Heritage Financial (HFWA) ZACKS·2025-03-14 17:05Core Viewpoint - Heritage Financial (HFWA) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong 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 emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and stock price movements, making it a valuable tool for investors [2][4]. - Rising earnings estimates for Heritage Financial suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices [5]. 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]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a 'Strong Buy' rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for Heritage Financial - Heritage Financial is projected to earn $2.09 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 13% [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heritage Financial has risen by 9.2% [8].