Encore Capital Group (ECPG) Shows Fast-paced Momentum But Is Still a Bargain Stock

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher," contrasting with traditional strategies of "buying low and selling high" [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing can be risky as stocks may lose momentum if future growth does not justify high valuations [1] - A safer approach involves investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum [2] Group 2: Encore Capital Group (ECPG) Analysis - ECPG has shown a price increase of 4.1% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [3] - The stock gained 47.3% over the past 12 weeks, demonstrating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [4] - ECPG has a beta of 1.59, suggesting it moves 59% higher than the market in either direction [4] - ECPG has a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest [5] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which attract more investors [6] - ECPG is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.68, indicating it is relatively cheap at present [6] - ECPG appears to have significant potential for further price appreciation [7] Group 3: Additional Investment Opportunities - Other stocks also meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [7] - Zacks offers over 45 Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to help identify winning stock picks [8]