Freshworks Inc. (FRSH) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.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.The power of a changi ...

Core Viewpoint - The company's FY25 earnings fell below expectations, with a revenue of HKD 79.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 3%, and a net profit of HKD 3.25 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2% [1] Financial Performance - FY25 revenue was HKD 79.3 billion, down 3% year-on-year - FY25 net profit was HKD 3.25 billion, up 2% year-on-year, but below expectations - The decline in performance was primarily due to underperformance in joint venture earnings, which fell 37% year-on-year to HKD 441 million, and a 31% increase in income tax expenses to HKD 993 million due to reduced tax refunds [1] - The company plans to distribute a final dividend of HKD 0.35 per share, maintaining the same level as the previous year, with a total annual dividend of HKD 0.50 per share [1] Sales and Margins - FY25 urban gas sales were 23.52 billion cubic meters, remaining stable year-on-year - Residential gas sales decreased by 2.1%, while commercial and industrial gas sales increased by 3.7% and 1.0%, respectively - The gross margin was HKD 0.537 per cubic meter, an increase of HKD 0.036 year-on-year - The company added 1.4 million residential connections, a decrease of 16.5% year-on-year [1] Cash Flow and Investments - FY25 investment cash outflow was HKD 1.78 billion, down 74.8% year-on-year, mainly due to the recovery of loans from joint ventures and a reduction in capital expenditures by approximately HKD 1.4 billion [1] Future Outlook - The trend of improving gross margins is expected to continue until FY27 - For FY26, the company anticipates a 2% year-on-year increase in urban gas sales and a gross margin of HKD 0.55 per cubic meter, driven by an increase in residential pricing ratios [1] Debt and Financial Management - As of the end of FY25, the company's net debt (excluding trade-related financing) was approximately HKD 47.8 billion, showing a slight decrease from FY24 - The company is expected to maintain control over capital expenditures, indicating that the debt level has likely peaked [2] - FY25 saw an increase in receivables provision of HKD 568 million, with ongoing pressure expected in FY26 due to uncertainties in the real estate sector [2] Dividend and Valuation - The company maintained a dividend payout ratio of 83.3% in 2024, with expectations for stable dividends of HKD 0.50 per share over the next 2-3 years, translating to a dividend yield of approximately 6.8% based on the closing price on June 27 [2] - Earnings forecasts for FY26 have been revised down by 32% to HKD 3.285 billion, with FY27 earnings projected at HKD 3.449 billion [2] - The current stock price corresponds to a P/E ratio of 12.2x for FY26 and 11.6x for FY27, with a target price adjustment of 9.1% down to HKD 8, indicating an upside potential of 8.8% [2]

TSMC (TSM) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- 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.Since a changing earnings picture is ...

Upbound Group (UPBD) closed the last trading session at $25.48, gaining 11.1% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $36.63 indicates a 43.8% upside potential.The average comprises eight short-term price targets ranging from a low of $26.00 to a high of $50.00, with a standard deviation of $8.07. While the lowest estimate indicates an increase of 2% from the current price ...

Shares of VNET Group (VNET) have gained 30.7% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $6.98, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $12.29 indicates a potential upside of 76.1%.The mean estimate comprises eight short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $5.54. While the lowest estimate of $5.00 indicates a 28.4% decline from the current ...

Shares of QXO, Inc. (QXO) have gained 21.9% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $20.73, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $34.33 indicates a potential upside of 65.6%.The mean estimate comprises three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $8.74. While the lowest estimate of $27.00 indicates a 30.3% increase from the current ...

Elastic (ESTC) closed the last trading session at $82.69, gaining 2.3% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $112.17 indicates a 35.7% upside potential.The average comprises 24 short-term price targets ranging from a low of $75.00 to a high of $148.00, with a standard deviation of $15.45. While the lowest estimate indicates a decline of 9.3% from the current price level, ...

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about TSMC (TSM) .TSMC currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) o ...

Dorian LPG (LPG) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.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.Individual inves ...

Core Viewpoint - LifeStance Health Group (LFST) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][4]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Ratings - The Zacks rating system is primarily based on a company's changing earnings picture, tracking the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS from sell-side analysts [2]. - A strong correlation exists between changes in earnings estimates and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system beneficial for investors [3][5]. Impact of Institutional Investors - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of a company's shares, leading to stock price movements based on their buying or selling activities [5]. Business Improvement Indicators - The rising earnings estimates for LifeStance Health indicate an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [6]. Importance of Earnings Estimate Revisions - Empirical research supports the correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock movements, highlighting the importance of tracking these revisions for investment decisions [7]. Zacks Rank System Performance - The Zacks Rank 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 [8]. Specific Earnings Estimates for LifeStance Health - LifeStance Health is projected to earn -$0.06 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 45% over the past three months [9]. Overall Rating System Characteristics - The Zacks rating system maintains a balanced distribution of "buy" and "sell" ratings across its universe of over 4,000 stocks, with only the top 5% receiving a "Strong Buy" rating [10][11].