Here at Zacks, we offer our members a variety of opportunities to get the most out of the stock market and how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
Zacks Premium Service makes this easy. Featuring daily updates of Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank. Full access to the Zacks #1 ranked list. stock research reports; premium stock screens including earnings ESP filters; All of this helps you quickly identify stocks to buy, stocks to sell, and the hottest industries today.
Zacks Premium also includes focus lists. This is a long-term portfolio of top stocks with all the attributes to beat the market.
Analyzing Zacks Focus List
If possible, why not jump at the chance to start your investment journey by accessing a curated list of stocks?
Enter Zacks focus list. This is a portfolio of 50 stocks that will outperform the market over the next 12 months. Each company selected serves as a base for long-term investors looking to create individual portfolios.
One of the benefits of focus lists is that each pick comes with a full Zacks analyst report. This helps explain why each stock was chosen and why we think it is a good long-term choice.
A portfolio’s past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it a starting point. The 2020 Focus List is up 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to his 9.38% return on the S&P 500. Cumulatively, the portfolio he returned 2,519.23% and the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period from February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus list methodology
When a stock is selected for our focus list, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings forecast revisions.
Earnings estimates are growth and profitability expectations and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine all aspects that could affect future earnings, including interest rates, the economy, sector and industry optimism.
Future company earnings must also be taken into account, which is why revisions to earnings forecasts are so important.
If the stock price is revised upwards, we may see more positive changes in the future. For example, if analysts raised their earnings outlook last month, they’ll probably raise their earnings forecasts this month as well, and other analysts will follow suit.
A unique, proprietary stock valuation model, Zacks Rank employs revised earnings estimates to make it easier to build winning portfolios.
Zack Rank consists of four main pillars: Agree, Magnitude, Upside and Surprise. Each is given a raw score, which is recalculated each night and put together into a rank. Then, based on this data, we classify stocks into five groups from “strong buying stocks” to “strong selling stocks”.
The Focus List consists of stocks handpicked from a long list of companies ranked #1 (strong buy) or #2 (buy).
Buying stocks with rising earnings expectations can be very profitable, as stock prices respond to corrections. By buying focus list stocks, you are likely to enter a company that could boost future earnings expectations, which could lead to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Casey’s General Stores (Cassie – free report)
Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores under the names Casey’s and Casey’s General Store in 16 Midwestern states, primarily Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. I’m here. The company also operates his two stores, one liquor store and one grocery store, primarily selling tobacco and nicotine products, under the name “Tobacco City”.
On August 20, 2019, CASY was added to the focus list at $171.98 per share. Since then, the stock has risen 28.47% to take him to $220.95, placing him at #1 (strong buy) on the Zacks rankings.
Three analysts have raised their 60-day earnings forecasts for fiscal 2023. The Zacks consensus forecast increased from $0.50 to $10.52. CASY’s average profit margin is 7.2%.
CASY is expected to grow 15.6% this quarter as well.
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