Core Viewpoint - Investors are seeking growth stocks that can deliver above-average growth and exceptional returns, but identifying such stocks is challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Packaging Corp. (PKG) is identified as a cutting-edge growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company is a maker of containerboard and corrugated packaging products [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Historical EPS growth rate for Packaging Corp. is 8%, but projected EPS growth for this year is 13.2%, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.9% [5] Group 3: Asset Utilization - Packaging Corp. has an asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) of 0.96, indicating it generates $0.96 in sales for every dollar in assets, outperforming the industry average of 0.81 [7] - The company's sales are expected to grow by 5.1% this year, compared to the industry average of 3.1% [7] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Packaging Corp., with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 0.2% over the past month [8] Group 5: Investment Potential - Packaging Corp. has earned a Growth Score of A and carries a Zacks Rank 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, indicating it is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [10]

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, avoiding overhyped stocks while targeting battered stocks with recovery potential [2] - The investment outlook is typically set for 18 to 24 months, allowing time for the thesis to materialize [3] - The group aims to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals and attractive valuations [3]

Group 1 - Fast casual restaurants are viewed as attractive for long-term investment opportunities [1] - Portillo's (NASDAQ: PTLO) is highlighted for its growth potential and affordability compared to competitors like Wingstop [1] - The analysis emphasizes the importance of identifying companies with a competitive advantage that can adapt in fast-changing industries [1]

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are interested in stocks with above-average financial growth, but identifying such stocks can be challenging due to associated risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Aramark (ARMK) is identified as a promising growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company provides food, facilities, and uniform services, making it a strong candidate for growth investment [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Aramark has a historical EPS growth rate of 32.8%, with projected EPS growth of 24.9% this year, significantly higher than the industry average of 10.9% [4] Group 3: Asset Utilization - The company's asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) is 1.37, indicating that Aramark generates $1.37 in sales for every dollar in assets, outperforming the industry average of 0.96 [5] Group 4: Sales Growth - Aramark's sales are expected to grow by 7% this year, compared to an industry average of 0% [6] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Aramark, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 0.1% over the past month [7] Group 6: Investment Positioning - Aramark holds a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of A, positioning it well for potential outperformance in the market [9]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics [2] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales to find attractive investment opportunities [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to identify stocks with sustainable growth potential [4] - The Momentum Score identifies optimal times to invest based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, emphasizing the importance of following market trends [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment strategies [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Integration - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to assist 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 [7][8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, while stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also possess high Style Scores to ensure potential upside [9][10] Company Spotlight: Universal Health Services (UHS) - Universal Health Services Inc. operates various healthcare facilities and currently holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A and a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for growth [11] - Recent analyst revisions have positively impacted UHS's earnings estimates for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.19 to $19.43 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of 13.8% [12]

Group 1 - The analyst has over 15 years of experience in investing and has provided research services to mid-sized hedge funds with assets under management between $100 million and $500 million [1] - The current focus is on managing personal investments, with a strategy centered on medium-term investing in ideas that have catalysts to unlock value or short selling in the presence of downside catalysts [1] - The analyst has a generalist approach but has spent most of their career analyzing the industrial, consumer, and technology sectors, indicating higher conviction in these areas for investment [1]

Group 1: Zacks Premium and Style Scores - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2][3] Group 2: Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find sustainable growth stocks [4] - The Momentum Score identifies optimal times to invest based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, catering to momentum traders [5] Group 3: VGM Score and Zacks Rank - The VGM Score combines Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking a balanced approach [6] - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.62% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] Group 4: Stock Analysis - Acuity, Inc. - Acuity, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, GA, manufactures and distributes lighting fixtures and related components, focusing on energy efficiency and comfort for various applications [11] - Acuity has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of A, with a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 17.61, making it attractive for value investors [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates and a Zacks Consensus Estimate increase of $0.31 to $17.34 per share indicate positive momentum for Acuity [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are increasingly focused on identifying stocks with above-average financial growth, which can lead to solid returns, but finding such stocks is challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - McKesson is identified as a promising growth stock, supported by a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company has a historical EPS growth rate of 16%, with projected EPS growth of 12.6% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 1.3% [5] - McKesson's sales are expected to grow by 13% this year, compared to the industry average of 1.1% [7] Group 2: Key Metrics - The asset utilization ratio for McKesson is 4.95, indicating that the company generates $4.95 in sales for every dollar in assets, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 0.72 [6] - The current-year earnings estimates for McKesson have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 0.1% over the past month [9] Group 3: Investment Potential - McKesson has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, indicating its potential as an outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [11]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) is a popular choice for investors, tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, which includes growth stocks from the S&P 500 [1] Group 1: ETF Composition and Performance - The Vanguard Growth ETF holds approximately 166 stocks, while its value counterpart, the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), contains 331 stocks [2] - The Vanguard Growth ETF is heavily weighted in technology, with tech stocks making up 58.5% of its portfolio, and its top three holdings—Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple—account for nearly 32% of its total holdings [3] - Over the past decade, the Vanguard Growth ETF has achieved an average annual return of 15.3%, outperforming the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (12.8%) and the Vanguard Value ETF (10%) [5] Group 2: Comparison with Invesco QQQ Trust - The Invesco QQQ Trust has outperformed both the Vanguard 500 ETF and the Vanguard Growth ETF over the past decade, generating an average annual return of 17.7% [7] - The Invesco QQQ Trust is also tech-heavy, with 57.2% of its portfolio in the technology sector, but is less top-heavy than the Vanguard Growth ETF, with its top three holdings representing less than 25% of its portfolio [10] - The top holdings of the Vanguard Growth ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust are similar, but the weightings differ, with Microsoft at 11.3%, Nvidia at 10.3%, and Apple at 10.1% for Vanguard Growth, compared to 8.8%, 8.7%, and 7.3% for Invesco QQQ [11] Group 3: Investment Strategy - Both the Vanguard Growth ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust are suitable for growth investors, but the Invesco QQQ Trust is preferred due to its superior performance and less concentration in top holdings [12]

Core Insights - Kingstone Companies (KINS) shares have declined 2.7% year-to-date, underperforming the industry increase of 6.6% and trading at a discount to its 52-week high [1][8] - The company is the 12th largest homeowner insurer in New York with a market share of 2.1% and a market capitalization of $210 million [3] - KINS shares are trading at a premium to the industry with a price-to-book value of 2.45X compared to the industry average of 1.56X [6] Financial Performance - The 2025 EPS outlook is projected between $1.75 and $2.15, reflecting growth driven by rising premiums and strict underwriting [8][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $1.90, indicating a 31% increase on revenues of $214 million, with 2026 earnings expected to be $2.45, a 29% increase on revenues of $238.4 million [10] - Kingstone returned to profitability in 2024 with a projected combined ratio of 81%-85% in 2025, showing significant improvement in net margins [15] Market Position and Strategy - Kingstone is positioned to benefit from favorable industry trends, particularly with the Northeastern U.S. commercial insurance market expected to grow by 12.3% through 2025 [12] - The company is executing a focused growth strategy by concentrating on its core business and divesting from non-core segments [13] - Kingstone has realigned its pricing strategy in response to inflation, projecting a 15% to 25% increase in direct written premiums for its core business in 2025 [14] Efficiency and Returns - The return on equity (ROE) for Kingstone in the trailing 12 months was 31.9%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.8% [16] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 29.4%, also above the industry average of 5.9%, indicating effective utilization of funds [18] Growth Potential - Kingstone's focus on improving pricing, combined ratio, and expanding margins is expected to drive strong earnings growth [19] - The average target price for KINS shares is $19, reflecting a 26.7% upside potential from its last closing price [19]