3 Stocks With Upgraded Broker Ratings to Consider for Solid Returns

Core Insights - Stock markets are currently facing significant volatility due to geopolitical tensions and an ongoing trade war, leading to expectations of economic slowdown and rising inflation [1] Group 1: Broker Recommendations - Following brokers' recommendations can simplify stock selection, with Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL), Lyft, Inc. (LYFT), and Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) highlighted as potential investment opportunities [2] - Brokers have direct communication with top management, providing them with insights into company performance and sector dynamics, which aids in assessing stock potential [3] Group 2: Stock Selection Strategy - A screening strategy for identifying potential winning stocks includes: - Broker rating upgrades of 1% or more over the last four weeks [5] - Current stock price greater than $5 [5] - Average 20-day trading volume greater than 100,000 [5] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have historically shown success, especially when combined with a VGM Score of A or B [6] Group 3: Company-Specific Insights - Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) focuses on oncology and has four approved drugs, with a projected 32% earnings growth in 2025 and a 5% recent broker rating upgrade [7][9] - Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) operates multimodal transportation networks, expecting a 15.8% earnings growth in 2025, with a 2.5% recent broker rating upgrade [8][9] - Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) is a top gold mining company, with a projected 69.1% earnings growth in 2025 and an 8.3% recent broker rating upgrade [10][9]