Hilltop Holdings(HTH) ZACKS·2024-12-04 18:00Core Viewpoint - Hilltop Holdings (HTH) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which are a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is effective for individual investors as it focuses on earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [2][4]. - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Hilltop Holdings' underlying business, suggesting that investor sentiment may lead to increased stock prices [5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2024, Hilltop Holdings is expected to earn $1.48 per share, which represents a decrease of 12.4% from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hilltop Holdings has increased by 9%, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Hilltop Holdings' upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10][11].