We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Finding the Best "Strong Buy" Stocks to Buy in February
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Use this screen to find the best Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks to buy in February 2026.
Buy top-ranked finance stock SFBS for value, growth, and breakout potential.
Wall Street sold technology stocks on Tuesday as the big money races to take some big gains off the table amid growing market volatility. The profit-taking makes sense when investors consider that the Nasdaq is up over 90% in the past three years.
No matter what happens to the stock market in the next few weeks or few months, the bullish market backdrop remains firmly intact because the outlook for 2026 earnings growth remains strong. Plus, the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again in 2026.
The 2026 earnings growth outlook is robust, with expansion projected in nearly every pocket of the economy. Therefore, long-term investors should consider buying the best of the best stocks in February 2026.
Let’s explore how investors can use a Zacks screen to help find some of the best Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks out of a group of over 200 highly-ranked companies to consider buying right now.
Zacks Rank Basics
Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks outperform the market in good and bad times. However, there are over 200 stocks that earn a Zacks Rank #1 at any given time.
Therefore, it’s helpful to understand how to apply filters to the Zacks Rank in order to narrow the list down to a more manageable and tradable set of stocks.
"Strong Buy" Stock Screen Parameters
There are only three items on this screen. But together, these three filters can result in some impressive returns.
• Zacks Rank equal to 1
Starting with a Zacks Rank #1 is often a strong jumping off point because it boasts an average annual return of roughly 24.4% per year since 1988.
• % Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0
Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks.
• % Broker Rating Change over 4 Week equal to Top # 5
Top 5 stocks with the best average broker rating changes over the last four weeks.
This strategy comes loaded with the Research Wizard and is called bt_sow_filtered zacks rank5. It can be found in the SoW (Screen of the Week) folder.
Here is one of the five stocks that qualified for the Filtered Zacks Rank 5 strategy today…
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (SFBS - Free Report) is a bank holding company whose primary subsidiary, ServisFirst Bank, operates as a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
SFBS focuses on providing business and personal banking services, with an emphasis on commercial lending, correspondent banking for other institutions, treasury management, private banking, and competitive products for professionals and consumers across multiple states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ServisFirst's strong net interest margin expansion, disciplined loan growth, efficient operations, and strategic expansion into high-growth markets such as Texas position it for continued profitability and earnings upside in a favorable banking environment.
SFBS topped our Q4 2025 earnings estimate on January 20. Its upbeat EPS revisions help ServisFirst earn its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with its FY26 estimate up 5% and its 2026 outlook over 4% higher.
ServisFirst is projected to grow its revenue by 20% in 2026 and another 9% next year to help boost its adjusted earnings by 22% and 10%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SFBS shares have surged 370% in the past decade to blow away the Finance sector’s 165%. Better yet, it is on the verge of breaking out of a trading range it’s been stuck in for the better part of five years. Its average Zacks price target offers 10% upside to its current levels.
Despite its long-term outperformance, ServisFirst trades at a 25% discount to its sector and 20% below its own 10-year median at 13.1X forward 12-month earnings. On top of that, all four brokerage recommendations Zacks has are “Strong Buys,” and its dividend yields 1.8%.
Get the rest of the stocks on this list and start looking for the newest companies that fit these criteria. It's easy to do. And it could help you find your next big winner. Start screening for these companies today with a free trial to the Research Wizard. You can do it.
Want more articles from this author? Scroll up to the top of this article and click the FOLLOW AUTHOR button to get an email each time a new article is published.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Image: Bigstock
Finding the Best "Strong Buy" Stocks to Buy in February
Key Takeaways
Wall Street sold technology stocks on Tuesday as the big money races to take some big gains off the table amid growing market volatility. The profit-taking makes sense when investors consider that the Nasdaq is up over 90% in the past three years.
No matter what happens to the stock market in the next few weeks or few months, the bullish market backdrop remains firmly intact because the outlook for 2026 earnings growth remains strong. Plus, the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again in 2026.
The 2026 earnings growth outlook is robust, with expansion projected in nearly every pocket of the economy. Therefore, long-term investors should consider buying the best of the best stocks in February 2026.
Let’s explore how investors can use a Zacks screen to help find some of the best Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks out of a group of over 200 highly-ranked companies to consider buying right now.
Zacks Rank Basics
Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks outperform the market in good and bad times. However, there are over 200 stocks that earn a Zacks Rank #1 at any given time.
Therefore, it’s helpful to understand how to apply filters to the Zacks Rank in order to narrow the list down to a more manageable and tradable set of stocks.
"Strong Buy" Stock Screen Parameters
There are only three items on this screen. But together, these three filters can result in some impressive returns.
• Zacks Rank equal to 1
Starting with a Zacks Rank #1 is often a strong jumping off point because it boasts an average annual return of roughly 24.4% per year since 1988.
• % Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0
Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks.
• % Broker Rating Change over 4 Week equal to Top # 5
Top 5 stocks with the best average broker rating changes over the last four weeks.
This strategy comes loaded with the Research Wizard and is called bt_sow_filtered zacks rank5. It can be found in the SoW (Screen of the Week) folder.
Here is one of the five stocks that qualified for the Filtered Zacks Rank 5 strategy today…
Buy Top-Ranked Finance Stock SFBS for Value, Growth & Breakout Potential
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (SFBS - Free Report) is a bank holding company whose primary subsidiary, ServisFirst Bank, operates as a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
SFBS focuses on providing business and personal banking services, with an emphasis on commercial lending, correspondent banking for other institutions, treasury management, private banking, and competitive products for professionals and consumers across multiple states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ServisFirst's strong net interest margin expansion, disciplined loan growth, efficient operations, and strategic expansion into high-growth markets such as Texas position it for continued profitability and earnings upside in a favorable banking environment.
SFBS topped our Q4 2025 earnings estimate on January 20. Its upbeat EPS revisions help ServisFirst earn its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with its FY26 estimate up 5% and its 2026 outlook over 4% higher.
ServisFirst is projected to grow its revenue by 20% in 2026 and another 9% next year to help boost its adjusted earnings by 22% and 10%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SFBS shares have surged 370% in the past decade to blow away the Finance sector’s 165%. Better yet, it is on the verge of breaking out of a trading range it’s been stuck in for the better part of five years. Its average Zacks price target offers 10% upside to its current levels.
Despite its long-term outperformance, ServisFirst trades at a 25% discount to its sector and 20% below its own 10-year median at 13.1X forward 12-month earnings. On top of that, all four brokerage recommendations Zacks has are “Strong Buys,” and its dividend yields 1.8%.
Get the rest of the stocks on this list and start looking for the newest companies that fit these criteria. It's easy to do. And it could help you find your next big winner. Start screening for these companies today with a free trial to the Research Wizard. You can do it.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Want more articles from this author? Scroll up to the top of this article and click the FOLLOW AUTHOR button to get an email each time a new article is published.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: www.zacks.com/performance_disclosure