Economic Overview - The U.S. inflation rate has reached 3% in September, the highest level since January, with consumer prices rising by 0.3% in that month, up from an annual rate of 2.9% [1][9]. Investment Opportunities - Amid rising inflation, dividend growth stocks present a favorable investment option as their increasing payouts can help maintain purchasing power [2][9]. - Companies with a strong history of dividend growth tend to have robust financial health, providing a defensive hedge against economic uncertainty [4][5]. Selected Dividend Growth Stocks - Five dividend growth stocks identified as solid investment choices include: - **Vertiv (VRT)**: Expected revenue growth of 27.5% for 2025, long-term earnings growth rate of 30%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.08% [10][11]. - **Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM)**: Projected revenue growth of 33.8% for 2025, long-term earnings growth rate of 29.2%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.88% [11]. - **Oracle (ORCL)**: Anticipated revenue growth of 16.5% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 17.2%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.71% [12]. - **Lam Research (LRCX)**: Expected revenue growth of 11.9% for fiscal 2026, long-term earnings growth rate of 19.6%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.69% [13]. - **Elbit Systems (ESLT)**: Projected revenue growth of 16.4% for 2025, long-term earnings growth rate of 23.3%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.51% [14]. Investment Criteria - Stocks selected for their strong fundamentals include criteria such as: - Positive 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth, Sales Growth, and EPS Growth [6][7]. - Price/Cash Flow ratio less than the industry average, indicating undervaluation [8]. - 52-Week Price Change greater than the S&P 500, ensuring better performance over the past year [8].

Core Insights - Peak Financial Advisors LLC initiated a new position in Oracle Corporation, acquiring 11,820 shares valued at approximately $3.32 million as of the quarter ending September 30, 2025 [1][2] - Oracle now represents 1.5620% of Peak Financial Advisors' total reportable assets under management (AUM), which includes 85 reportable positions [2][3] - As of October 7, 2025, Oracle shares were priced at $284.24, reflecting a 67.2% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 by 51.35 percentage points [3] Company Overview - Oracle Corporation offers a comprehensive suite of cloud software applications, infrastructure technologies, databases, middleware, hardware, and consulting services [4] - The company generates revenue primarily through cloud subscriptions, software licensing, hardware sales, and related support and consulting services, utilizing both direct and indirect sales channels [4][12] - Oracle serves a global client base, including enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions, focusing on scalable information technology solutions [5] Recent Developments - The new position in Oracle is a significant move for Peak Financial Advisors, placing Oracle among the top 15 holdings in the fund's portfolio [6][7] - There are potential future developments, including a possible deal involving Oracle and TikTok, as well as a strong push towards AI-centric infrastructure in its cloud unit, which may attract investor interest [8] - The decision to acquire Oracle shares indicates a bullish outlook from Peak Financial Advisors, although future actions regarding this position remain uncertain [9]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [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 Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [4] - The Growth Score evaluates a company's future potential through projected earnings and sales growth [5] - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with favorable price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate shifts [6] - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to highlight stocks with attractive value, growth, and momentum characteristics [7] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model based on earnings estimate revisions, aiding in portfolio construction [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically achieved an average annual return of +23.64% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to identify the best opportunities [10] Stock Example: Oracle Corporation - Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is a major provider of enterprise-grade software and currently holds a 3 (Hold) rating with a VGM Score of B [12] - The stock has a Momentum Style Score of A, with a notable 25.4% increase in share price over the past four weeks [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have led to a consensus estimate increase of $0.04 to $6.77 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +0.6% [13]

Core Insights - A consortium led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz plans to acquire 80% of TikTok's US operations to prevent a ban in the US [2][3] - Oracle's stock has increased by 21% over the past month, supported by a strong five-year forecast and a 359% year-over-year rise in remaining performance obligations (RPO) to $455 billion [2][10] - The current market capitalization of Oracle is $852 billion, with a diverse range of offerings including cloud software applications and enterprise databases [5][10] Valuation - Oracle's stock valuation appears very high, raising questions about its attractiveness at the current price level around $300 [4][6] - The company has demonstrated strong operating performance and financial health, but its current valuation may be considered expensive [4][10] Growth - Oracle has experienced an average top-line growth rate of 10.2% over the past three years, with revenues increasing from $54 billion to $59 billion over the last 12 months [10] - Quarterly revenues rose by 12.2% to $15 billion in the most recent quarter compared to $13 billion a year prior [10] Profitability - Oracle's operating income over the last 12 months was $19 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 31.6% [10] - The company generated approximately $12 billion in net income, indicating a net margin of about 21.1% [10] Financial Stability - Oracle had $105 billion in debt at the end of the last quarter, leading to a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 12.3% [10] - The company's cash (including cash equivalents) constitutes $11 billion of $180 billion in total assets, resulting in a Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 6.1% [10] Resilience - Oracle has shown greater resilience than the S&P 500 index during various economic downturns, recovering quickly from declines [8][11]