
Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for StoneCo suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices [5][10]. Zacks Rating 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]. Recent Earnings Estimate Revisions for StoneCo - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, StoneCo is expected to earn $1.26 per share, reflecting a -6.7% change from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo has increased by 5.3%, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [8].