Market Overview - The U.S. markets have shown an upward trend, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reaching all-time highs, increasing by 1.32% and 0.64% respectively last week [1] - Positive corporate earnings and expectations of easing tariffs and trade policies have bolstered investor confidence [1] - Concerns over inflation and signs of a potential economic slowdown are influencing the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on interest rates [1] Economic Indicators - The Conference Board's Leading Economic Indicator fell by 0.3% in June, indicating early signs of a slowdown, with weakened consumer expectations and fewer manufacturing orders [2] - The S&P Global's U.S. flash PMI data for July indicated an acceleration in business activity driven by the services sector, while the manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.5 [2] - Initial jobless claims decreased by 4,000 to 217,000 for the week ending July 19, suggesting a resilient labor market with limited layoffs [2] Stock Performance - AngloGold Ashanti plc's shares increased by 23.1% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on May 19, outperforming the S&P 500's 7.2% increase [3][4] - NN Group N.V. saw a return of 12.1% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on May 29, compared to the S&P 500's 8.4% increase [4] - Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +6.51% in May 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's +4.47% [5] Portfolio Performance - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by more than 12 percentage points since 1988 [6] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +8.84% in 2025 (through June 30) compared to +6.21% for the S&P 500 [14] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's -4.30% decline [18] Notable Stocks - Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. gained 60.3% over the past 12 weeks, while Caterpillar Inc. returned 41.3% in the same period [13][14] - OptimizeRx Corporation and Artisan Partners Asset Management saw increases of 18.2% and 14.6% respectively since their upgrades to Outperform [10] - Hershey Company returned 17.8% over the past 12 weeks, benefiting from investor interest in quality dividend stocks [20]

Market Overview - The three major U.S. indexes (Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average) ended the past trading week positively, with gains of 3.52%, 2.86%, and 3.41% respectively [1] - Despite a gloomy economic outlook due to shifts in U.S. foreign tariff policy, weak economic data, and rising geopolitical tensions, investors are optimistic about strong earnings results and potential reductions in import duties by the Trump administration [1] Economic Indicators - The U.S. GDP contracted for the first time in three years, growing at an annualized rate of 0.3% in Q1 2025, down from 2.4% in the previous quarter [2] - Consumer sentiment index dropped to 52.2 in April from 57.0 in March, marking the lowest level since July 2022 [2] - The consumer confidence index fell to 86 in April from 92.9 in March [2] - The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index remained flat in March, while personal consumption and personal income grew by 0.7% and 0.5% respectively, exceeding expectations [2] Manufacturing and Labor Market - The manufacturing PMI for April contracted to 48.7% from 49% in March, indicating contraction in manufacturing activities [3] - Nonfarm payrolls increased by 177,000 in April, exceeding analyst expectations, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% [3] Stock Performance and Recommendations - ADMA Biologics, Inc. shares gained 48.6% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on March 4, outperforming the S&P 500's 3% decrease [4] - Intrepid Potash, Inc. shares returned 28.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 on March 6, also outperforming the S&P 500 [5] - The Zacks Model Portfolio of Rank 1 stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 13 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.9% [7] Focus List and Portfolios - Constellation Brands, Inc. gained 8.2% over the past 12 weeks, while Cheniere Energy, Inc. returned 2.3% during the same period [11] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned -2.96% in Q1 2025, compared to -4.30% for the S&P 500 index [12] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -4.30% decline [16] Dividend and Defensive Stocks - Coca-Cola Company returned 13.5% over the past 12 weeks, while Quest Diagnostics Incorporated increased by 7.9% [18] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned +5.74% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -2.41% pullback [19] Top 10 Stocks Performance - Primo Brands Corporation increased by 7.4% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500 index's 3.3% decrease [22] - The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +25.04% return [22][23]