage analysts - the ones who consistently beat the street - the few that individual investors should be following. Visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=98.

All Star Top Picks Highlighted in FREE Investment Newsletter

Each week Zacks.com provides the All Star Top Picks for another sector followed by Wall Street's top analysts. It's included in Zacks free E-mail newsletter, "Profit from the Pros." and highlights the "All Star Portfolio," the exclusive stock list comprised only of stocks where 5 or more All Star Analysts consider it a strong buy. The only way to get these powerful insights is with a free subscription to the "Profit from the Pros" investment newsletter. Just visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=99.

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 expert's insights for more profitable investing. Register for a free subscription to the Profit from the Pros newsletter at http://at.zacks.com/?id=100.

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.

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.