Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, May 19th:Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (CADL) : This clinical stage biopharmaceutical company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 17.9% over the last 60 days.Candel’s shares gained 34.4% over the last six months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 0.7%. The company possesses a Momentum Score  of B.Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMN) : ...

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than traditional strategies of "buying low and selling high" [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investors often face challenges in determining the right entry point, as stocks may lose momentum when their valuations exceed future growth potential [2] - Investing in bargain stocks that have recently shown price momentum can be a safer strategy [3] Group 2: Kemper (KMPR) Stock Analysis - Kemper (KMPR) has shown a price increase of 14.1% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [4] - The stock gained 0.7% over the past 12 weeks and has a beta of 1.26, suggesting it moves 26% higher than the market [5] - KMPR has a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest [6] Group 3: Earnings Estimates and Valuation - An upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has contributed to KMPR earning a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), which is associated with strong momentum effects [7] - KMPR is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.88, indicating it is relatively cheap at present [7] Group 4: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides KMPR, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8] - Zacks offers over 45 Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to help identify potential winning stocks [9]

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style ...

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher," rather than traditional strategies of buying low and waiting for recovery [1][2] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investors often face challenges in determining the right entry point, as stocks can lose momentum when their valuations exceed future growth potential [2] - Investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum can be a safer strategy, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify potential opportunities [3] Group 2: Greenland Technologies Holding Corporation (GTEC) - GTEC has shown significant price momentum with a four-week price change of 33.6%, indicating growing investor interest [4] - The stock has gained 2.1% over the past 12 weeks and has a beta of 2.06, suggesting it moves 106% higher than the market in either direction [5] - GTEC has a Momentum Score of A, indicating a favorable time to invest based on momentum [6] Group 3: Earnings Estimates and Valuation - GTEC has received upward revisions in earnings estimates, earning a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), which typically attracts more investor interest [7] - The stock is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.32, suggesting it is undervalued at 32 cents for each dollar of sales [7] Group 4: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides GTEC, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, presenting additional investment opportunities [8] - The Zacks Premium Screens offer various strategies tailored to different investing styles, potentially aiding in stock selection [9]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores serve as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank, aiding investors in selecting stocks with high potential for market outperformance [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] Growth Score - Evaluates a company's financial health and future growth potential through projected earnings and sales [4] Momentum Score - Targets stocks with upward or downward price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate shifts [5] VGM Score - Combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with attractive value, growth forecasts, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank is based on earnings estimate revisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically yielding an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal success [9] NMI Holdings Analysis - NMI Holdings, headquartered in Emeryville, CA, is currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A and a Growth Style Score of B, indicating a projected year-over-year earnings growth of 7.1% for the current fiscal year [11] - Recent upward revisions from three analysts have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 by $0.22 to $4.82 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 8.2% [12]

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][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, serving as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank, helping investors identify securities likely to outperform the market in the short term [3][4] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's future prospects by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow, targeting growth investors [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score identifies optimal entry points for stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, catering to momentum traders [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive rating that highlights stocks with attractive value, growth potential, and positive momentum [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8][9] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal investment potential [10] Stock Highlight: MDU Resources - MDU Resources Group, based in Bismarck, ND, operates as a utility natural gas distribution company and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) with a VGM Score of A [12] - The company has a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 18.35, making it attractive to value investors [13] - MDU's earnings estimate for fiscal 2025 has been revised upwards, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.01 to $0.95 per share, and it has an average earnings surprise of 1.3% [13]

Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times. It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing pric ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of confirming the sustainability of stock trends for profitable short-term investing, highlighting the use of a specific screening strategy to identify stocks with strong fundamentals and positive price momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Screening Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is designed to identify stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain their recent uptrend, focusing on those trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, indicating bullishness [3]. - Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) is identified as a candidate that passed the screening, showing a price increase of 53.6% over 12 weeks, reflecting investor willingness to pay more for potential upside [4]. - SEZL has experienced a significant price increase of 125.6% over the past four weeks, indicating that the upward trend is still intact [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - SEZL holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong historical performance, with Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988, suggesting a reliable indicator for stock selection [7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for SEZL is also 1 (Strong Buy), indicating high optimism from the brokerage community regarding the stock's near-term performance [7]. Group 3: Additional Insights - The article suggests that SEZL's price trend is unlikely to reverse soon, and encourages investors to explore other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen [8]. - The importance of backtesting stock-picking strategies is highlighted, with the Zacks Research Wizard available for investors to validate the effectiveness of their strategies [9].

Core Viewpoint - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) is identified as a strong momentum stock with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating potential for significant near-term price appreciation [3][11]. Company Performance - ATRO shares have increased by 9.14% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry, which rose by 4.95% during the same period [5]. - Over the last month, ATRO's stock price has changed by 21.06%, compared to the industry's performance of 11.82% [5]. - In the past quarter, ATRO shares have surged by 43.51%, and over the last year, they have gained 44.28%, while the S&P 500 has seen declines of -5.75% and gains of 10.63%, respectively [6]. Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for ATRO is 482,265 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7]. Earnings Outlook - In the last two months, one earnings estimate for ATRO has been revised upward, while none have been lowered, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $1.29 to $1.50 [9]. - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has also moved upwards with no downward revisions noted [9].

Group 1: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) - BioCryst has a Zacks Rank 1 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 285.7% over the last 60 days [1] - The company's shares gained 15% over the last three months, while the S&P 500 declined by 7.2% [1] - BioCryst possesses a Momentum Score of A [1] Group 2: WidePoint Corporation (WYY) - WidePoint has a Zacks Rank 1 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 108.3% over the last 60 days [2] - The company's shares gained 35.7% over the last three months, compared to the S&P 500's decline of 7.2% [2] - WidePoint possesses a Momentum Score of B [2] Group 3: Rambus Inc. (RMBS) - Rambus has a Zacks Rank 1 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 3.9% over the last 60 days [3] - The company's shares gained 11.6% over the past month, while the S&P 500 advanced by 6.9% [3] - Rambus possesses a Momentum Score of B [3]