Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by it ...

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use a variety of methods, in ...

Bank OZK (OZK) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Since a changing earnings picture is a ...

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the ...

Group 1: Company Performance - Citizens & Northern (CZNC) shares increased by 5.2% to $20.49 in the last trading session, with a higher-than-average trading volume [1] - The bank is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 29.3%, and revenues are projected to be $28.5 million, up 3.7% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for CZNC has been revised 8.2% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that may lead to price appreciation [4] Group 2: Industry Context - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated a potential rate cut as early as September, which could lower funding and deposit costs, positively impacting the banking sector [2] - The banking sector's positive response to the Fed's shift from a "higher-for-longer" stance has contributed to the recent increase in CZNC stock [2] - Citizens & Northern is part of the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, which includes Bank OZK, also showing a positive performance with a 4.6% increase in its last trading session [4]

Core Insights - Markets began 2025 positively but have experienced significant volatility due to tariff pressures and geopolitical uncertainties, with rising expectations for a September FOMC rate cut amid a softening labor market and inflationary trade policy effects [1] Stock Selection Strategy - The current investment environment necessitates a conventional stock selection method, focusing on companies with steady sales growth. Notable companies include Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Textron Inc. (TXT), Bank OZK (OZK), and TransUnion (TRU) [2][9] Revenue and Financial Health - Investors prioritize revenue over earnings when evaluating companies, as increasing sales indicate a growing customer base and long-term potential. Conversely, stagnant or declining revenues may suggest operational challenges [3] - Revenue growth should be analyzed alongside a company's cash position, as strong cash reserves and healthy cash flow provide flexibility for growth and operational stability [4] Screening Parameters for Stock Selection - Stocks are shortlisted based on criteria including 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than the industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [5] - Additional metrics include a Price/Sales (P/S) Ratio lower than the industry average, positive % Change in F1 Sales Estimate Revisions compared to the industry, Operating Margin greater than 5%, Return on Equity (ROE) above 5%, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 [6][7][8] Company-Specific Insights - Microsoft (MSFT) is projected to have a 13.8% sales growth in 2025 and currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 [9][10] - Textron (TXT) anticipates a 7.7% sales growth in 2025, also with a Zacks Rank of 2 [11] - Bank OZK (OZK) expects a 4.2% increase in sales for 2025, maintaining a Zacks Rank of 2 [11] - TransUnion (TRU) forecasts a 6.9% sales growth in 2025 and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 [12]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1][2]. Company Overview: Bank OZK (OZK) - Bank OZK currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong potential for momentum investing [3]. - The bank has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned for outperformance in the market [4]. Price Performance - Over the past week, Bank OZK shares increased by 0.74%, while the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry remained flat [6]. - In the last month, shares rose by 13.07%, outperforming the industry’s 6.26% [6]. - Over the past quarter, shares have increased by 23.5%, and gained 15.93% over the last year, compared to the S&P 500's 18.84% and 15.9% respectively [7]. Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for Bank OZK is 1,129,165 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [8]. Earnings Outlook - In the last two months, four earnings estimates for Bank OZK have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, raising the consensus estimate from $6.10 to $6.31 [10]. - For the next fiscal year, three estimates have also moved upwards, indicating positive sentiment [10]. Conclusion - Considering the strong price performance, positive earnings outlook, and high Momentum Style Score, Bank OZK is recommended as a solid momentum pick for investors [12].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of the Zacks Rank system and its focus on earnings estimates and revisions to identify strong stocks [1] - Value investing is highlighted as a popular strategy for finding undervalued companies using fundamental analysis [2] - The Style Scores system is introduced, particularly the "Value" category, which helps identify stocks with high value grades and strong Zacks Ranks [3] Company Analysis: Bank OZK (OZK) - Bank OZK currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and an A grade for Value, indicating strong investment potential [4] - The Forward P/E ratio for OZK is 8.08, significantly lower than the industry average of 10.17, suggesting it may be undervalued [4] - Over the past year, OZK's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 6.06 and 8.78, with a median of 7.29 [4] - The P/B ratio for OZK is 1.06, which is attractive compared to the industry's average of 1.08, indicating a favorable valuation [5] - OZK's P/B ratio has ranged from 0.78 to 1.12 over the past 12 months, with a median of 0.96 [5] - The P/CF ratio for OZK is 7.15, well below the industry average of 17.15, further supporting the notion of undervaluation [6] - Over the past 52 weeks, OZK's P/CF has varied between 5.25 and 7.39, with a median of 6.33 [6] - Overall, the metrics suggest that Bank OZK is likely undervalued, and its strong earnings outlook positions it as one of the market's strongest value stocks [7]

Group 1 - Bank OZK shares have performed well over the past year, gaining 15% and nearing its 52-week high after a significant drop due to tariff concerns [1] - The company reported solid results, highlighted by unexpectedly strong performance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Bank OZK reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with earnings per share of $1.58, surpassing estimates and reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year increase [1][9] Financial Performance - Net income available to common shareholders was $178.9 million, up 3.1% from the prior year, exceeding the estimate of $162.9 million [2] - Net revenues reached $428 million, a 2.7% increase year-over-year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $417.7 million [3] - Net interest income (NII) was $396.7 million, up 2.3% year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $379.1 million [3] - Non-interest income increased to $31.3 million, an 8.7% rise year-over-year, although slightly below the estimate of $32.2 million [4] - Non-interest expenses rose to $153.2 million, an 11.4% increase from the prior year, exceeding the expected $150.2 million [4] Efficiency and Credit Quality - The efficiency ratio increased to 35.53%, up from 32.67% in the prior year, indicating a decline in profitability [5] - Total loans amounted to $33 billion, a 6.1% sequential increase, while total deposits reached $33.5 billion, up 5% [5] - Net charge-offs to average total loans were 0.10%, down 7 basis points year-over-year, and provision for credit losses decreased by 28.2% to $35.2 million [6] Profitability Ratios - Return on average assets was 1.81%, down from 1.92% in the previous year, and return on average common equity fell to 12.98% from 13.98% [7] Share Repurchase Program - Bank OZK repurchased 1.12 million shares for $43.2 million during the quarter and announced a new repurchase program worth $200 million effective July 1, 2025 [10] Industry Context - Other banks, such as Commerce Bancshares Inc. and Hancock Whitney Corp., also reported positive earnings, benefiting from increases in NII and non-interest income, although they faced challenges from higher provisions and expenses [12][13]