Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations and their influence on stock prices, specifically focusing on Gold.com (GOLD) and the average brokerage recommendation (ABR) it has received from analysts [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendation Summary - Gold.com has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.80, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from five brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the five recommendations, three are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 60% of the total recommendations [2]. Analyst Bias and Effectiveness - Brokerage analysts tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, often issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6]. - This bias suggests that the interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, potentially misleading them regarding future stock price movements [7][11]. Zacks Rank Comparison - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock rating tool that categorizes stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [8][12]. - Unlike the ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model that reflects timely changes in earnings estimates [10][13]. Current Earnings Estimates for Gold.com - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Gold.com remains unchanged at $2.8 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Gold.com has received a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - Analyst recommendations play a significant role in influencing stock prices, but their reliability is questionable due to potential biases from brokerage firms [1][5][11]. Summary by Sections Analyst Recommendations for TJX - TJX has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.25, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 20 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 20 recommendations, 17 are Strong Buy and 1 is Buy, which accounts for 85% and 5% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Sole reliance on ABR for investment decisions may not be wise, as studies show limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the best price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of Strong Buy recommendations compared to Strong Sell [6][11]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is timely and reflects the latest earnings estimates, unlike the ABR, which may not be up-to-date [13]. Current Earnings Estimates for TJX - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TJX remains unchanged at $4.66 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, TJX holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - Analyst recommendations play a significant role in influencing stock prices, but their reliability is questionable, particularly for Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) [1][5]. Group 1: Analyst Recommendations - Sterling Infrastructure has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.80, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from five brokerage firms [2]. - Of the five recommendations, three are Strong Buy, accounting for 60% of the total recommendations [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions 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][11]. Group 3: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, making it a more reliable indicator of near-term stock performance [8][12]. - Unlike the ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations and may not be up-to-date, the Zacks Rank reflects timely earnings estimate revisions, providing a more accurate prediction of future stock prices [13]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for STRL - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sterling Infrastructure remains unchanged at $10.43 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Sterling Infrastructure holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street analysts' recommendations significantly influence investors' decisions regarding Brinker International (EAT), but the reliability of these recommendations is questionable [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations - Brinker International has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.95, indicating a rating between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 21 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Out of the 21 recommendations, 11 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 52.4% of the total recommendations [2]. Analyst Bias and Reliability - Brokerage analysts tend to exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, often issuing more favorable ratings than warranted by their research [6][11]. - For every "Strong Sell" recommendation, there are five "Strong Buy" recommendations, indicating a potential misalignment with retail investors' interests [6]. Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, is based on earnings estimate revisions and is considered a more reliable indicator of near-term stock performance compared to ABR [8][12]. - Zacks Rank is displayed in whole numbers (1 to 5) and is distinct from ABR, which is typically shown in decimals [10]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brinker International's earnings has increased by 0.3% over the past month to $10.23, reflecting analysts' growing optimism [14]. - The recent change in consensus estimates, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for Brinker International, suggesting potential for stock appreciation [15].

Core Viewpoint - Analyst recommendations play a significant role in influencing stock prices, but their reliability is questionable, particularly for Itron (ITRI) [1][5]. Group 1: Analyst Recommendations - Itron has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.64, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 11 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 11 recommendations, seven are Strong Buy and one is Buy, accounting for 63.6% and 9.1% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies indicate they often fail to guide investors effectively [5]. - Brokerage firms tend to exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable recommendations compared to negative ones [6][11]. Group 3: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock rating tool that categorizes stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more reliable indicator of near-term stock performance compared to ABR [8][12]. - Unlike 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 [13]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for Itron - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Itron remains unchanged at $6.87 for the current year, suggesting steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Itron holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on TXO Partners LP (TXO), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations for TXO - TXO Partners LP has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.50, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, with 75% of the recommendations being Strong Buy from four brokerage firms [2][5]. - 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][11]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - 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][11]. - The article suggests that brokerage recommendations may not align with retail investors' interests and often do not accurately indicate future stock price movements [7][11]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable indicator of near-term stock price performance, driven by earnings estimate revisions, and is classified into five groups from Strong Buy to Strong Sell [8][12]. - Unlike the ABR, the Zacks Rank is timely and reflects the latest earnings estimates, making it a better tool for predicting future price movements [13]. Group 4: Current Performance of TXO - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXO Partners LP remains unchanged at $0.07 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, TXO has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Group 1 - The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for Consolidated Water (CWCO) is 1.67, indicating a rating between Strong Buy and Buy, with 66.7% of recommendations being Strong Buy from three brokerage firms [2][5] - Brokerage recommendations have been shown to have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with significant price appreciation potential, suggesting caution in relying solely on these ratings for investment decisions [5][11] - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, with five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell," indicating a misalignment of interests between brokerage firms and retail investors [6][11] Group 2 - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which have a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [8][12] - The Zacks Rank is distinct from the ABR, as it is a quantitative model that reflects timely earnings estimate revisions, while the ABR may not always be up-to-date [9][13] - For Consolidated Water, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year remains unchanged at $1.24, leading to a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on New Gold (NGD), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank to make informed investment decisions [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations for New Gold - New Gold has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.56, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from nine brokerage firms [2]. - Among the nine recommendations, six are classified as Strong Buy and one as Buy, which accounts for 66.7% and 11.1% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Sole reliance on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be wise, as studies indicate limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the best price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable ratings compared to negative ones [6][11]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, is presented as a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is timely and reflects the latest earnings estimate revisions, making it a better tool for predicting future stock prices [13]. Current Earnings Estimates for New Gold - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for New Gold has increased by 1.2% over the past month to $0.58, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This increase in consensus estimates, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) for New Gold, suggesting that the Buy-equivalent ABR may be a useful guide for investors [15].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Ulta Beauty (ULTA), and highlights the potential misalignment of interests between brokerage analysts and retail investors [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations - Ulta currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.94, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 25 brokerage firms [2]. - Of the 25 recommendations, 13 are Strong Buy (52%) and 2 are Buy (8%) [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions 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, issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][11]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than the ABR, making it a more timely indicator for predicting future stock prices [13]. Current Earnings Estimates for Ulta - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta has increased by 4.6% over the past month to $25.51, reflecting analysts' growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This increase in consensus estimates has contributed to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for Ulta, suggesting a positive outlook for the stock [15].

Core Viewpoint - Analyst recommendations play a significant role in influencing stock prices, but their reliability is questionable, particularly for SLB [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendation Summary - SLB has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.38, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 25 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 25 recommendations, 18 are Strong Buy (72%) and 4 are Buy (16%) [2]. Analyst Bias and Reliability - Brokerage firms often exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of Strong Buy recommendations compared to Strong Sell [6][11]. - This misalignment of interests suggests that brokerage recommendations may not provide accurate insights into future stock price movements [7][11]. Zacks Rank Comparison - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Strong Buy to Strong Sell and is based on earnings estimate revisions, making it a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance [8][12]. - The ABR is based solely on brokerage recommendations and may not be up-to-date, while Zacks Rank reflects timely earnings estimate revisions [10][13]. Current Earnings Estimates for SLB - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SLB's earnings has remained unchanged at $2.89 over the past month, indicating growing pessimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This consensus estimate decline has contributed to a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) for SLB, suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].