Dillard's (DDS) shares ended the last trading session 7.8% higher at $450.49. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 6.7% gain over the past four weeks.The company is benefiting from its ongoing efforts to capture growth opportunities in brick-and-mortar and e-commerce businesses, enhancing its customer base and boosting performance. The company is focused on maintaining stringent expense controls, which h ...

Abbott (ABT) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Individual investors often fi ...

Investors might want to bet on MasterCard (MA) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.The power of a changing ...

Core Viewpoint - H&R Block has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system reflects changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - For the fiscal year ending June 2025, H&R Block is expected to earn $5.22 per share, with a 0.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that impact stock prices [4]. Zacks Rank 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 generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - H&R Block's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Alamos Gold (AGI) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Since a changing earning ...

Allegiant Travel (ALGT) shares rallied 6.2% in the last trading session to close at $58.37. This move can be attributable to notable volume with a higher number of shares being traded than in a typical session. This compares to the stock's 0.4% loss over the past four weeks.The uptick was primarily due to ALGT's rosy traffic numbers for May. In May, scheduled traffic (measured in revenue passenger miles) rose 10.2% year over year at Allegiant. Capacity (measured in available seat miles) for scheduled servic ...

Group 1 - Melco Resorts (MLCO) shares increased by 11.5% to close at $8.06, with notable trading volume compared to typical sessions, and a 15.1% gain over the past four weeks [1][2] - Macau regulators reported a 19% year-over-year increase in gaming revenue for June, totaling 21.06 billion Macanese patacas (approximately $2.61 billion), indicating strong post-pandemic recovery in the region [2] - The company is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.03 per share, reflecting a 50% year-over-year decline, while revenues are projected to be $1.2 billion, up 3.6% from the previous year [3] Group 2 - The consensus EPS estimate for Melco has been revised 50% higher in the last 30 days, suggesting a positive trend that may lead to price appreciation [4] - Melco currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating favorable market sentiment [5] - In comparison, Churchill Downs (CHDN) from the same gaming industry has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and reported a 3.2% increase in its stock price [5][6]

Company Overview - Investar (ISTR) shares increased by 5.8% to $20.44 in the last trading session, with a higher-than-average trading volume, compared to a 3.5% gain over the past four weeks [1] - Investar is set to acquire Wichita Falls Bancshares for approximately $83.6 million, which includes 3,955,334 shares of Investar and $7.2 million in cash, valuing Wichita Falls at $134.67 per share [2] - This acquisition marks Investar's second in Texas, expanding its presence in North Texas, with the deal expected to close in Q4 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [2] Financial Performance - Investar is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.40 per share, reflecting an 11.1% year-over-year increase, with expected revenues of $20.96 million, up 5% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for Investar has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating stability in earnings expectations [4] Industry Context - Investar operates within the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, where Amerant Bancorp Inc. (AMTB) also operates, having closed 3.7% higher at $18.9, with a 5.7% return over the past month [4] - Amerant Bancorp's consensus EPS estimate is $0.38, representing a 35.7% increase from the previous year, also maintaining a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5]

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.The Zacks Premium service makes this easier. It features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All of these can help you quickly identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on ARKO Corp. (ARKO), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other research tools like the Zacks Rank to make informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - ARKO has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, indicating a Buy, based on recommendations from four brokerage firms, with two of them being Strong Buy, representing 50% of the total recommendations [2]. - Despite the positive ABR, the article cautions against making investment decisions solely based on this metric, as studies show limited success of brokerage recommendations in predicting stock price increases [5][10]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, often issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. Group 2: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, classifying stocks into five groups from Strong Buy to Strong Sell, based on earnings estimate revisions [8][11]. - Unlike the ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model that reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, making it a more current indicator of future price movements [9][12]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ARKO has remained unchanged at $0.08 over the past month, suggesting that analysts have steady views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. Group 3: Investment Outlook for ARKO - The recent consensus estimate changes and other related factors have resulted in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for ARKO, indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].