Take the Zacks Approach to Beat the Markets: Hershey's, Fastenal, Kennametal in Focus

Market Overview - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite declined by 0.1% and 1.9% respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 2.5% last week, indicating a mixed performance across major indexes [1] - The divergence in market performance was attributed to a rotation in investor preferences rather than overall market weakness, with rising Treasury yields making high-valuation growth stocks less appealing [1] Sector Performance - Optimism regarding economic resilience led to increased buying in cyclically sensitive and defensive sectors, with industrials benefiting from infrastructure and manufacturing strength, financials gaining from higher yields, and energy rising with firmer oil prices [2] - This shift underscores a focus on earnings stability and tangible cash flows among investors [2] Zacks Research Performance - Kennametal Inc. (KMT) shares surged by 44.8% since being upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) on December 8, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.7% increase [3] - Inventiva S.A. (IVA) also saw a return of 42.4% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on the same date [4] - An equal-weight portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by 7 percentage points, returning 17.81% compared to 10.85% for the index [4] Zacks Recommendations - Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWENA) and Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc. (PRSU) saw share increases of 16.7% and 5.4% respectively since their upgrades to Outperform on December 10 and December 11 [6] - The Zacks Recommendation system aims to predict stock performance over the next 6 to 12 months, based on trends in earnings estimate revisions [7] Focus List and Portfolios - Celanese Corporation (CE) gained 32.9% over the past 12 weeks since being added to the Zacks Focus List, while Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NTLA) returned 29% over the same period [9] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned 22.1% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 17.9% gain [10] - The Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned -1.67% for 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 index's 17.9% gain, but had a return of 16.26% in 2024 compared to the S&P 500's 24.89% [14] Dividend Portfolio Performance - Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) and Fastenal Company (FAST) returned 19.6% and 16.8% respectively over the past 12 weeks, benefiting from investor interest in quality dividend stocks amid market volatility [16] - The Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -0.6% for 2025, underperforming the Dividend Aristocrat ETF's 6.8% gain [17] Top 10 Stocks Performance - Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) increased by 31.4% since January 5, 2026, compared to the S&P 500 Index's 1.1% increase [20] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of 2,472.7% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's 561.6% return [21]