What Makes Labcorp (LH) a New Buy Stock

Core Viewpoint - Labcorp Holdings (LH) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Labcorp's Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Labcorp is expected to earn $16.05 per share, with a 0.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Labcorp's underlying business, which is likely to drive the stock price higher as investors respond positively to this trend [5][10]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - Labcorp's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9][10].