Market Overview - The stock market experienced a rebound in the final week of November after a significant pullback, with buyers returning on the first trading day of December [1] - The outlook for the stock market remains optimistic through December and into 2026, driven by strong earnings growth in technology and artificial intelligence sectors [2] Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to continue purchasing stocks in December and into 2026, particularly those with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [2] - A Zacks screen can help identify top-performing stocks among over 200 companies with a Zacks Rank 1 [3] Screening Parameters - The screening process includes three key filters: 1. Zacks Rank equal to 1, which has historically provided an average annual return of approximately 24.4% since 1988 [5] 2. Positive percentage change in current quarter estimates over the last four weeks [6] 3. Top 5 stocks with the best average broker rating changes over the last four weeks [7] Company Spotlight: ePlus - ePlus (PLUS) is highlighted as a strong buy, having reported its first quarter of gross billings exceeding $1 billion, with revenue increasing by 23% to $609 million [10] - The company is projected to grow its revenue by 12% in FY26, reaching $2.32 billion, and its adjusted earnings are expected to grow by 3% in FY26 and 12% in FY27 [11] - ePlus has outperformed the tech sector over the past 20 years, with a stock price increase of 2,400% compared to the sector's 910% [12] - Despite its long-term success, ePlus trades at a 33% discount to the tech sector, with a forward P/E ratio of 18.9X [12]

Core Viewpoint - ePlus reported quarterly earnings of $1.11 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.87 per share, marking a 27.59% earnings surprise [1]. Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $498.11 million for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.91% and down from $554.46 million year-over-year [2]. - Over the last four quarters, ePlus has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once [2]. Stock Performance - ePlus shares have declined approximately 11.5% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -0.6% [3]. - The current Zacks Rank for ePlus is 4 (Sell), indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6]. Earnings Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.01 on revenues of $527.4 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $4.61 on revenues of $2.17 billion [7]. - The trend for estimate revisions ahead of the earnings release was unfavorable, which may impact future stock performance [6]. Industry Context - The Business - Software Services industry, to which ePlus belongs, is currently in the top 9% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8].