
Core Viewpoint - BankFinancial (BFIN) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for BankFinancial suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices [5][10]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7][9]. - The upgrade of BankFinancial to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2024, BankFinancial is expected to earn $0.66 per share, reflecting a -10.8% change from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BankFinancial has increased by 2.9%, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates [8].