Company Overview - Willdan Group (WLDN) shares increased by 6.7% to $41.12 in the last trading session, with a higher-than-average trading volume, compared to a 4.5% gain over the past four weeks [1] - The company is expanding geographically into high-growth states and diversifying its operations, particularly in the commercial sector with a focus on data centers [2] Financial Performance - Willdan is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.55 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 48.7%, with revenues projected at $141.7 million, up 6.8% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 7% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that typically leads to price appreciation [4] Industry Context - Willdan is part of the Zacks Business - Services industry, where another company, Healthcare Services (HCSG), saw a 1.3% increase to $11.81, with a 9.1% return over the past month [4] - HCSG's consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged at $0.16, representing a year-over-year decline of 5.9%, and it currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [5]

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all. That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss. However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), wh ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing, highlighting that while price momentum can be profitable, it requires solid fundamentals to maintain that momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Willdan Group (WLDN) has shown a significant price increase of 33.4% over the past 12 weeks, indicating strong investor interest [4]. - The stock has also increased by 3.7% in the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - WLDN is currently trading at 87.1% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - WLDN holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term performance [7]. - Historically, Zacks Rank 1 stocks have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988, showcasing the effectiveness of this ranking system [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks with strong fundamentals that can maintain their upward momentum [3]. - In addition to WLDN, there are several other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, suggesting potential investment opportunities [8].

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all. By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss. However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zack ...

When it comes to short-term investing or trading, they say "the trend is your friend." And there's no denying that this is the most profitable strategy. But making sure of the sustainability of a trend to profit from it is easier said than done. The trend often reverses before exiting the trade, leading to a short-term capital loss for investors. So, for a profitable trade, one should confirm factors such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, etc. that could keep the momentum in the s ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades. Whi ...

The stock market ripped higher through morning trading Tuesday as the bulls turned up the heat ahead of the CPI release on Wednesday. Wall Street buyers dug their heels in at the Nasdaq's 200-day (near the tech-heavy index's 2021 highs) because big tech had already tumbled. The bulls are trying to take the tech-heavy index back above its 21-day and then its 50-day. Of course, the market could experience volatility and more selling in the coming days since July inflation projections are nothing to celebrate. ...

Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) has been immensely benefiting from its consistent contract wins, which, in turn, are aiding its growth prospects. The company has recently secured a contract from the Clark County School District ("CCSD") for energy-saving modification projects in 204 campuses. The contract, valued at $102 million, will reduce energy consumption and is expected to save the CCSD $170 million in lifetime energy savings, along with an anticipated $700,000 reduction in annual operations and maintenanc ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying the right ones can be challenging due to inherent volatility and risks [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Willdan Group (WLDN) is identified as a promising growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company operates in the energy efficiency and sustainability consulting sector, which is currently positioned for growth [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Willdan's historical EPS growth rate stands at 16.7%, with projected EPS growth of 12.6% for the current year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 6.2% [4] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - The year-over-year cash flow growth for Willdan is reported at 44.2%, well above the industry average of 9% [5] - Over the past 3-5 years, Willdan's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 12.7%, compared to the industry average of 7.7% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Willdan have been revised upward, with a 5.5% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past month [7] Group 5: Investment Positioning - Willdan has achieved a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Growth Score of B, indicating strong potential for outperformance in the growth stock category [8]

Willdan Group (WLDN) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving. Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this energy efficiency and sustainability consultant is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings est ...