Zacks Brokerage Buy List: Anheuser Busch, Carnival Corporation, Citigroup and Johnson & Johnson

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: Anheuser Busch Companies Inc. (NYSE:BUD), Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL), Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) and HCA Inc. (NYSE:HCA). 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:

Anheuser Busch Companies Inc. (NYSE:BUD) is the leading beer manufacturer in the country. On May 31, Anheuser-Busch agreed to purchase an additional 6.9% in Harbin Brewery for a price of HK$5.58 per share. Together with the 29.1% purchased earlier in the month, Anheuser-Busch owns a total of 36% of Harbin Brewery. This adds to an already record first quarter performance. With strong growth from all of its major operating segments, BUD achieved record first-quarter sales and earnings results. Consolidated net sales increased +6% in the first quarter, while earnings per share increased +17.5%. Domestic revenue per barrel grew 3.1% in the first quarter 2004 vs. the first quarter 2003. This growth reflects the company's successful implementation of pricing actions on approximately two- thirds of its domestic volume in two phases - October 2003 and February 2004, and continued consumer trading up to the super premium Michelob family. Several top brokerage firms have BUD on their Focus Lists making it the king of beers.

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of 13 cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia. Carnival is the choice to many exotic destinations across the world. The company is also a key web site for vacation planners, and Carnival recently re-engineered its popular carnival.com Web site. It now offers a host of new and expanded features, including enhanced site navigation, streaming video, personalized content tailored to each visitor, and more 360-degree "virtual tours" of the "Fun Ship" fleet. The company has also taken many investors to higher profits. In March the company was named to "The BusinessWeek 50," a ranking of the top-performing companies of the S&P 500. It was the only leisure company on the list. In April Carnival reported stronger than expected first quarter results. Although this company is in a very volatile industry due to political and economic conditions beyond anyone's control, the company has managed to stay afloat during these trying times building an even bigger brand and solidifying their financials. This is why several top brokerage firms are willing to recommend CCL on their Focus Lists.

Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) is one of the most diversified financial institutions in the world, which is probably why 40% of the largest brokerage houses recommend it as a long term Core Holding. Recently, Citigroup announced that it will acquire Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. ("PRMI"). PRMI is one of the largest independent mortgage servicers in the United States. The company originates, purchases, sells and services home loans, consisting primarily of conventional, conforming, fixed-rate prime mortgages. It is owned by The Principal Financial Group. Citigroup continued a positive trend as it set record net income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $5.27 billion. This was a +29% increase over the first quarter of 2003. Earnings per diluted share of $1.01 represented a +28% increase over the prior year period. Results included a $180 million after-tax gain, or approximately 3 cents per share, from the sale of a portion of the company's electronic funds services business. Citigroup's record first quarter performance demonstrates their unique ability to capitalize on the continued strengthening of the global economy. They achieved double-digit income growth in each of their nine products as well as in every one of their regions, leading to their further recommendation by top brokerage firms.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products, as well as a provider of related services, for the consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical device and diagnostic markets. Johnson & Johnson announced sales for the first quarter of $11.6 billion, an increase of +17.7% over the prior year. The increase represented operational growth of +12.3% and a currency impact of +5.4%. Domestic sales were up +15.1%, while international sales increased+ 21.8%, including operational growth of +7.8% and a positive currency impact of +14.0%. Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter were $2.5 billion and 83 cents, increases of +20.4% and +20.3%, respectively, as compared with the same period in 2003. Prior-year first-quarter net earnings included after-tax in-process research and development charges of $15 million for costs associated with the acquisitions of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Orquest, Inc. The company also announced an +18.8% increase in the quarterly dividend rate, from 24 cents per share to 28.5 cents per share. The company has several new products in the pipeline and looks to be headed for another strong year, causing four top brokerage firms to list it 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

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 our work is the belief that investment experts, such as brokerage analysts and investment newsletter writers, have superior knowledge about how to invest successfully. Our goal is to unlock their profitable insights for our customers. And there is no better way to enjoy this investment success, then with a FREE subscription to "Profit from the Pros" weekly e-mail newsletter. For your free newsletter, visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=142

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 and 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.

SOURCE: Zacks.com

Zacks.com Jason Kissinger, 312-630-9880 x 260 myzacks@zacks.com www.Zacks.com

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