Is It Worth Investing in OneSpan (OSPN) Based on Wall Street's Bullish Views?

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on OneSpan (OSPN), and highlights the potential misalignment of interests between brokerage analysts and retail investors [1][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - OneSpan has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, indicating a Buy, based on recommendations from four brokerage firms, with two of those being Strong Buy, representing 50% of all recommendations [2][5]. - Despite the ABR suggesting a Buy for OneSpan, the article cautions against making investment decisions solely based on this information due to studies showing limited success of brokerage recommendations in predicting stock price increases [5][10]. Group 2: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than the ABR, as brokerage analysts revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, making it a more timely predictor of future stock prices [12]. Group 3: Earnings Estimates for OneSpan - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OneSpan has increased by 5.4% over the past month to $1.45, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The recent change in the consensus estimate, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) for OneSpan, suggesting that the Buy-equivalent ABR may serve as a useful guide for investors [14].