Core Viewpoint - A.O. Smith (AOS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on the consensus measure of EPS estimates from sell-side analysts, reflecting the changing earnings picture of a company [1][2]. - Changes in earnings estimates are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements, influenced by institutional investors who adjust their valuations based on these estimates [3]. A.O. Smith's Earnings Outlook - The upgrade for A.O. Smith indicates an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively affect its stock price [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, A.O. Smith is projected to earn $3.83 per share, with a 2.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places A.O. Smith in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

Core Viewpoint - Northwest Natural (NWN) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade for Northwest Natural indicates an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to drive the stock price higher as investors respond positively to this trend [5][10]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Northwest Natural is projected to earn $2.92 per share, with a 2.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Northwest Natural in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].