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.
Beat the Market Like Zacks: FirstCash, Cisco, Bread Financial in Focus
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
FCFS jumped 43.4% since January 5, 2026, versus the S&P 500 Index's 8.6% gain.
Cisco Systems gained 43.3% after its April 17 upgrade, far ahead of the S&P 500's rise.
Bread Financial surged 22.3% since its April 16 upgrade to Outperform.
Last Friday, the three major Wall Street indexes closed a winning week. The Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose roughly 0.7% each.
Investor sentiment strengthened during the week as easing inflation concerns and expectations of future Fed rate cuts supported risk appetite. Economic data pointed to a resilient U.S. economy, while lower oil prices helped ease worries about inflation and business costs. Hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement also boosted confidence, as progress in talks raised the prospect of reduced geopolitical tensions and smoother global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, strong corporate earnings, particularly from technology and artificial intelligence (AI)-related companies, continued to attract investors. Optimism surrounding AI-driven growth, combined with improving macroeconomic conditions and easing geopolitical risks, helped drive broad-based gains across U.S. equities.
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:
Cisco Systems and Monolithic Power Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) have gained 43.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 5.7% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on April 17.
Another stock, Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPWR - Free Report) , which was also upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on April 17, has returned 12.4% since then.
A portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 8 percentage points this year. Through May 5th, the Zacks # 1 Rank portfolio returned +13.14%, which compares to +5.19% for the S&P 500 index and +7.76% for the equal-weight version of the index in the year-to-date period.
Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.6 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +24% through May 5th, which compared to +11.5% gain for the S&P 500 index and +11.3% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Bread Financial and Bank7
Shares of Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH - Free Report) and Bank7 Corp. (BSVN - Free Report) have surged 22.3% and 8.1% (versus the S&P 500’s 6% rise), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on April 16.
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 Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Shoot Up
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 158.7% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on May 19, 2025. Another Focus-List holding, Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) , which was added to the list on December 27, 2016, has returned 142.2% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 11.4% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +10.73% in 2026 (through the end of May) vs. +11.27% for the S&P 500 index and +9.53% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
Through May 31st, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +31.42% (vs. +29.78% for the S&P 500 index), +24.26% (vs. +23.62%), +12.94% (vs. +14.15%), +16.40% (vs. +15.64%) and +12.42% vs. (+11.03%), respectively.
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 UnitedHealth & Oracle Gain Significantly
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 47.5% over the past 12 weeks. Oracle Corporation (ORCL - Free Report) followed UnitedHealth with 15.7% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -7.14% in 2026 Q1 vs. -4.33% for the S&P 500 index.
For 2025, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index. For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF). In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
With little to no turnover and annual rebalance periodicity, 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 J. M. Smucker & Public Storage Outperform Peers
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM - Free Report) , which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 9.9% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Public Storage (PSA - Free Report) , has climbed 9.5% 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.
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.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -1.43% in 2026 Q1 vs. -4.33% for the S&P 500 index and +2.3% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL).
The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF. For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -17.96% for the S&P 500 index and -8.34% for NOBL.
Zacks Top 10 Stock FirstCash Delivers Solid Returns
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS - Free Report) , from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 43.4% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 8.6% increase.
The Top 10 portfolio retuned +19.72% in 2026 (through May 31st) vs. +11.27% for the S&P 500 index and +9.53% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.
Through the end of May 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +3,001.9% since 2012 vs. +636.2.3% for the S&P 500 index and +451.2% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +26.6% in the period 2012 through May 31st, 2026 vs. +13.7% for the S&P 500 index and +11.03% for the equal-weight version of the index.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Beat the Market Like Zacks: FirstCash, Cisco, Bread Financial in Focus
Key Takeaways
Last Friday, the three major Wall Street indexes closed a winning week. The Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose roughly 0.7% each.
Investor sentiment strengthened during the week as easing inflation concerns and expectations of future Fed rate cuts supported risk appetite. Economic data pointed to a resilient U.S. economy, while lower oil prices helped ease worries about inflation and business costs. Hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement also boosted confidence, as progress in talks raised the prospect of reduced geopolitical tensions and smoother global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, strong corporate earnings, particularly from technology and artificial intelligence (AI)-related companies, continued to attract investors. Optimism surrounding AI-driven growth, combined with improving macroeconomic conditions and easing geopolitical risks, helped drive broad-based gains across U.S. equities.
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:
Cisco Systems and Monolithic Power Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) have gained 43.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 5.7% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on April 17.
Another stock, Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPWR - Free Report) , which was also upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on April 17, has returned 12.4% since then.
A portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 8 percentage points this year. Through May 5th, the Zacks # 1 Rank portfolio returned +13.14%, which compares to +5.19% for the S&P 500 index and +7.76% for the equal-weight version of the index in the year-to-date period.
Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.6 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +24% through May 5th, which compared to +11.5% gain for the S&P 500 index and +11.3% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>
Check Cisco’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Check Monolithic Power’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Bread Financial and Bank7
Shares of Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH - Free Report) and Bank7 Corp. (BSVN - Free Report) have surged 22.3% and 8.1% (versus the S&P 500’s 6% rise), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on April 16.
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 Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Shoot Up
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 158.7% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on May 19, 2025. Another Focus-List holding, Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) , which was added to the list on December 27, 2016, has returned 142.2% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 11.4% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +10.73% in 2026 (through the end of May) vs. +11.27% for the S&P 500 index and +9.53% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
Through May 31st, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +31.42% (vs. +29.78% for the S&P 500 index), +24.26% (vs. +23.62%), +12.94% (vs. +14.15%), +16.40% (vs. +15.64%) and +12.42% vs. (+11.03%), respectively.
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 UnitedHealth & Oracle Gain Significantly
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 47.5% over the past 12 weeks. Oracle Corporation (ORCL - Free Report) followed UnitedHealth with 15.7% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -7.14% in 2026 Q1 vs. -4.33% for the S&P 500 index.
For 2025, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index. For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF). In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
With little to no turnover and annual rebalance periodicity, 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 J. M. Smucker & Public Storage Outperform Peers
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM - Free Report) , which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 9.9% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Public Storage (PSA - Free Report) , has climbed 9.5% 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 J.M. Smucker’s dividend history here>>>
Check Public Storage’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.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -1.43% in 2026 Q1 vs. -4.33% for the S&P 500 index and +2.3% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL).
The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF. For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -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 Stock FirstCash Delivers Solid Returns
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS - Free Report) , from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 43.4% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 8.6% increase.
The Top 10 portfolio retuned +19.72% in 2026 (through May 31st) vs. +11.27% for the S&P 500 index and +9.53% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.
Through the end of May 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +3,001.9% since 2012 vs. +636.2.3% for the S&P 500 index and +451.2% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +26.6% in the period 2012 through May 31st, 2026 vs. +13.7% for the S&P 500 index and +11.03% for the equal-weight version of the index.