Group 1 - Photronics (PLAB) shares have increased by 11.1% over the past four weeks, closing at $24.73, with a mean price target of $31.65 indicating a potential upside of 28% [1] - The mean estimate includes three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $1.51, where the lowest estimate suggests a 21.3% increase and the highest indicates a 33.2% surge [2] - Analysts show a strong consensus that PLAB will report better earnings than previously estimated, which is a positive indicator for potential stock upside [4][11] Group 2 - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLAB has increased by 7.7% due to one upward revision in earnings estimates over the last 30 days, with no negative revisions [12] - PLAB holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate factors, suggesting a strong potential for upside [13] - While consensus price targets may not be reliable for predicting the extent of gains, they can provide a directional guide for price movement [14]

Group 1 - The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for Hasbro (HAS) is 1.21, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, with 10 out of 12 recommendations being Strong Buy [2][4] - Strong Buy and Buy recommendations account for 83.3% and 8.3% of all recommendations, respectively [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hasbro's earnings has increased by 0.2% over the past month to $4.88, reflecting analysts' growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects [13] Group 2 - The Zacks Rank for Hasbro is 2 (Buy), influenced by the recent change in consensus estimates and other earnings-related factors [14] - The ABR may not be a reliable standalone indicator for investment decisions, as brokerage recommendations often exhibit a positive bias due to vested interests [5][10] - The Zacks Rank is a more effective tool for predicting stock price movements, as it is based on earnings estimate revisions and is updated more frequently than the ABR [11][12]

Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. is experiencing solid improvement in earnings estimates, which is likely to positively impact its stock price momentum [1][2]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - Analysts show growing optimism regarding StoneCo's earnings prospects, reflected in upward revisions of earnings estimates [2]. - The current-quarter earnings estimate is $0.41 per share, representing a year-over-year increase of +17.1% [5]. - Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo has increased by 13.89%, with one estimate moving higher and no negative revisions [5]. - For the full year, the expected earnings are $1.63 per share, indicating a year-over-year change of +20.7% [6]. - The consensus estimate for the current year has risen by 9.62% due to two upward revisions and no negative changes [6][7]. Zacks Rank and Performance - StoneCo has achieved a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating favorable conditions for investment based on earnings estimate revisions [8]. - Stocks with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500 [8]. - The stock has gained 24.4% over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions and positive earnings growth prospects [9].

Core Insights - Skillz Inc. (SKLZ) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive shift in earnings estimates which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3] - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with stock price movements, particularly influenced by institutional investors [4][6] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skillz indicates an expected earnings of -$3.96 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, showing no year-over-year change [8] - Over the past three months, analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Skillz by 4.7% [8] Investment Implications - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Skillz in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for near-term price appreciation due to favorable earnings estimate revisions [10] - Rising earnings estimates and the corresponding rating upgrade reflect an improvement in Skillz's underlying business, which could lead to increased investor interest and stock price growth [5][10]

Core Viewpoint - MBX Biosciences, Inc. (MBX) shares have increased by 44% in the past four weeks, closing at $20, with a mean price target of $37.71 indicating a potential upside of 88.6% according to Wall Street analysts [1] Price Targets and Analyst Estimates - The mean estimate consists of seven short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $4.23, where the lowest estimate is $30.00 (50% increase) and the highest is $44.00 (120% increase) [2] - A low standard deviation suggests a strong agreement among analysts regarding the price targets, indicating less variability in their estimates [2][9] Earnings Estimates and Analyst Sentiment - Analysts show strong agreement in revising earnings estimates higher, which is a positive indicator for potential stock upside [4][11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has risen by 2.7% over the past month, with one estimate increasing and no negative revisions [12] Zacks Rank and Investment Potential - MBX holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [13] - While consensus price targets may not be entirely reliable, the direction they imply appears to be a good guide for potential price movement [14]

Core Viewpoint - Universal Health Services (UHS) 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 Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on the consensus measure of EPS estimates from sell-side analysts, reflecting the company's changing earnings picture [1][2]. - A strong correlation exists between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system valuable for investors [4][6]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of a company's shares, impacting stock price movements through their large transactions [4]. Business Improvement Indicators - Rising earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade suggest an improvement in Universal Health Services' underlying business, which could lead to increased stock prices [5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Universal Health Services is expected to earn $20.28 per share, with a 5.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance of Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Universal Health Services in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Viewpoint - Masimo (MASI) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - Changes in a company's future earnings potential, reflected in earnings estimate revisions, are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [3]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Masimo's Earnings Outlook - The upgrade for Masimo indicates an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Masimo is projected to earn $5.30 per share, with a 6.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - The system maintains a balanced distribution of "buy" and "sell" ratings, ensuring that only the top 5% of stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating [8]. Conclusion on Masimo's Position - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places Masimo in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

ASICS Corporation Unsponsored ADR (ASCCY) 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. ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of Wall Street analysts' recommendations, particularly focusing on RCM Technologies, Inc. (RCMT), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like Zacks Rank to make informed investment decisions [1][5]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - RCM Technologies has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.67, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, with 66.7% of the recommendations being Strong Buy from three brokerage firms [2]. - Despite the positive ABR, it is cautioned that investors should not rely solely on this information for investment decisions, as studies show limited success of brokerage recommendations in predicting stock price increases [5][10]. Group 2: Analyst Bias and Zacks Rank - Brokerage analysts tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, with five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation [6][10]. - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements, making it a more reliable indicator than ABR [8][11]. Group 3: Current Earnings Estimates and Zacks Rank for RCMT - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCM Technologies has remained unchanged at $2.38 over the past month, suggesting steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - The unchanged consensus estimate has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) for RCM Technologies, indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Twilio (TWLO), and highlights the potential misalignment of interests between brokerage analysts and retail investors [1][5][10]. Brokerage Recommendations for Twilio - Twilio has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.88, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 26 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 26 recommendations, 15 are classified as Strong Buy and 2 as Buy, representing 57.7% and 7.7% of total recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies suggest 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][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Strong Buy to Strong Sell and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is distinct from ABR, as it is a quantitative model that reflects timely earnings estimate revisions, while ABR may not always be up-to-date [9][12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Twilio - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Twilio's current year earnings remains unchanged at $4.48, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Twilio holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].