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Take the Zacks Approach to Beat the Market: NVIDIA, Oracle, Celsius in Focus

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The performances of the three most widely followed indexes were mixed last week. The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.6%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7% and 2.1%, respectively. Last Friday was the tenth straight session that the Dow finished in the green, a trend it has not achieved in more than six years.

Better-than-expected earnings numbers reported through the week kept investor mood upbeat. However, a resilient labor market made market participants nervous because it would not deter the Federal Reserve from its path of further monetary policy tightening. This expectation of continued interest rate hikes, coupled with data from various sectors showing a gradual slowdown, added to recession fears.

Investors’ eyes would keenly be on the July FOMC meeting slated for this week. The market expects at least a 25 bps hike in interest rates from the Fed.

Regardless of market conditions, we, here at Zacks, provide investors with unbiased guidance on how to beat the market.  

As usual, Zacks Research guided investors over the past three months with its time-tested methodologies. Given the prevailing market uncertainty, you may want to look at our feats to prepare better for your next action.

Here are some of our key achievements:

Alkami and PROS Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade

Shares of Alkami Technology, Inc. (ALKT - Free Report) have soared 29.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 10.3% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on May 10.

Another stock, PROS Holdings, Inc. (PRO - Free Report) , which was also upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on May 5, has returned 27.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 11.9% increase) since then.

Zacks Rank, our short-term rating system, has earnings estimate revisions at its core. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.  

This stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +24.8% since 1988.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>

A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 stocks has returned +2.7% this year (through May 15) versus +7.69% for the S&P 500 Index.

Check Alkami’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

Check PROS’ historical EPS and Sales here>>>

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Zacks Recommendation Upgrade Drives World Acceptance and Evolution Petroleum Higher 

Shares of World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD - Free Report) and Evolution Petroleum Corporation (EPM - Free Report) have advanced 38% (versus the S&P 500’s 9.9% rise) and 27.4% (versus the S&P 500’s 9.8% rise) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on May 8 and May 9, respectively.

While the Zacks Rank is our short-term rating system that is most effective over the one- to three-month holding horizon, the Zacks Recommendation aims to predict performance over the next 6 to 12 months. However, just like the Zacks Rank, the foundation for the Zacks Recommendation is trends in earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Recommendation classifies stocks into three groups — Outperform, Neutral and Underperform. While these recommendations are determined quantitatively, our analysts have the flexibility to override them for the 1100+ stocks they closely follow based on their better judgment of factors such as valuation, industry conditions and management effectiveness than the quantitative model.

To access our research reports with Zacks Recommendations for the 1100+ stocks we cover, click here>>>

Zacks Focus List Stocks NVIDIA, Uber Shoot Up

Shares of NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have risen 59.7% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on May 20, 2019. Another Focus-List holding, Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER - Free Report) , which was added to the portfolio on Aug 16, 2019, has returned 52.1% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has gained 9% over this period. 

The Zacks Focus List is a model portfolio of 50 hand-picked stocks that possess the right fundamental ingredients to outperform the market over the next 12 months. These 50 stocks are picked from a long list of stocks with the highest Zacks Rank.

The 50-stock Zacks Focus List model portfolio has returned +9.14% in 2023 (through May 31) versus +9.64% for the S&P 500 Index. In 2022, the portfolio produced -15.2% versus the S&P 500 Index’s -17.96%. 

Since 2004, the Focus List portfolio has produced an annualized return of +10.75% through May 31, 2023. This compares to a +9.2% annualized return for the S&P 500 Index in the same time period.

Unlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Focus List, Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. Gain full access now >>

Zacks ECAP Stocks Oracle and AmerisourceBergen Make Significant Gains

Oracle Corporation (ORCL - Free Report) , a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 24.2% over the past 12 weeks. AmerisourceBergen Corporation has followed Oracle with 15.4% returns.

ECAP, which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy and Hold stocks, has returned +3.05% in 2023 (through May 31) versus +9.64% for the S&P 500 Index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 versus the S&P 500 Index’s -17.96%.

With little to no turnover and annual rebalance periodicity, the ECAP seeks to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies whose earnings streams exhibit a proven 20+ year track record of surviving recessionary periods with minimal impact on aggregate earnings growth relative to the overall S&P 500.

The ECAP and many other model portfolios are available as part of Zacks Advisor Tools, a cloud-based solution to access Zacks award-winning stock, mutual fund and ETF research. Click here to schedule a demo.

Zacks ECDP Stocks Fastenal and Intercontinental Exchange Outperform Peers

Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) , which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 8% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE - Free Report) , has climbed 6.7% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.

Check Fastenal’s dividend history here>>>

Check Intercontinental Exchange’s dividend history here>>>

With an extremely low Beta and a history of minimum earnings variability over the last 20+ years, this 25-stock portfolio helps significantly mitigate risk.

ECDP has returned -3.2% in 2023 (through May 31) versus +9.64% for the S&P 500 Index and +1.39% for the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL - Free Report) . The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 versus -17.96% for the S&P 500 Index and -8.34% for NOBL.

Click here to access this portfolio on Zacks Advisor Tools.  

Zacks Top 10 Stocks — Celsius Delivers Solid Returns

Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH - Free Report) , from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2023, has gained 37.8% year to date, which compares to a 19.1% gain for the S&P 500 Index.

The portfolio returned +7.12% through the end of May 2023 versus +9.64% for the S&P 500 (the equal-weighted index, a more appropriate benchmark, returned -0.63% in the same period). The portfolio returned -15.8% in 2022 versus -18.1% for the S&P 500 Index. Since 2012, the Top 10 portfolio has generated an annualized return of +22.4% versus +12.5% for the S&P 500 Index.

Since the start of 2012, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks delivered a cumulative return of 827.6% through the end of 2022 versus a 265% cumulative return for the S&P 500 Index.

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