Investar (US:ISTR) ZACKS·2026-01-28 18:01Core Viewpoint - Investar (ISTR) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Correlation - 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, impacting their buying and selling decisions, which in turn affects stock prices [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Investar's underlying business, with rising earnings estimates suggesting a favorable trend that could lead to higher stock prices [5][10]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Investar indicates expected earnings of $3.19 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, with a 4.2% increase in estimates over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [9][10].