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] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that assist investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2] - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using ratios like P/E and Price/Sales, focusing on discounted stocks [3] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for stock selection based on value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model based on earnings estimate revisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.81% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to narrow down choices [8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with a 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell) rating, even with high Style Scores, are less favorable due to declining earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: Microsoft - Microsoft Corporation holds over 73% market share in the desktop operating system sector and is rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank with a VGM Score of B [11] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 4.9% in the past four weeks [11] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have raised the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $15.41 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +7% [12]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying those with true potential can be challenging [1] Group 1: Growth Stock Identification - The Zacks Growth Style Score system aids in identifying promising growth stocks by analyzing real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - TJX is highlighted as a recommended stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is crucial for attracting investor attention, with double-digit growth being particularly desirable [4] - TJX has a historical EPS growth rate of 42.1%, with projected EPS growth of 8.9% this year, surpassing the industry average of 8.6% [5] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - Higher-than-average cash flow growth is vital for growth-oriented companies, enabling expansion without relying on external funding [6] - TJX's year-over-year cash flow growth is 12.2%, exceeding the industry average of 10.9% [6] - The historical annualized cash flow growth rate for TJX is 7.6% over the past 3-5 years, compared to the industry average of 4.6% [7] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [8] - Current-year earnings estimates for TJX have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.4% over the past month [9] Group 5: Overall Assessment - TJX has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of A, indicating its potential as an outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [11]

Core Insights - JR Research is recognized as a top analyst in technology, software, and internet sectors, focusing on growth and GARP strategies [1] - The investment approach emphasizes identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities with strong price action to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1][2] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in high-potential opportunities across various sectors with a focus on robust fundamentals and turnaround plays [3] Investment Strategy - The strategy combines price action analysis with fundamental investing to identify growth opportunities with significant upside potential [2] - The focus is on avoiding overhyped stocks while targeting battered stocks that have recovery potential [2] - The investment outlook typically spans 18 to 24 months for the thesis to materialize [3] Target Audience - The group is designed for investors looking to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals, buying momentum, and attractive valuations [3]

Core Insights - JR Research is recognized as a top analyst in technology, software, and internet sectors, focusing on growth and GARP strategies [1] - The investment approach emphasizes identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities with strong price action to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1][2] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in high-potential opportunities across various sectors, targeting stocks with robust fundamentals and turnaround potential [3] Investment Strategy - The focus is on growth investing opportunities that offer significant upside potential while avoiding overhyped and overvalued stocks [2] - The strategy includes capitalizing on battered stocks that have substantial recovery possibilities [2] - The investment outlook typically spans 18 to 24 months for the thesis to materialize [3] Group Characteristics - Ultimate Growth Investing is designed for investors looking to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals and buying momentum [3] - The group targets turnaround plays at highly attractive valuations [3]

Core Insights - JR Research is recognized as a top analyst in technology, software, and internet sectors, focusing on growth and GARP strategies [1] - The investment approach emphasizes identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities with strong price action to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1][2] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in high-potential opportunities across various sectors, targeting stocks with robust fundamentals and turnaround potential [3] Investment Strategy - The focus is on growth investing opportunities that offer significant upside potential while avoiding overhyped and overvalued stocks [2] - The strategy includes capitalizing on battered stocks that have substantial recovery possibilities [2] - The investment outlook typically spans 18 to 24 months for the thesis to materialize [3] Group Characteristics - Ultimate Growth Investing is designed for investors looking to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals and buying momentum [3] - The group emphasizes turnaround plays at highly attractive valuations [3]

Let's welcome in Liz Thomas, SoFi's head of investment strategy. She's with me here at Post9 as you see. Welcome back.Thank you. All right. So, that's the kind of market we're in right now where you've gotten a lot of commentary from a lot of different people um about where we are, whether we have a bubble.How do you feel about things. I saw a tweet on my way here that said there's a bubble in people talking about bubbles. Yeah, that was what Edard Denny said yesterday.There's a bubble in bubble talk. Yes. ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying the right ones involves significant risk and volatility [1] Group 1: Growth Stock Identification - The Zacks Growth Style Score system aids in identifying promising growth stocks by analyzing real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - NRG Energy is highlighted as a recommended stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is crucial for attracting investor attention, with double-digit growth being particularly desirable [3] - NRG's historical EPS growth rate is 13.9%, but projected EPS growth for this year is 20.2%, significantly higher than the industry average of 6% [4] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - High cash flow growth is essential for growth-oriented companies, allowing them to fund new projects without external financing [5] - NRG's year-over-year cash flow growth is 17%, surpassing the industry average of 6.2% [5] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 14%, compared to the industry average of 5.7% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [7] - Current-year earnings estimates for NRG have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 0.1% over the past month [8] Group 5: Conclusion - NRG has achieved a Growth Score of A and a Zacks Rank of 2, indicating it is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [10]

Core Insights - Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH) shares are trading at a significant discount compared to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, with a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 6.28X versus the industry average of 24.85X [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $2.55 billion and an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [1] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BFH's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 9.6%, with revenues projected at $3.87 billion, reflecting a 0.8% improvement [5] - For 2026, earnings per share and revenues are expected to increase by 6.1% and 3.4%, respectively, compared to 2025 estimates [5] Analyst Sentiment - One of three analysts covering BFH has raised estimates for 2025, and three of seven analysts have raised estimates for 2026 in the past 60 days, leading to a 4.1% and 1.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 earnings, respectively [7] Credit Sales and Strategic Investments - BFH anticipates credit sales growth driven by strong consumer spending, new partnerships, and holiday demand, with average loans expected to rise alongside higher credit sales [9][13] - The company is making strategic investments in digital innovation, technology, and marketing to drive growth [15] Financial Metrics - BFH's return on invested capital over the trailing 12 months was 9.7%, outperforming the industry average of 5.1% [12] - The company has been strengthening its balance sheet and reducing debt, with plans to pay down $100 million in 2026 bonds this year [16] Shareholder Value - BFH is focused on returning value to shareholders through share repurchases and intends to increase its focus on buybacks and mergers and acquisitions [17] - The stock has a favorable VGM Score of A, indicating attractive value, growth, and momentum compared to peers [18] Valuation and Market Position - The average target price for BFH, based on short-term price targets from 15 analysts, is $71 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 27.45% from the last closing price [10] - Higher return on capital, favorable growth estimates, and attractive valuations are expected to benefit BFH in the long term [19]

Market Overview - International equities showed mixed results in Q3 2025, with the MSCI EAFE Index rising 4.8%, driven by Asian markets and Canada, while Europe Ex U.K. underperformed [3] - The MSCI Emerging Markets Index advanced 10.6%, supported by a 20.7% rally in China, which constitutes 30% of that benchmark [3] - European markets experienced a slowdown in momentum due to inflation remaining above the European Central Bank's target, with a September reading of 2.2% [4] Economic Conditions - Japan's GDP grew modestly in Q2, aided by tourism, while manufacturing activity remained restrained [5] - The People's Bank of China cut key lending rates in July to address weaknesses in the real estate sector and sluggish consumer demand, with Q2 GDP growth at 5.2% year over year [5] Investment Strategy - The MSCI EAFE Value Index outperformed the MSCI EAFE Growth Index by over 500 basis points in Q3, with value stocks leading growth by more than 1,300 basis points year to date [6] - The ClearBridge International Growth Strategy maintained pace with its core MSCI EAFE benchmark, with sector positioning in IT and financials creating headwinds [12] Company Performance - London Stock Exchange faced a decline due to AI concerns impacting its desktop and data business, while Adyen's revenue missed expectations [13] - Banco Santander was acquired for its streamlined operations and cost-cutting measures, expected to improve profitability [14] - HSBC is well-positioned for growth in Asian wealth management, benefiting from inflows of mainland Chinese money [15] - KBC Group's strong capital position allows for capital distributions or acquisitions, with growing assets under management [16] Sector Contributions - Health care sector saw solid contributions, particularly from European biotechs Argenx and UCB, driven by strong sales and positive clinical trial results [20] - The strategy expanded into the Chinese biotechnology sector with the purchase of WuXi AppTec, known for efficient drug development [21] Portfolio Adjustments - The strategy added 10 positions while exiting 13, with significant purchases in financials and health care, including Prysmian, which is poised for growth in the power cables industry [22] - Softbank trades at a discount to its NAV, holding stakes in key technology companies [23] - Celestica is positioned for growth in AI infrastructure, with expected annual revenue growth of over 20% [24] Outlook - The regions of investment are making progress on growth and equity-friendly policies, with forecasts for double-digit EPS growth in the pan-European Stoxx 600 [27] - Emerging markets are outperforming developed markets, with a focus on China’s growth potential in AI and biotechnology [28][32]

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made ...