Market Overview - The U.S. stock market experienced a slight decline on December 26, 2025, primarily due to low trading volume following the Christmas holiday, with many institutional investors absent for the year [1] - Major indexes such as the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq saw small dips, ending short winning streaks observed earlier in the week [1][9] Investment Strategy - During the holiday season, equity investors may favor dividend-growth stocks over high price-growth stocks, as companies with a consistent history of dividend increases often exhibit strong financial health [2] - Dividend-growth stocks provide a defensive hedge against economic uncertainty and market volatility, making them attractive during periods of low market activity [4] Dividend Growth Stocks - Stocks with a strong history of year-over-year dividend growth are considered healthier investments, offering greater potential for capital appreciation compared to simple dividend-paying stocks [3][6] - Five selected dividend-growth stocks include: - Woodward Inc. (WWD): Expected revenue growth of 11.1% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 15.20%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.36% [10] - Enersys (ENS): Projected revenue growth of 4% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 15%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.70% [11] - Donaldson (DCI): Anticipated revenue growth of 3.5% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 10%, and an annual dividend yield of 1.31% [12] - Rockwell Automation (ROK): Expected revenue growth of 5.8% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%, and an annual dividend yield of 1.38% [13] - Vertiv Holdings (VRT): Projected revenue growth of 27.5% for fiscal 2025, long-term earnings growth rate of 30.2%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.15% [14] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks selected for their strong fundamentals include criteria such as: - 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth Greater Than Zero [6] - 5-Year Historical Sales Growth Greater Than Zero [7] - 5-Year Historical EPS Growth Greater Than Zero [7] - Next 3-5 Year EPS Growth Rate Greater Than Zero [7] - Price/Cash Flow Less Than Industry Median [8] - 52-Week Price Change Greater Than S&P 500 [8]

Core Insights - The U.S. equity markets are currently experiencing volatility due to high valuations, sluggish economic signals, and uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's future actions, particularly affecting growth and AI-linked stocks [1] Group 1: Stock Selection Strategy - Retail investors face challenges in stock selection amidst market volatility, making traditional stock-picking methods more relevant [2] - Sales growth is emphasized as a more reliable metric for evaluating stocks compared to earnings growth, as it reflects underlying demand and business model durability [3][10] - Sustained sales growth leads to predictable cash flows, allowing companies to reinvest and maintain stability without excessive borrowing [5] Group 2: Screening Parameters for Stocks - Selected stocks should have a 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than the industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [6] - Additional criteria include a Price-to-Sales (P/S) Ratio lower than the industry average, indicating better value for revenue [7] - Positive revisions in sales estimates compared to the industry can trigger stock price increases [7] Group 3: Key Metrics for Evaluation - An operating margin greater than 5% over the last five years indicates effective cost control and sales growth outpacing costs [8] - A Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% ensures that sales growth translates into profits, indicating wise spending and profitability [9] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) are expected to outperform in various market conditions [9] Group 4: Recommended Stocks - Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) is projected to have a sales growth rate of 14.8% for fiscal 2026 and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 [11] - Globus Medical (GMED) anticipates a sales growth rate of 14.5% for 2025, also with a Zacks Rank of 1 [12] - Rockwell Automation (ROK) expects a sales increase of 5.8% in fiscal 2026 and has a Zacks Rank of 2 [13] - Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) forecasts a sales growth of 5.7% for 2025, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 [14] - VICI Properties anticipates a sales growth of 4.1% in 2025 and has a Zacks Rank of 2 [15]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated A, B, C, D, or F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating better performance potential [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - Evaluates a company's financial health and future outlook through projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - Assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings outlook, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions [5] VGM Score - Combines all three Style Scores to provide a comprehensive rating, highlighting stocks with attractive value, growth potential, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically yielding an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential to use Style Scores for effective stock selection [8] Stock Example: Rockwell Automation - Rockwell Automation, based in Milwaukee, WI, operates in over 100 countries, with approximately 50% of sales from the U.S. [11] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, it has a Momentum Style Score of A and a 15.3% increase in share price over the past four weeks [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates and a +12.3% average earnings surprise make Rockwell Automation a notable stock for investors [12]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators designed to help investors select stocks likely to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [3] - The Style Scores consist of four categories: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [4][5][6][7] Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's future prospects by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score focuses on price trends and earnings outlook changes, helping investors identify favorable times to invest in high-momentum stocks [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment styles [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in portfolio creation, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988 [8] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to narrow down choices [9] Stock to Watch: Rockwell Automation - Rockwell Automation, based in Milwaukee, WI, specializes in industrial automation and information solutions, generating around 50% of its sales from the U.S. [12] - The company holds a 3 (Hold) Zacks Rank with a VGM Score of B and a Growth Style Score of B, indicating a forecasted year-over-year earnings growth of 10% for the current fiscal year [12][13] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised higher, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.06 to $11.58 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of +12.3% [13]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, aiding in stock selection based on value, growth, and momentum [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated from A to F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - Analyzes projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth potential [4] Momentum Score - Utilizes price changes and earnings estimate trends to identify favorable buying opportunities for high-momentum stocks [5] VGM Score - Combines the three Style Scores to highlight stocks with attractive value, strong growth forecasts, and promising momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide stock selection, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.81% since 1988 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential to use Style Scores for effective selection [8] Investment Strategy - For optimal returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with lower ranks but high Style Scores may still face downward price pressure due to negative earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: Rockwell Automation - Rockwell Automation, based in Milwaukee, WI, specializes in industrial automation and has a global presence, with 50% of sales from the U.S. [11] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, Rockwell has a Momentum Style Score of A and a 2% increase in shares over the past month [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates indicate a positive outlook, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising to $9.93 per share [12]