Market Overview - The broader equity markets have shown a steady uptrend as investors remain optimistic despite tariff threats from President Trump on 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea [1] - Investors are hopeful for a mutually beneficial solution to avoid market turmoil as they look forward to a busy earnings season [1][2] Trade Relations - Positive discussions between U.S.-China diplomats regarding trade tariffs and potential peace talks between U.S. officials and Iran have contributed to market stability [2] - Investors are awaiting clarity on interest rate cuts with inflation data expected to be released soon [2] Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to focus on "cash cow" stocks that provide higher returns, emphasizing the importance of attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE) [3] - High ROE indicates effective reinvestment of cash at a high rate of return, distinguishing profitable companies from less efficient ones [4][5] Stock Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on criteria including cash flow greater than $1 billion and ROE exceeding industry averages [6] - Additional metrics include Price/Cash Flow lower than industry average and Return on Assets (ROA) greater than industry average [7] Featured Stocks - **Walt Disney**: Long-term earnings growth expectation of 11.8% with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.4% on average, Zacks Rank 2 [8][9] - **TE Connectivity**: Long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.8% with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.3% on average, Zacks Rank 2 [10][11] - **Fortinet**: Long-term earnings growth expectation of 13.4% with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.8% on average, Zacks Rank 2 [12][13] - **Banco Bilbao**: Long-term earnings growth expectation of 5.5% with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.3% on average, Zacks Rank 1 [13][14] - **Colgate-Palmolive**: Long-term earnings growth expectation of 5.2% with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4% on average, Zacks Rank 2 [14][15]

Group 1 - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market confidence and knowledge, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a rating system for stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, helping investors identify securities likely to outperform the market [2][3] Group 2 - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected earnings and sales for sustainable growth [4] - The Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates, aiding investors in timing their stock purchases [5] Group 3 - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive rating that highlights stocks with attractive value, growth potential, and positive momentum [6] - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [7][8] Group 4 - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.62% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9][10] Group 5 - Walt Disney Company reported revenues of $91.4 billion in fiscal 2024 and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) with a VGM Score of B [11] - Disney's Growth Style Score of B indicates a forecasted year-over-year earnings growth of 16.3% for the current fiscal year [11] - Recent analyst revisions have increased Disney's earnings estimate for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising to $5.78 per share [12]

Core Insights - The Zacks Focus List is a curated portfolio of 50 stocks aimed at long-term investors, expected to outperform the market over the next 12 months [3][5] - The Focus List has demonstrated strong past performance, with a cumulative return of 2,519.23% from February 1, 1996, to March 31, 2021, compared to the S&P 500's return of 854.95% [5] - The methodology for selecting stocks in the Focus List relies heavily on earnings estimate revisions, which are critical for predicting future growth and profitability [6][7] Focus List Performance - In 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 9.38% [5] - The portfolio's historical performance reinforces its value as a starting point for investors [5] Stock Selection Methodology - Stocks are chosen based on the Zacks Rank, which utilizes earnings estimate revisions to identify potential winners [8][9] - The Zacks Rank is based on four main factors: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise, which are recalculated nightly [9] Case Study: Walt Disney Company - Walt Disney Company reported revenues of $91.4 billion in fiscal 2024 and was added to the Focus List at $85.98 per share, with shares increasing by 29.25% to $111.13 since then [11] - Eight analysts have revised Disney's earnings estimate higher for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.24 to $5.72, and an average earnings surprise of 16.4% [12]

Stock markets have been experiencing significant volatility of late. This is largely because of the ongoing tariff war, which has also led to expectations of economic slowdown and rising inflation. Because of these concerns, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 4.25-4.5% at last week's FOMC meeting. In such an uncertain environment, retail investors face significant challenges in selecting the right stocks and achieving strong returns. One way to cut short this task is to follow brokers' rec ...