Core Insights - The investment landscape in 2026 is influenced by themes from 2025, including AI optimism, Federal Reserve policies, geopolitical tensions, and tariff risks [1] Sales Growth as an Indicator - Sales growth is a reliable metric for evaluating stocks, reflecting actual demand and underlying company momentum, unlike earnings which can be influenced by accounting practices [3] - Consistent sales growth indicates potential market share expansion and successful entry into new markets, serving as an early indicator of earnings upside and long-term value creation [3] Contextual Analysis of Sales Performance - Sales performance should be contextualized against peers, industry trends, and economic conditions to identify companies with durable growth and competitive advantages [4] - Durable growth supports predictable cash flows, allowing management to reinvest and maintain balance sheet strength without excessive debt [4] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks are shortlisted based on criteria including 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [5] - Additional metrics include a Price/Sales (P/S) Ratio lower than industry average, positive changes in sales estimate revisions, operating margins above 5%, and Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [6][7][8] Highlighted Stocks for 2026 - MKS Inc. (MKSI), Ameren Corporation (AEE), and ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) are identified for their robust sales growth and strong financial fundamentals [10] - MKSI expects a sales growth of 6.9% in 2026, AEE projects 7.2%, and OGS forecasts a 5% increase, all while maintaining high cash flow and solid operating margins [10][11][12][13]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - The 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 next 30 days [2][3] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score focuses on a stock's future prospects and financial health, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using factors like one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to identify companies with the best value, growth forecasts, and momentum, serving as a strong indicator alongside the Zacks Rank [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.81% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize potential success [10] - Stocks with lower ranks, even if they have good Style Scores, may still face downward earnings forecasts, increasing the risk of price declines [11] Company Spotlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is a global provider of instruments and process control solutions for advanced manufacturing [12] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, MKS is projected to have a year-over-year earnings growth of 15.8% for the current fiscal year [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MKS has increased by $0.61 to $7.62 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +12.4% [13]

Core Insights - The Zacks Premium service provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, offering additional metrics for stock selection [3][4] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Zacks Style Scores categorize stocks into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [4][5][6][7] - Value Score identifies undervalued stocks using financial ratios [4] - Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future growth potential [5] - Momentum Score tracks price trends to identify optimal buying opportunities [6] - VGM Score combines all three styles to provide a comprehensive evaluation of stocks [7] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investment decisions [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, achieving an average annual return of +23.81% since 1988 [8] - Investors are encouraged to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal returns [10] Stock Highlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is identified as a potential growth investment, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B [12] - The company is projected to experience a year-over-year earnings growth of 6.5% for the current fiscal year [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by six analysts have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $7.01 per share, reflecting a positive earnings surprise average of +15.9% [13]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within a 30-day timeframe [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores categorize stocks into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] - Value Score identifies undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [3] - Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future growth potential based on earnings and sales projections [4] - Momentum Score capitalizes on price trends and earnings outlook changes to identify favorable investment opportunities [5] - VGM Score combines the three styles to highlight stocks with attractive value, growth, and momentum characteristics [6] Zacks Rank and Performance - 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 delivered an average annual return of +23.64% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - Investors are encouraged to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal investment success [10] Stock Highlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is a global provider of advanced manufacturing process control solutions, currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A [12] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 20.4% over the past four weeks [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have raised the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.37 to $7.01 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +15.9% [13]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various 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 provide a rating system for stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, helping investors identify securities likely to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future growth potential by analyzing earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score evaluates stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, aiding in timing investment decisions [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with the best overall value, growth, and momentum characteristics [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, with an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [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 [9] - Stocks with lower ranks (4 or 5) should be avoided, even if they have high Style Scores, due to declining earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is a global provider of advanced manufacturing process control solutions, currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A [11] - The company has a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 15.24, making it attractive to value investors [11] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.32 to $6.94 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +15.9% [12]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, helping investors identify securities likely to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] - Each stock is rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score evaluates stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find those with sustainable growth potential [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, indicating optimal times to invest in high-momentum stocks [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores to identify stocks with the best overall characteristics [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to help investors build successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7][9] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for the highest likelihood of success [9][10] Company Spotlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is a global provider of advanced manufacturing process solutions, currently rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, with a VGM Score of A [11] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 0.8% over the past four weeks [11] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised higher, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.32 to $6.94 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +15.9% [12]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [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 emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing earnings and sales projections [5] - Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to optimize entry points for investments [6] - VGM Score combines all three styles to provide a comprehensive assessment of stocks, aiding in identifying the most attractive investment opportunities [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Interaction - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal success [9] - Stocks with lower ranks, even if they have high Style Scores, may still face downward price pressure due to negative earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: MKS Inc. - MKS Inc. is a global provider of advanced manufacturing process control solutions, currently rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, with a VGM Score of A [11] - The company is projected to experience year-over-year earnings growth of 5.5% for the current fiscal year, supported by a Growth Style Score of B [11] - Recent analyst revisions have increased the earnings estimate for fiscal 2025 by $0.32 to $6.94 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +15.9% [12] - MKS Inc. is positioned as a potential growth investment due to its solid Zacks Rank and favorable Style Scores [12]

Company Overview - MKS Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems, and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power, and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes [11] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - MKS is currently rated as a 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, indicating a neutral outlook [11] - The company has a VGM Score of A, which combines value, growth, and momentum characteristics [11][6] - MKS also has a Value Style Score of A, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 14.42, making it appealing to value investors [11][3] Earnings Estimates - In the last 60 days, four analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.19 to $6.81 per share [12] - MKS has demonstrated an average earnings surprise of +15.9%, indicating a strong performance relative to expectations [12]