All You Need to Know About HBT Financial (HBT) Rating Upgrade to Buy

Core Viewpoint - HBT Financial (HBT) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive outlook for the company's stock price [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is primarily influenced by changes in a company's earnings potential, which is strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for HBT Financial suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices as investors respond positively [5][10]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7][9]. - HBT Financial's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for HBT Financial - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, HBT Financial is expected to earn $2.50 per share, with a 0.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8].