Marathon(US:MARA) ZACKS·2025-10-03 14:31Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA), 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]. Brokerage Recommendations - Marathon Digital currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.92, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 13 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 13 recommendations, seven are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 53.9% of the total recommendations [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies indicate these recommendations often lack success in guiding investors toward stocks with significant price appreciation potential [5]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, with five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. Comparison with Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank, which is based on earnings estimate revisions, is presented as a more reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - Unlike ABR, which is derived solely from brokerage recommendations, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model that reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, making it a more effective tool for predicting future stock prices [9][12]. Current Earnings Estimates for MARA - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marathon Digital has remained unchanged at -$0.17 over the past month, suggesting analysts have steady views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The unchanged consensus estimate has led to a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) for Marathon Digital, indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].