Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of utilizing Zacks Premium for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence in investing [1][9]. Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the short term [3][4]. - Each stock is rated from A to F based on its characteristics, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4]. Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors [4]. Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook, considering projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth potential [5]. Momentum Score - The Momentum Score identifies optimal times to invest based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, catering to momentum traders [6]. VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing styles [7]. Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [8]. - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9]. Stock Highlight: Bread Financial Holdings (BFH) - Bread Financial, a tech-forward financial services company, is currently rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [12][13]. - The company has a forward P/E ratio of 6.65, making it attractive for value investors, and has seen positive earnings estimate revisions, with the consensus estimate for fiscal 2025 increasing by $1.81 to $10.14 per share [13][14].

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence through various resources like daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, serving as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank [2] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperforming the market [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings outlook, utilizing factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking attractive value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in portfolio creation [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically achieved an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] Stock to Watch: Bread Financial Holdings (BFH) - Bread Financial, a tech-forward financial services company, is rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank with a VGM Score of A [11] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 0.1% over the past four weeks [12] - Analysts have revised earnings estimates upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $1.78 to $10.12 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +55.2% [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 rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, serving as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank [3][4] - Each stock receives a rating from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for market outperformance [4] Value Score - The Value Style Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [4] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score focuses on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score helps investors capitalize on price trends by evaluating short-term price changes and earnings estimate revisions [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with the best value, growth, and momentum characteristics [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9] Stock Recommendation - Bread Financial Holdings (BFH) is highlighted as a 1 (Strong Buy) stock with a VGM Score of A and a Momentum Style Score of A, having increased by 13.3% in the past four weeks [13][14] - Analysts have revised BFH's earnings estimate upwards, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.95 to $9.30 per share, and the company has an average earnings surprise of +55.2% [14]

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with a buy rank and strong value characteristics as of October 28th: Bread Financial, CNA Financial, and AllianceBernstein [1][2][3] Company Summaries Bread Financial (BFH) - Offers personalized payment, lending, and saving solutions - Holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 7.3% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 7.31, significantly lower than the industry average of 19 - Possesses a Value Score of A [1][2] CNA Financial (CNA) - Operates as a property and casualty insurer - Holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 2.2% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 9.90, compared to the industry average of 12.70 - Possesses a Value Score of A [2] AllianceBernstein (AB) - Provides diversified investment management services primarily to pension funds, endowments, and individual investors - Holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 0.9% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 11.87, lower than the industry average of 13.30 - Possesses a Value Score of A [3]

Group 1: Bread Financial (BFH) - The company is a tech-forward financial services provider offering personalized payment, lending, and saving solutions [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 7.3% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a dividend yield of 1.3%, compared to the industry average of 0.0% [1] Group 2: CNA Financial (CNA) - CNA Financial offers commercial property and casualty insurance products primarily in the United States [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 2.2% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a dividend yield of 4.1%, compared to the industry average of 0.7% [2] Group 3: Valley National Bancorp (VLY) - Valley National Bancorp provides a range of financial services including commercial, retail, insurance, and wealth management products [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 1.1% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a dividend yield of 4%, compared to the industry average of 2.7% [3]

Core Insights - Five stocks have been added to the Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) List, indicating strong potential for investment Company Summaries - **nCino (NCNO)**: A provider of cloud-based software for financial institutions, with a 9.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - **Vertiv (VRT)**: A leading global provider of critical digital infrastructure and services for data centers and communication networks, experiencing a 7.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - **Bread Financial (BFH)**: A tech-forward financial services company offering personalized payment, lending, and saving solutions, with a 7.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - **Medpace (MEDP)**: A global full-service clinical contract research organization providing clinical development services, seeing a 3.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [4] - **MasterCraft Boat (MCFT)**: A company that designs, manufactures, and markets recreational powerboats, with a 3.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [5]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores categorize stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, assigning ratings from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] - Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [4] - Growth Score evaluates stocks based on projected earnings and sales growth, emphasizing future financial health [5] - Momentum Score identifies stocks benefiting from current price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate shifts [6] - VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to highlight stocks with the best overall characteristics in value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Interaction - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically achieved an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - To optimize returns, investors should target stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial; stocks with lower ranks, even with high Style Scores, may still face price declines [10] Company Spotlight: Bread Financial Holdings - Bread Financial, a tech-forward financial services company, is part of the S&P MidCap 400 and offers personalized payment and lending solutions [11] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, Bread Financial has a VGM Score of A and a Value Style Score of A, with a forward P/E ratio of 7.93 [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates indicate positive momentum, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising to $8.35 per share [12] - Given its solid Zacks Rank and favorable Style Scores, Bread Financial is recommended for investors' consideration [13]