Why Conmed (CNMD) is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term

Core Insights - The article discusses the Zacks Premium service, which provides tools and resources for investors to make informed decisions in the stock market [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are guidelines that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, helping investors identify securities likely to outperform the market in the short term [3][4] - Each stock is rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4] Categories of Style Scores - Value Score: Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [5] - Growth Score: Evaluates stocks based on projected earnings and sales growth, targeting companies with strong financial health [6] - Momentum Score: Assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, aiming to capitalize on market momentum [7] - VGM Score: Combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with attractive value, growth, and momentum [8] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to help investors build successful portfolios [9] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [10] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal investment potential [12] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial; stocks with lower ranks but high Style Scores may still face downward price pressure [13] Company Spotlight: CONMED Corporation - CONMED Corporation, based in Utica, N.Y., specializes in surgical instruments and devices for minimally invasive procedures, employing approximately 3,600 people [15] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A, CONMED shows a Growth Style Score of B, indicating a projected year-over-year earnings growth of 16.8% for the current fiscal year [16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CONMED's earnings has increased by $0.04 to $4.03 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 3.7% [16][17]