Core Insights - Investors should conduct a thorough review of a company's financial background rather than relying solely on real-time trading numbers, especially in a volatile market [1] - The interest coverage ratio is a critical indicator of a company's ability to meet its debt obligations, particularly in a tighter financial environment [2][4] Financial Metrics - Companies like Casey's General Stores, Brinker International, Cardinal Health, and Flowserve have strong interest coverage ratios, indicating their capacity to service debt [3] - The interest coverage ratio is calculated as Earnings before Interest & Taxes (EBIT) divided by Interest Expense, providing insight into a company's financial stability [5] - A ratio below 1 indicates potential default risk, while a higher ratio suggests a company can withstand financial challenges [7] Investment Strategy - A favorable investment strategy includes selecting stocks with an interest coverage ratio above the industry average, a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2, and a VGM Score of A or B [8][11] - Stocks meeting these criteria are likely to outperform in various market conditions [11] Company Highlights - Casey's General Stores has a Zacks Rank of 1, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.1% and projected sales and EPS growth of 8.8% and 18.8%, respectively, leading to a 44.6% stock increase over the past year [10][12] - Cardinal Health holds a Zacks Rank of 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 9.4% and projected sales and EPS growth of 16.4% and 21.5%, respectively, resulting in a 71.5% stock surge [12][13] - Brinker International, also with a Zacks Rank of 2, has a trailing earnings surprise of 8.2% and projected sales and EPS growth of 7.7% and 18.7%, but its stock has declined by 16.6% [13][14] - Flowserve, with a Zacks Rank of 2, shows a trailing earnings surprise of 10.5% and projected sales and EPS growth of 4.6% and 31.9%, leading to a 26.2% stock increase [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - Seven & i Holdings has raised its annual profit forecast following a significant increase in third-quarter net profit, as the company prepares for the listing of its North American business [1] Financial Performance - The company reported a sharp increase in third-quarter net profit, which has prompted the upward revision of its annual profit forecast [1] Strategic Moves - Seven & i Holdings is gearing up for a listing of its North American business, indicating a strategic focus on expanding its market presence [1]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [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 short term [2] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score identifies attractive stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, focusing on stocks that are undervalued [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook, focusing on earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using metrics like price changes and earnings estimate revisions to identify optimal entry points [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, providing a comprehensive rating to identify stocks with the best overall potential [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.9% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] Stock Selection Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [10] - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have A or B Scores to ensure potential upside [10] Company Spotlight: Casey's General Stores - Casey's General Stores operates approximately 2,921 convenience stores across 19 states, primarily in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois [12] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [12] - Forecasts suggest an 18% year-over-year earnings growth for the current fiscal year, with upward revisions in earnings estimates [13]

Core Insights - Parker's, a convenience retailer based in Savannah, is focused on aggressive store growth, aiming to double its store count from 76 to 151 by 2027 [3][6] - The company plans to open between 20 and 25 new convenience stores annually over the next five years, targeting core markets in Georgia and South Carolina, as well as entering Florida [6] Company Strategy - The retailer's expansion strategy includes opening its first location in Florida, with plans for up to 10 sites in the northeast part of the state [4][6] - If successful, Parker's could grow to as many as 229 convenience stores by the end of the decade, significantly increasing its competitive presence in the Southeast [6] Leadership Changes - Parker's has undergone a leadership transition, appointing Brandon Hofmann as the new CEO and promoting CFO John Rudolfs to co-CEO, aiming to leverage leadership strengths during this growth phase [5]

Group 1 - Murphy USA's shares have declined by 15% over the past year due to concerns regarding consumer spending at its convenience stores [1] - The company has been a disappointing performer in the market, reflecting broader economic challenges [1] Group 2 - The analysis indicates a contrarian investment approach based on macroeconomic views and stock-specific turnaround stories [1]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools and services to help investors achieve long-term success in the stock market [1] - The Zacks Focus List is a curated portfolio of 50 stocks expected to outperform the market over the next 12 months [3][4] Performance Metrics - In 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 9.38% [5] - Cumulatively, the Focus List has returned 2,519.23% from February 1, 1996, to March 31, 2021, compared to the S&P's return of 854.95% during the same period [5] Methodology - The Focus List is based on earnings estimate revisions, which are critical for predicting future growth and profitability [6][7] - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock-rating model, utilizes changes in quarterly earnings expectations to help build a winning portfolio [8] Zacks Rank Components - The Zacks Rank consists of four main pillars: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise, which are recalculated nightly [9] - Stocks in the Focus List are primarily from 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) ranked companies, indicating a bullish earnings consensus among analysts [9] Case Study: Casey's General Stores - Casey's General Stores, added to the Focus List at $171.98 per share, has seen a share price increase of 167.93% to $460.78 [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Casey's earnings has increased to $13.95, with an average earnings surprise of 22.7% [13]