Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, May 27th:  JAKKS Pacific (JAKK) : This multi-brand company that has been designing and marketing a broad range of toys and consumer products since 1995, carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.1% over the last 60 days.JAKKS Pacific has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 4.66 compared with 10.60 for the industry. The comp ...

Group 1: Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) - Invesco Mortgage Capital is a real estate investment trust focusing on financing and managing residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 6.1% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a dividend yield of 18.5%, significantly higher than the industry average of 12.4% [2] Group 2: JAKKS Pacific (JAKK) - JAKKS Pacific is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased nearly 3.1% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a dividend yield of 5%, compared to the industry average of 0.0% [2] Group 3: PCB Bancorp (PCB) - PCB Bancorp is a bank holding company offering various financial services including savings accounts, loans, and wealth management [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased nearly 10.4% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a dividend yield of 4.1%, which is higher than the industry average of 1.3% [3]

Group 1: Brand Expansion and Market Strategy - The "Song Dynasty" fragrance brand from Hangzhou has achieved nearly 200% order growth in the US market within a year by leveraging e-commerce platforms like Yami [1] - Zhejiang enterprises are increasingly focusing on developing overseas brands and entering local e-commerce markets to adapt to changing trade dynamics [1][6] - Companies like Zhongtian Model Co. have successfully entered the US market by establishing a dedicated brand for educational toys, planning to expand into the Russian market next [3] Group 2: Trade Resilience and Economic Performance - Zhejiang province's foreign trade maintained resilience with a total import and export value of 1.75 trillion yuan in the first four months of the year, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 6.6% [2] - The province's growth rates in imports and exports outpaced national averages, indicating a robust trade environment despite global uncertainties [2] Group 3: Cross-Border E-commerce Development - Companies are shifting from cross-border stores to local stores to enhance competitiveness in overseas markets, particularly in the US and Russia [6][8] - The Zhejiang government is actively supporting cross-border e-commerce through various initiatives, including the establishment of a "capacity going out" service platform [9][10] Group 4: Brand and Product Innovation - Traditional foreign trade companies are increasingly focusing on brand development to ensure long-term stability and profitability in uncertain trade environments [4] - Companies like Jiali Century are successfully entering high-end markets in Europe after years of negotiation, highlighting the importance of brand recognition and product quality [4] Group 5: Market Trends and Consumer Preferences - There is a growing demand for branded products among European consumers, who often search for "brand + product" combinations on e-commerce platforms [5] - The diversification of consumer needs is driving Chinese manufacturers to enhance their production capabilities and focus on specialized, high-quality products [4]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, is a strategic approach for evaluating companies, especially those that are unprofitable or in early growth stages [1][3][5] Group 1: Price-to-Sales Ratio - The price-to-sales ratio is a valuable metric that reflects how much investors pay for each dollar of revenue generated by a company [3] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for a dollar's worth of revenue [4] - The P/S ratio is often preferred over the price-to-earnings ratio due to the difficulty of manipulating sales figures compared to earnings [5] Group 2: Screening Parameters - Companies should have a price-to-sales ratio less than the median for their industry, along with a price-to-earnings ratio below the industry median [7] - A debt-to-equity ratio less than the industry median is also recommended, as lower debt levels contribute to a stable P/S ratio [8] - Stocks should be trading at a minimum price of $5 and have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) to ensure better performance [8] Group 3: Company Profiles - Green Dot (GDOT) is a pro-consumer bank holding company with a strong position in prepaid cards and Banking-as-a-Service, boasting a Zacks Rank 1 and a Value Score of A [10][11] - JAKKS Pacific (JAKK) has diversified through acquisitions and focuses on online retailing, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 and a Value Score of A [12][13] - PCB Bancorp (PCB) offers a range of banking products and has a strategic expansion plan, with a Value Score of A and a Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - Gibraltar Industries (ROCK) focuses on operational improvements and has a Value Score of B with a Zacks Rank 2, benefiting from high demand in agricultural facilities [16][17] - Pfizer (PFE) is committed to developing treatments across various therapeutic areas and expects better non-COVID operational revenue growth, holding a Value Score of A and a Zacks Rank 2 [18][19]

Group 1 - The core lesson learned in Africa emphasizes the importance of respecting the market, culture, and human nature [1] - The company conducted market research in Tanzania, focusing on the clothing and toy markets [4][12] - The clothing market in Tanzania is evolving, with an increasing number of wealthy individuals seeking mid to high-end fashion [10][11] Group 2 - The toy market in Tanzania is still in its infancy, presenting significant growth potential due to the high birth rate [12] - The company identified that imported toys are expensive due to high shipping costs and tariffs, making them less accessible to the average consumer [13][14] - The company observed a rapid change in the clothing market, with improved store displays and a rise in online shopping [13] Group 3 - The company faced challenges in selling bed linens due to local competition and consumer preferences [32] - The company encountered difficulties with product selection, leading to unsold inventory and financial losses [33][36] - The registration and tax compliance process in Tanzania proved to be costly and complicated, resulting in unexpected fines [37][39]

Group 1 - President Trump urged Walmart to absorb the costs of tariffs instead of passing them onto consumers, stating that the retailer should "EAT THE TARIFFS" [1][4] - Walmart's CFO, John David Rainey, expressed concerns that the increase in tariffs is too high for suppliers to absorb, leading to potential price increases for consumers by late May and more significantly in June [2] - Walmart CEO Doug McMillon indicated that tariffs on imports from countries like Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica are affecting prices of certain products, including bananas, avocados, and coffee, but assured that food prices would not be pressured by tariff-related costs on general merchandise [3] Group 2 - Other companies, such as Foxconn and Toyota, have also warned about the impacts of tariffs, with Foxconn downgrading its growth outlook and Toyota estimating a $1.25 billion profit loss due to U.S. tariffs [4] - Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported goods, which increase costs for importing companies, leading them to raise retail prices to maintain margins [5] - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs has been exacerbated by President Trump's fluctuating tariff policies, which have included rates as high as 145% on Chinese goods, contributing to market volatility and inflation concerns [7]

Core Viewpoint - Shanghai Lego Park is implementing strict real-name ticketing for its trial operation phase to combat illegal ticket reselling and ensure visitor safety [1][2]. Group 1: Ticketing Policy - The trial operation tickets are exclusively for holders of limited annual passes and hotel package guests, and are not available for public sale [1]. - Tickets obtained through unofficial channels, such as "experience tickets" or "internal tickets," are illegal and may result in entry denial and financial loss for buyers [1]. - A full real-name management system is in place, requiring visitors to provide valid ID information during reservation, which must match the ticket holder's identity at entry [1]. Group 2: Enforcement Measures - Shanghai Lego Park will collaborate with law enforcement and tourism authorities to conduct special operations against illegal ticket sales [1]. - Legal actions will be taken against individuals or groups involved in ticket fraud, including forgery and unauthorized resale [1]. Group 3: Visitor Guidance - Visitors are advised to purchase tickets only through official channels, including the park's website and authorized platforms, to avoid scams [2]. - Further updates on ticketing policies will be announced following the official opening of the park [2].

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying strong candidates can be challenging due to inherent volatility and risks [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Jakks Pacific (JAKK) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock based on its favorable Growth Score and top Zacks Rank [2] - The company has a historical EPS growth rate of 18.5%, with projected EPS growth of 12.7% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 4.2% [5] Group 2: Key Growth Metrics - The asset utilization ratio for Jakks is 1.63, indicating that the company generates $1.63 in sales for every dollar in assets, compared to the industry average of 0.86, showcasing superior efficiency [6] - Jakks is expected to achieve a sales growth of 1.3% this year, slightly above the industry average of 1% [7] Group 3: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Jakks, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 3.8% over the past month [8] - The combination of a Zacks Rank 2 and a Growth Score of A positions Jakks as a potential outperformer for growth investors [9][10]

Jakks Pacific (JAKK) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Since a changing ear ...

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics a ...