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3 Stocks With Upgraded Broker Ratings for Robust Returns

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The operating environment has been tough for equity markets, given macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties. Therefore, it is difficult for investors to pick stocks independently and generate solid returns.

One way to choose the right stocks is to follow rating upgrades by brokers. In this regard, stocks like BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ - Free Report) , McKesson Corporation (MCK - Free Report) and Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) are worth considering.

As brokers directly communicate with the top management, they have more insight into what is happening in a particular company. They diligently review companies’ publicly available documents and even attend conference calls.

Brokers have a deeper understanding of the overall sector and industry. They place company fundamentals against the current economic backdrop to determine how a particular stock will fare as an investment.

Hence, when brokers upgrade a stock, you can rely on their judgment. But solely depending on broker upgrades is not a good way to build your investment portfolio. Several other factors should be taken into consideration to ensure steady returns.

Selecting the Winning Strategy

We have a screening strategy that will help you in your search for potential winners:

Broker Rating Upgrades (Four Weeks) of 1% or More: The screen selects stocks that have witnessed broker rating upgrades of 1% or more over the last four weeks.

Current Price Greater Than $5: The stocks must trade above $5.

Average 20-Day Volume Greater Than 100,000: A large trading volume guarantees that the stock is easily tradable.

Zacks Rank Equal to #1 or 2: Despite good or bad market conditions, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have a proven record of success. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best upside potential.

Here are the three stocks that qualified for the screening:

BJ's Wholesale Club, based in Westborough, MA, operates warehouse clubs on the east coast of the United States. BJ has emerged as one of the preferred destinations for shoppers regarding essentials and other items.

BJ's Wholesale Club’s fiscal 2023 earnings are projected to increase 10.7%. The company, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 at present, has witnessed a 7.7% upward revision in broker ratings over the past four weeks.

San Francisco, CA-based McKesson is a healthcare service and information technology company. MCK reports revenues through four segments — U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, Internation, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions.

The company’s earnings for 2022 are expected to rise 2.4%. McKesson, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has witnessed an 8.3% upward revision in broker ratings over the past four weeks.

Carpenter Technology, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a producer and distributor of premium specialty alloys, including titanium alloys, powder metals, stainless steels, alloy steels, and tool steels, as well as drilling tools. CRS has two reportable segments — Specialty Alloys Operations and Performance Engineered Products.

Carpenter Technology’s 2022 earnings are projected to jump 222.6%. The company, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has witnessed a 25% upward revision in broker ratings over the past four weeks.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

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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: https://www.zacks.com/performance

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