Earnings Estimates Moving Higher for Northwest Bancshares (NWBI): Time to Buy?

Core Viewpoint - Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) is positioned as a strong investment opportunity due to significant revisions in earnings estimates, indicating a positive earnings outlook that may continue to drive stock performance [1][10]. Estimate Revisions - The upward trend in earnings estimate revisions reflects increasing analyst optimism regarding Northwest Bancshares' earnings prospects, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [2]. - For the current quarter, the earnings estimate is $0.28 per share, representing a 3.7% increase from the previous year, with a notable 11.84% rise in consensus estimates over the last 30 days [6]. - For the full year, the earnings estimate stands at $1.17 per share, marking a 12.5% increase from the prior year, with a consensus estimate increase of 8.72% due to three upward revisions and no negative changes [7][8]. Zacks Rank - Northwest Bancshares currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), supported by favorable estimate revisions, which historically correlate with strong stock performance [9]. - Stocks rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have shown significant outperformance compared to the S&P 500, indicating a positive investment outlook for Northwest Bancshares [9]. Stock Performance - The stock has experienced a 7.7% gain over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions and positive earnings growth prospects, suggesting it may be a timely addition to investment portfolios [10].