Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style ...

Key Takeaways Machine identities now outnumber human ones 80 to 1, up from 45 to 1 just one year ago. CYBR included machine identity tools in 9 of its top 10 Q1 deals, led by Venafi and Secrets Management. New certificate lifespan rules boost automation demand, widening CYBR's machine identity opportunity.CyberArk (CYBR) is experiencing rapid growth in its machine identity business, but the challenge now lies in scaling its pricing model. During the first quarter, management noted that machine identities ...

Plumas Bancorp (PLBC) shares soared 5.5% in the last trading session to close at $46.92. The move was backed by solid volume with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This compares to the stock's 3.7% gain over the past four weeks.Shares of Plumas Bancorp rallied for the fourth consecutive trading session yesterday. The completion of its merger deal with Cornerstone Community Bancorp turned the investors bullish on the stock. The transaction combined Plumas Bank's advanced technology and ...

CANADA - 2025/04/03: In this photo illustration, the AbbVie logo is seen displayed on a smartphone ... More screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAbbVie (NASDAQ:ABBV) has distinguished itself as one of the top performers in the healthcare sector this year, with its stock rising by 6% while the broader S&P 500 healthcare index fell by 1%. This outperformance is indicative of investor confidence in the pharmaceutical giant ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, helping investors identify stocks with the potential to outperform the market [3][4] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Zacks Style Scores categorize stocks into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [4][5][6][7] - Value Score emphasizes finding undervalued stocks using financial ratios [4] - Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future growth potential [5] - Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates [6] - VGM Score combines all three styles to provide a comprehensive evaluation of stocks [7] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8][9] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, which can be overwhelming for investors [10] Stock Example: Annaly Capital Management (NLY) - Annaly Capital Management is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) with a diverse portfolio including mortgage-related securities [13] - NLY holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of B, along with a Value Style Score of B, indicating attractive valuation metrics [14] - The company has seen an upward revision in earnings estimates, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.87 per share for fiscal 2025 [14] - Given its solid Zacks Rank and favorable Style Scores, NLY is recommended for investors' consideration [15]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores serve as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank, helping investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with scores ranging from A to F, where A indicates the highest potential for outperformance [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] Value Score - The Value Score targets stocks that are undervalued based on various financial ratios, assisting value investors in identifying attractive investment opportunities [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing historical and projected earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with favorable price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions to guide investment timing [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive assessment of stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank, which is based on earnings estimate revisions, has shown strong performance, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks averaging a 25.41% annual return since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to refine their selections [9] Stock Highlight: SkyWest (SKYW) - SkyWest is rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [11] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of 11.2, making it attractive for value investors [11] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $9.30 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 17.1% [12]

Core Insights - JPMorgan announced a plan to increase its quarterly dividend and authorized a new share repurchase program after clearing the annual stress test [2][5] - The bank's projected common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio stands at 14.2%, significantly above the minimum requirement of 4.5%, indicating strong capital resilience [6][9] Dividend and Share Repurchase - JPMorgan intends to declare a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share in Q3 2025, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous payout [3][9] - The company has increased its dividend five times over the past five years, with an annualized growth rate of 6.8% [3] - A new share repurchase program of $50 billion has been authorized, replacing the previous $30 billion plan [5][9] Financial Strength - As of March 31, 2025, JPMorgan reported total debt of $471.9 billion, with cash and deposits amounting to $425.9 billion, showcasing a strong balance sheet [7] - The bank's robust capital position and earnings strength support its ability to sustain enhanced capital distributions [7] Peer Comparisons - Other banks, including Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, also announced new capital plans following the stress test, indicating a broader trend in the industry [8][10][11] Market Performance - JPMorgan shares have increased by 21.2% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 4.8% [12] - The bank trades at a price-to-tangible book (P/TB) ratio of 3.07X, above the industry average [15] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPMorgan's 2025 earnings suggests a decline of 6% year-over-year, while 2026 earnings are expected to grow by 5.3% [16]

Market Overview - Wall Street ended the first day of July 2025 on a mixed note, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained slightly [1] - The contrasting movements in the major stock indices were influenced by opposing forces, including a feud between President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the U.S. Senate's passage of Trump's tax bill aimed at stimulating economic growth [2] Investment Opportunities - Amid market uncertainty, there is a potential opportunity to invest in low-leverage stocks that are not expensive and can provide a protective shield during turbulent times [3] - Suggested low-leverage stocks include Novartis (NVS), Alamo Group (ALG), ArcelorMittal (MT), Bilibili (BILI), and Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) [3][10] Low-Leverage Stocks - Low-leverage stocks are characterized by a lower debt-to-equity ratio, indicating reduced financial risk and improved solvency [7][8] - Investing in low-leverage stocks is recommended to avoid significant losses during economic downturns [6][7] Company Highlights - **Novartis (NVS)**: Recently completed the acquisition of Regulus Therapeutics, enhancing its drug portfolio. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVS's 2025 sales suggests a 7.3% improvement from 2024, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.9% [15][16] - **Alamo Group (ALG)**: Completed the acquisition of Ring-O-Matic, expanding its product offerings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALG's 2025 earnings indicates a 7.2% year-over-year improvement [17][18] - **ArcelorMittal (MT)**: Signed an agreement to sell operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing a focus on higher-growth areas. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 49.8% [19] - **Bilibili (BILI)**: Reported a 24% year-over-year revenue increase and a 58% improvement in gross profit for Q1 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 sales indicates a 12.1% improvement from 2024 [20][21] - **Sterling Infrastructure (STRL)**: Announced the acquisition of CEC Facilities Group, enhancing its service portfolio in high-growth markets. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% [22][23]

Core Insights - Applied Materials (AMAT) has achieved a gross margin of 49.2% in Q2 of fiscal 2025, marking the highest level since Q4 of fiscal 2000, driven by a favorable product mix and strong demand for high-margin solutions [1][10] - The demand for semiconductors, particularly in AI and high-performance computing (HPC), is increasing, positively impacting AMAT's leading-edge logic foundry solutions [2] - AMAT's Sym3 Magnum etch system has generated over $1.2 billion in revenue since its launch in February 2024, highlighting its importance in developing high-aspect-ratio structures for AI and HPC workloads [3] Financial Performance - AMAT's memory segment, particularly advanced DRAM technologies, is projected to grow significantly, with revenues from advanced DRAM customers expected to increase by more than 40% in fiscal 2025 [4] - For Q3 of fiscal 2025, AMAT anticipates a gross margin of 48.3%, indicating sustained strength in margins due to ongoing demand for high-performance computing and AI [5] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.94X, which is lower than the industry average of 8.5X, suggesting potential valuation upside [11] Competitive Landscape - AMAT faces competition from Lam Research (LRCX) and ASML Holding (ASML) in areas such as 3D DRAM architectures and EUV lithography, with both competitors experiencing growth in gross margins [6] - Lam Research is projecting a gross margin of 49.5% for the upcoming quarter, which would set a new record if achieved [7] Market Performance - AMAT's shares have increased by 13.3% year-to-date, outperforming the Electronics - Semiconductors industry, which has grown by 11.5% [8]

Core Insights - Equinor ASA has approved a $1.29 billion investment for phase 3 of the Johan Sverdrup field, expected to increase recoverable reserves by 40-50 million barrels of oil equivalent [1][8] - The project will involve new subsea equipment, including two subsea templates with a total of eight wells, and is projected to start production in Q4 2027 [2] - The use of artificial intelligence in project planning has resulted in $13 million in savings during the development of phase 3 [3] - The recovery rate from the Johan Sverdrup field is expected to rise from 66% to approximately 75% with the completion of phase 3, which is crucial for maintaining high production levels [4][6] - Equinor holds a 42.6% interest in the Johan Sverdrup field, with partners including Aker BP, Petoro, and TotalEnergies EP Norge [5] - The project aims to enhance Europe's energy security by increasing recoverable volumes from the largest producing oilfield in western Europe [6]