
Core Viewpoint - NatWest Group (NWG) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. 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 [3][5]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - The increase in earnings estimates for NatWest indicates an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [4][9]. - Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for NatWest, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 5.2% over the past three months [7]. 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 [6][8]. - NatWest's upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].