W.P. Carey (WPC) Upgraded to Buy: What Does It Mean for the Stock?

Core Viewpoint - W.P. Carey (WPC) has received a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) upgrade 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 Movement - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of changing earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for W.P. Carey 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 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]. - W.P. Carey’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 [9][10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for W.P. Carey - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, W.P. Carey is expected to earn $4.92 per share, with no year-over-year change, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 0.9% over the past three months [8].