What Makes F5 (FFIV) a New Buy Stock

Core View - F5 Networks (FFIV) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook and potential for stock price appreciation [1][3][10] Earnings Estimate Revisions - The Zacks rating system relies on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6] - F5's earnings estimates have been steadily rising, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 5.6% over the past three months [8] - F5 is expected to earn $13.16 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2024, representing a year-over-year change of 12.5% [8] Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on four factors related to earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7] - F5's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [9][10] Institutional Influence - Institutional investors use earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares, and changes in these estimates can lead to significant stock price movements [4] - The improvement in F5's underlying business, reflected in rising earnings estimates, is likely to attract investor interest and push the stock higher [5]