Market Overview - The stock market is experiencing a new wave of uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and weaker-than-expected economic data, particularly in U.S. retail sales for May [1][2] - The Israel-Iran conflict has escalated, contributing to investor unease [1] - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is a focal point, with expectations that weak economic data may lead to a more dovish stance from policymakers [2] Investment Strategy - In the current volatile market environment, a value investing approach focusing on fundamentally strong companies with reasonable prices is recommended [3] - Companies with high earnings yields are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [3] Earnings Yield Insights - Earnings yield is a key metric for assessing potential returns, calculated by dividing earnings per share by stock price [4] - A higher earnings yield may indicate undervaluation, while a lower yield could suggest overvaluation [5] - Comparing earnings yield to the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds can help determine investment worthiness [5] Screening Criteria - The primary screening criterion is an earnings yield greater than 10% [6] - Additional parameters include estimated EPS growth exceeding the S&P 500 and an average daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares [7][6] - Stocks must also have a current price of $5 or more [8] Selected Stocks - Five stocks with earnings yields above 10% and strong growth potential have been identified: - **Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN)**: Expected earnings growth of 226% and 81% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [10] - **Quanex Building Products Corporation (NX)**: Projected earnings growth of 19.6% and 14% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, also with a Zacks Rank 1 [11] - **Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 62% and 13% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [12] - **Popular, Inc. (BPOP)**: Expected earnings growth of 17% and 20% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [13] - **Priority Technology Holdings Inc. (PRTH)**: Projected earnings growth of 108% and 34% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [14]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than the traditional "buying low and selling high" approach, aiming for quicker profits [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Investors are attracted to fast-moving stocks, but determining the right entry point can be challenging, as stocks may lose momentum if future growth does not justify their high valuations [2] - A safer strategy involves investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify promising stocks [3] Group 2: Case Study - Priority Technology (PRTH) - PRTH has shown a four-week price change of 5.7%, indicating growing investor interest and recent price momentum [4] - Over the past 12 weeks, PRTH gained 0.8%, with a beta of 1.51, suggesting it moves 51% more than the market in either direction [5] - PRTH has a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest, and it has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates [6][7] - The stock is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.71, meaning investors pay 71 cents for each dollar of sales, indicating a reasonable valuation [7] Group 3: Additional Opportunities - Besides PRTH, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8] - Investors can explore over 45 Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to identify potential winning stocks [9]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's academic and professional background in Machine Learning, Economics, and Finance, highlighting affiliations with prestigious institutions and experience in financial advisory, particularly in banking and mergers & acquisitions [1]. Group 1 - The author holds a PhD in Machine Learning with a focus on Economics and Finance [1]. - The author has academic affiliations with IESE Business School, ESADE Business School, and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center [1]. - The professional experience includes working at Deloitte Financial Advisory, specializing in banking and mergers & acquisitions [1]. Group 2 - The author's interests include machine learning and generative AI applications in finance and economics [1]. - The author is proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL [1].

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced significant gains in May, with the S&P 500 increasing by 6.2% and the Nasdaq rising by 9.6%, marking the best month for both indices since late 2023 [1] - Investor optimism was fueled by a temporary pause on new trade tariffs announced by Trump, alleviating fears regarding trade tensions with China and the EU [1] Geopolitical Risks - Despite the temporary relief, the threat of tariffs remains, as China accused the U.S. of violating their trade truce by tightening controls on AI chip exports and student visas, which has raised tensions again [2] - The interconnectedness of the U.S. and Chinese economies means that even minor disputes can significantly impact market stability [2] Investment Strategy - In uncertain times, investors are turning to value investing, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals that are undervalued [3] - Value stocks with high earnings yield can provide attractive returns, especially during periods of market volatility [4] Earnings Yield - Earnings yield is calculated by dividing a company's annual earnings per share (EPS) by its current stock price, indicating potential returns for investors [5] - A higher earnings yield suggests a stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, while a lower yield may indicate overvaluation [5][7] Stock Screening Criteria - A primary screening criterion for selecting stocks is an earnings yield greater than 10%, supplemented by estimated EPS growth, average daily volume, and current price thresholds [8][9][10] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) are expected to outperform their peers [10] Selected Value Stocks - Five value stocks with earnings yields exceeding 10% have been identified as appealing options amid rising U.S.-China tensions: AngloGold Ashanti (AU), Orchid Island Capital (ORC), LATAM Airlines (LTM), Priority Technology (PRTH), and Allianz (ALIZY) [11] - All five stocks show strong projected EPS growth through 2026 and meet liquidity, price, and growth criteria [11] Company Highlights - **AngloGold Ashanti (AU)**: Expected earnings growth of 95% in 2025 and 6.7% in 2026, with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [12] - **Orchid Island Capital (ORC)**: Projected earnings growth of 394% in 2025 and 24.5% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [13] - **LATAM Airlines (LTM)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 27.5% in 2025 and 20% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [14] - **Priority Technology (PRTH)**: Expected earnings growth of 108% in 2025 and 34% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [15] - **Allianz (ALIZY)**: Projected earnings growth of 16.4% in 2025 and 9% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [16]

Core Viewpoint - Priority Technology (PRTH) shows potential for significant upside, with a mean price target of $12.80 indicating a 67.1% increase from the current price of $7.66 [1] Price Targets and Analyst Estimates - The mean estimate consists of five short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $2.77, indicating variability among analysts [2] - The lowest estimate of $10 suggests a 30.6% increase, while the highest estimate predicts a surge of 108.9% to $16 [2] - Analysts' price targets can often mislead investors, as empirical research shows they rarely indicate actual stock price movements [7][10] Earnings Estimates and Analyst Agreement - Analysts have shown increasing optimism regarding PRTH's earnings prospects, with a strong consensus in revising EPS estimates higher [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has risen by 1.9% over the past month, with one estimate increasing and no negative revisions [12] - PRTH holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [13]

Industry Overview - The Technology Services industry has experienced strong growth post-pandemic, driven by the rapid adoption of remote work and advancements in technology such as 5G, blockchain, AI, and ML [1][6] - The industry includes companies involved in software support, data processing, computing hardware, and communications equipment, serving both consumer and business markets [3] Economic Factors - The industry is benefiting from a recovering economy, with GDP growth projected at an annual rate of 2.8% in 2024, up from 2.5% in 2023 [5] - The Services PMI has remained above 50% for 56 out of the last 59 months, indicating healthy economic activity [5] Technological Advancements - The global shift towards digitization is creating opportunities in markets such as 5G, blockchain, and AI, with generative AI expected to grow at a 42% CAGR over the next decade, reaching a $1.3 trillion market by 2032 [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Technology Services industry ranks 49, placing it in the top 20% of over 246 Zacks industries, indicating a promising outlook [7] - Over the past year, the industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Business Services sector and the S&P 500, returning 42.1% compared to 12% and 12.4% respectively [9] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at an EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 31.02X, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 16.6X and the sector's 12.03X [12] Company Highlights - **AppLovin Corporation (APP)**: Focuses on a software platform for advertisers, enhancing machine-learning models and AI integration. The company has a Zacks Rank 1 and is expected to see earnings rise 85.2% year over year in 2025, with shares up 340.5% in the past year [20][18][19] - **Priority Technology Holdings (PRTH)**: Operates a platform for financial operations, showing strong growth despite economic challenges. PRTH also holds a Zacks Rank 1, with earnings expected to rise over 100% year over year in 2025, and shares up 116.8% in the past year [24][23] - **Qifu Technology (QFIN)**: A China-based credit tech company improving user acquisition and integrating AI for better credit data analysis. QFIN has a Zacks Rank 1, with earnings expected to rise 22.4% year over year in 2025, and shares up 113.7% in the past year [29][27]

Priority Technology (PRTH) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.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.Individual inves ...

Group 1 - The stock of Priority Technology (PRTH) closed at $6.71, with a 2.1% gain over the past four weeks, and analysts set a mean price target of $12.80, indicating a potential upside of 90.8% [1] - The mean estimate consists of five short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $2.77, where the lowest estimate is $10 (49% increase) and the highest is $16 (138.5% increase) [2] - Analysts show strong agreement in revising earnings estimates higher, which correlates with potential stock price movements [11][12] Group 2 - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased by 1.9% over the past month, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [12] - PRTH holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [13] - While the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of the stock's potential gain, it suggests a positive direction for price movement [13]

Group 1 - Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. held its Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call on May 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET [1] - The call featured key participants including Tom Priore, Chairman and CEO, and Tim O'Leary, CFO [3] - Meghna Mehra, Managing Director at ICR, introduced the call and the participants [2][3] Group 2 - The company emphasized that the remarks during the call would include forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties [4] - There is no obligation for the company to update or revise these forward-looking statements based on new information or future events [4] - The call may reference non-GAAP measures such as EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, with reconciliations available in the press release and SEC filings [5]

Priority (PRTH) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 06, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Meghna Mehra - MD - IR(Fintech & Crypto)Thomas Priore - Chairman & CEOTim O’Leary - Chief Financial OfficerHal Goetsch - Managing DirectorBryan Bergin - MD - Equity ResearchTim Switzer - Vice PresidentBrian Kinstlinger - MD, Director of Research & Head of Technology Research Conference Call Participants Jacob Stephan - Senior Research Analyst Operator Greetings, and welcome to the Priority Technology Holdings Q1 twenty twent ...