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 likely to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating better performance potential [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score evaluates stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to identify sustainable growth opportunities [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings outlook changes, helping investors capitalize on upward or downward price movements [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with attractive value, strong growth forecasts, and promising momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically yielding an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential to use Style Scores to narrow down choices [8] Investment Strategy - For optimal returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with lower ranks but high Style Scores may still present risks due to declining earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: Voya Financial - Voya Financial, Inc. operates in the retirement, investment, and employee benefits sector in the U.S. and has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B [11] - The company has a Value Style Score of A, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 7.89, making it attractive for value investors [12] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.27 to $9.01 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of +42.9% [12]

Company Overview - Apogee Therapeutics Inc. (APGE) is part of the Medical group, which consists of 951 companies and currently ranks 4 within the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The company is classified under the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, which includes 469 companies and is ranked 78 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, Apogee Therapeutics has returned approximately 25.3%, significantly outperforming the Medical sector's average return of 2.1% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APGE's full-year earnings has increased by 0.2% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [4] Comparison with Peers - Aveanna Healthcare (AVAH), another stock in the Medical sector, has shown a year-to-date return of 95.8% and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry, to which Aveanna belongs, is currently ranked 65 and has returned +6.8% this year [7] - In contrast, stocks in the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, including Apogee, have gained an average of 12.8% this year, indicating that APGE is performing better than its industry peers [6]

Group 1 - Alto Ingredients (ALTO) is part of the Consumer Discretionary group, which includes 265 companies and is currently ranked 9 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that ALTO has a strong buy rating (1), with a 73% increase in the consensus earnings estimate for the full year over the past quarter, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [3] - Year-to-date, ALTO has gained approximately 3.9%, outperforming the average return of 2.7% for Consumer Discretionary companies [4] Group 2 - Alto Ingredients belongs to the Consumer Products - Discretionary industry, which consists of 26 companies and is currently ranked 178 in the Zacks Industry Rank; this industry has seen an average loss of 10.3% this year, indicating ALTO's relative strength [5] - In comparison, fuboTV Inc. (FUBO), another outperforming stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, has increased by 212.7% year-to-date, with a 50% rise in its consensus EPS estimate over the past three months [4][5] - The Broadcast Radio and Television industry, to which fuboTV belongs, has performed well with a year-to-date increase of 26.8%, suggesting a favorable environment for both ALTO and FUBO [6]

Core Insights - Kion Group (KIGRY) has significantly outperformed its peers in the Industrial Products sector, with a year-to-date gain of approximately 119.8% compared to the sector's average return of 6.8% [4] - The Zacks Rank for Kion Group is currently 2 (Buy), indicating strong analyst sentiment and an improving earnings outlook, with a 45.8% increase in the consensus estimate for full-year earnings over the past quarter [3] Company Performance - Kion Group is part of the Industrial Services industry, which consists of 18 companies and currently ranks 202 in the Zacks Industry Rank, having lost an average of 0.4% year-to-date [5] - In comparison, Parker-Hannifin, another stock in the Industrial Products sector, has a year-to-date return of 32.2% and is part of the Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, which has gained 9.1% year-to-date [4][6] Sector Overview - The Industrial Products sector includes 186 individual stocks and holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 12 out of 16 sector groups, indicating a relatively lower performance compared to other sectors [2] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes earnings estimates and revisions, helping to identify stocks like Kion Group that may outperform the broader market in the near term [3]

The Computer and Technology group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Appian (APPN) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Computer and Technology peers, we might be able to answer that question.Appian is one of 604 individual stocks in the Computer and Technology sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #3 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sec ...

Core Viewpoint - The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for VALE S.A. is 1.82, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 17 brokerage firms' recommendations [2][5] Brokerage Recommendations - Of the 17 recommendations, 10 are Strong Buy, accounting for 58.8% of all recommendations [2] - The ABR suggests a favorable outlook for VALE, but reliance solely on this metric may not be prudent due to the potential bias of brokerage analysts [5][10] Analyst Bias and Reliability - Brokerage analysts often exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, with a ratio of five Strong Buy recommendations for every Strong Sell [6][10] - This bias indicates that the interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, leading to less reliable insights into stock price movements [7][10] Zacks Rank Comparison - Zacks Rank categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more effective indicator of near-term stock performance compared to ABR [8][11] - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently and reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, unlike the potentially outdated ABR [12] Earnings Estimates for VALE - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VALE has increased by 7.8% over the past month to $1.9, indicating growing analyst optimism about the company's earnings prospects [13] - This increase in consensus estimates, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) for VALE, suggesting a strong investment opportunity [14]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and highlights the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank to make informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Summary by Sections Brokerage Recommendations for Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.85, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 26 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Out of the 26 recommendations, 14 are Strong Buy and 2 are Buy, which represent 53.9% and 7.7% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations may not be advisable, as studies indicate they often fail to guide investors effectively towards stocks with high price appreciation potential [5]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. Comparison with Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), is presented as a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance, driven by earnings estimate revisions [8][11]. - Unlike the ABR, which may not be up-to-date, the Zacks Rank reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, making it a more effective tool for predicting future stock prices [12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Johnson & Johnson - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Johnson & Johnson's earnings for the current year remains unchanged at $10.86, suggesting stable analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The unchanged consensus estimate has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) for Johnson & Johnson, indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].

A strong stock as of late has been Micron (MU) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 31.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $257.07 in the previous session. Micron has gained 201% since the start of the year compared to the 27.5% gain for the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the 90.8% return for the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't miss ...

Core Viewpoint - Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) has shown strong stock performance, with a 9.6% increase over the past month and a 40.4% gain since the start of the year, outperforming both the Zacks Finance sector and the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry [1] Financial Performance - AMG has consistently exceeded earnings expectations, reporting an EPS of $6.1 against a consensus estimate of $5.83 in its last earnings report [2] - For the current fiscal year, AMG is projected to achieve earnings of $25.13 per share on revenues of $2.07 billion, reflecting a 17.65% increase in EPS and a 1.56% increase in revenues [3] - The next fiscal year forecasts earnings of $29.73 per share on revenues of $2.24 billion, indicating year-over-year changes of 18.32% in EPS and 7.93% in revenues [3] Valuation Metrics - AMG's current valuation metrics indicate a trading multiple of 10.3X current fiscal year EPS estimates, below the peer industry average of 12.1X [7] - The stock trades at 10.5X trailing cash flow, compared to the peer group's average of 11.8X, and has a PEG ratio of 0.58, positioning it favorably for value investors [7] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - AMG holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), supported by positive earnings estimate revisions from analysts [8] - The stock has a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of A, resulting in a combined VGM Score of A, making it attractive for various investment styles [6][9] Industry Comparison - AMG's performance is compared favorably to peers, such as AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (AB), which has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A [10] - AB is expected to post earnings of $3.86 per share on revenues of $3.57 billion for the current fiscal year, with a recent stock gain of 1.8% over the past month [11][12]

Have you been paying attention to shares of Envela Corporation (ELA) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 44.3% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $11.29 in the previous session. Envela has gained 56.6% since the start of the year compared to the 8.8% move for the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the 17.9% return for the Zacks Retail - Jewelry industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed o ...