ONEOK(US:OKE) ZACKS·2025-06-25 14:31Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Oneok Inc. (OKE), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Brokerage Recommendations - Oneok has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.65, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 17 brokerage firms [2][4]. - Out of the 17 recommendations, 11 are Strong Buy and 1 is Buy, which account for 64.7% and 5.9% of all recommendations, respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the best price increase potential [5]. - Analysts often exhibit a positive bias due to the vested interests of brokerage firms, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable ratings compared to negative ones [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, based on earnings estimate revisions rather than brokerage recommendations [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently and reflects the latest earnings estimates, making it a timely tool for predicting future price movements [12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Oneok - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Oneok's current year earnings remains unchanged at $5.23, suggesting stability in analysts' views regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Oneok holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].