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]

Group 1 - 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 designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within a 30-day timeframe, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2][9] - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors seeking undervalued opportunities [3] - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected earnings and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4] - The Momentum Score leverages trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to identify favorable times for investment in high-momentum stocks [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment strategies [6] Group 2 - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that uses earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [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, ensuring higher potential for success [9] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial when selecting stocks, as a stock with a lower rank may still decline despite having good Style Scores [10] Group 3 - Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) is a company that designs and markets high-performance power solutions, focusing on analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits [11] - MPWR currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, indicating moderate potential [11] - The company is projected to experience year-over-year earnings growth of 21% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions from analysts [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MPWR has increased by $0.11 to $17.08 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 2.2%, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [12]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of utilizing Zacks Premium for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence in investing [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [3][4] - Each stock is 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 [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find those with sustainable growth potential [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score evaluates stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, aiding investors in timing their purchases of high-momentum stocks [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive rating that highlights stocks with attractive value, strong growth forecasts, and promising momentum [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize potential success [10][11] Company Spotlight: PayPal (PYPL) - PayPal Holdings, Inc. is recognized as a leading online payment solutions provider, benefiting from a robust product portfolio and a secure transaction platform [12] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A, PayPal has a Momentum Style Score of A, and its shares have increased by 0.1% over the past four weeks [12][13] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.10 to $5.08 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of 14% [13]

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 great growth stock is not easy at all.That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), whic ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are focused on stocks with above-average financial growth, but identifying such stocks can be challenging due to inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Commvault Systems Overview - Commvault Systems (CVLT) is currently recommended as a growth stock by the Zacks Growth Style Score system, which evaluates a company's real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - The company has a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for outperformance [11] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is a critical factor for growth investors, with double-digit growth being highly desirable [4] - Commvault's historical EPS growth rate is 32.1%, with projected EPS growth of 12.5% this year, surpassing the industry average of 11.9% [5] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - Higher-than-average cash flow growth is essential for growth-oriented companies, allowing them to expand without relying on external funding [6] - Commvault's year-over-year cash flow growth is 45.4%, significantly higher than the industry average of 9.9% [6] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 19.8%, compared to the industry average of 10.3% [7] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [8] - The current-year earnings estimates for Commvault have increased by 9.1% over the past month, indicating a favorable outlook [9] Group 5: Conclusion - Commvault has achieved a Growth Score of A and a Zacks Rank 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, positioning it well for growth investors [11]