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.
LifeStance Health posted 26% revenue growth as visit volumes rose 19% to 2.6 million.
Everus Construction completed a $295M acquisition expected to expand its modular construction capabilities.
HF Sinclair expects 2026 earnings to surge 134.2% as it advances the Western Gateway Pipeline.
Major U.S. stock indices ended Sept. 9, 2026, on a dismal note as rising oil prices and inflation worries kept the bourses under pressure for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, bond yields climbed higher, with the 10-year yield hitting 4.836%, further hurting investor optimism in the stock market.
Amid this backdrop, investors must be increasingly forced to recalibrate their equity risk as macro headwinds converge on multiple fronts. Notably, a sharp resurgence in energy costs—driven by Middle East supply disruptions that pushed Brent crude past $100 a barrel—has amplified anxieties over persistent consumer and wholesale inflation.
With money markets now pricing in a heightened probability of further Federal Reserve rate hikes to combat sticky input costs, investors might want to pivot toward financially resilient, low-leverage stocks.
Backed by strong balance sheets, high coverage ratios, and robust free cash flow, low-leverage stocks emerge as a prudent defensive strategy to survive an increasingly restrictive monetary and economic environment.
To this end, we recommend low-leverage stocks, such as LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , Tutor Perini (TPC - Free Report) , News Corporation (NWS - Free Report) , Everus Construction Group (ECG - Free Report) and HF Sinclair (DINO - Free Report) . Before selecting low-leverage stocks, it is important to understand what leverage is and how investing in low-leverage companies can benefit investors.
What’s the Significance of Low-Leverage Stocks?
In finance, leverage refers to the use of borrowed capital to support business operations and drive expansion. Companies typically raise such funds through debt financing, although equity financing remains an alternative. However, firms often prefer debt due to its relatively lower cost and easier availability compared to issuing equity.
Debt financing comes with inherent risks and is beneficial only when it generates returns that exceed the cost of borrowing. To limit downside risk, investors should be cautious of companies that rely excessively on debt. Prudent investing involves selecting businesses with manageable leverage, as completely debt-free companies are rare.
The equity market can be volatile at times. As an investor, if you want to avoid significant losses, we suggest focusing on stocks with low leverage, which are generally deemed less risky.
To identify such stocks, several leverage ratios have historically been developed to measure the amount of debt a company carries. The debt-to-equity ratio is among the most widely used financial ratios.
Analyzing Debt/Equity
Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities/Shareholders’ Equity
This metric is a liquidity ratio that indicates the amount of financial risk a company bears. A lower debt-to-equity ratio suggests improved solvency for a company.
With the second-quarter 2026 earnings season almost behind us, investors should focus on stocks that have demonstrated solid earnings growth in recent periods.
If a stock carries a high debt-to-equity ratio during an economic downturn, its seemingly strong earnings could quickly turn into a nightmare.
The Winning Strategy
Considering the aforementioned factors, it would be prudent to choose stocks with a low debt-to-equity ratio to ensure steady returns.
Yet, an investment strategy based solely on the debt-to-equity ratio might not fetch the desired outcome. To select stocks with the potential to provide steady returns, we have expanded our screening criteria to include additional factors.
Other Parameters:
Debt/Equity Less Than X-Industry Median: Stocks that are less leveraged than their industry peers.
Current Price Greater Than or Equal to 10: The stocks must be trading at $10 or higher.
Average 20-day Volume Greater Than or Equal to 50000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/F(-1) Greater Than X-Industry Median: Earnings growth adds to optimism, leading to a stock’s price appreciation.
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 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.
Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F (1)/F(0) Greater Than 5: This shows earnings growth expectations.
Zacks Rank #1 or 2: Irrespective of market conditions, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 have a proven history of success.
Excluding stocks with a negative or zero debt-to-equity ratio, we present our five picks out of the 17 that made it through the screen.
LifeStance Health: It is a provider of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults with mental health conditions. On Aug. 6, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results. Its revenues increased 26% year over year, while its visit volumes improved 19% to 2.6 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 revenues implies an improvement of 19.7% from the prior-year reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 earnings indicates a massive surge of 700% from the prior-year reported level. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Tutor Perini: It provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private clients and public agencies worldwide. On Aug. 13, 2026, the company announced that its subsidiary, Perini Management Services, Inc. (“PMSI”), has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $42 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Middle East District, Southwestern Division, to complete the construction of facilities at Tabuk Air Base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 revenues suggests an improvement of 14% from the prior-year reported numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 earnings indicates growth of 27.7% from the prior-year reported level. TPC currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
News Corporation: It provides media and information services. On Aug. 5, 2026, the company reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results. Its quarterly revenues improved 11% year over year, driven by growth in the Digital Real Estate Services, Book Publishing, and Dow Jones segments. Its adjusted earnings per share of 35 cents also surged 84.2% year over year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 revenues indicates an improvement of 5.7% from the prior-year reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 earnings suggests an improvement of 11% from the prior-year reported number. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.
Everus Construction Group: It provides construction services through its electrical, mechanical and transmission and distribution specialty contracting services principally in the United States. On Sept. 1, 2026, the company revealed that it has completed its acquisition of Epsilon Industries, a premier designer and manufacturer of complex, modular mechanical and electrical building infrastructure systems, for $295 million in cash. This buyout should expand ECG’s off-site modular construction capabilities.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 23.4% from the year-ago reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 32.9% from the year-ago reported level. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
HF Sinclair: It is an independent energy company producing and marketing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, lubricants, and specialty products. On Aug. 11, 2026, the company announced that it has finalized a joint venture agreement with Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan, and has made a final investment decision to move forward with the proposed Western Gateway Pipeline system. Western Gateway is expected to strengthen fuel supply reliability and deliver a more cost-effective, resilient path for growing markets across the West.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 21% from the prior-year reported actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 earnings implies an improvement of 134.2% from the prior-year reported actuals. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Shutterstock
5 Low-Leverage Stocks to Buy Amid Rising Oil Prices & Inflation Woes
Key Takeaways
Major U.S. stock indices ended Sept. 9, 2026, on a dismal note as rising oil prices and inflation worries kept the bourses under pressure for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, bond yields climbed higher, with the 10-year yield hitting 4.836%, further hurting investor optimism in the stock market.
Amid this backdrop, investors must be increasingly forced to recalibrate their equity risk as macro headwinds converge on multiple fronts. Notably, a sharp resurgence in energy costs—driven by Middle East supply disruptions that pushed Brent crude past $100 a barrel—has amplified anxieties over persistent consumer and wholesale inflation.
With money markets now pricing in a heightened probability of further Federal Reserve rate hikes to combat sticky input costs, investors might want to pivot toward financially resilient, low-leverage stocks.
Backed by strong balance sheets, high coverage ratios, and robust free cash flow, low-leverage stocks emerge as a prudent defensive strategy to survive an increasingly restrictive monetary and economic environment.
To this end, we recommend low-leverage stocks, such as LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , Tutor Perini (TPC - Free Report) , News Corporation (NWS - Free Report) , Everus Construction Group (ECG - Free Report) and HF Sinclair (DINO - Free Report) . Before selecting low-leverage stocks, it is important to understand what leverage is and how investing in low-leverage companies can benefit investors.
What’s the Significance of Low-Leverage Stocks?
In finance, leverage refers to the use of borrowed capital to support business operations and drive expansion. Companies typically raise such funds through debt financing, although equity financing remains an alternative. However, firms often prefer debt due to its relatively lower cost and easier availability compared to issuing equity.
Debt financing comes with inherent risks and is beneficial only when it generates returns that exceed the cost of borrowing. To limit downside risk, investors should be cautious of companies that rely excessively on debt. Prudent investing involves selecting businesses with manageable leverage, as completely debt-free companies are rare.
The equity market can be volatile at times. As an investor, if you want to avoid significant losses, we suggest focusing on stocks with low leverage, which are generally deemed less risky.
To identify such stocks, several leverage ratios have historically been developed to measure the amount of debt a company carries. The debt-to-equity ratio is among the most widely used financial ratios.
Analyzing Debt/Equity
Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities/Shareholders’ Equity
This metric is a liquidity ratio that indicates the amount of financial risk a company bears. A lower debt-to-equity ratio suggests improved solvency for a company.
With the second-quarter 2026 earnings season almost behind us, investors should focus on stocks that have demonstrated solid earnings growth in recent periods.
If a stock carries a high debt-to-equity ratio during an economic downturn, its seemingly strong earnings could quickly turn into a nightmare.
The Winning Strategy
Considering the aforementioned factors, it would be prudent to choose stocks with a low debt-to-equity ratio to ensure steady returns.
Yet, an investment strategy based solely on the debt-to-equity ratio might not fetch the desired outcome. To select stocks with the potential to provide steady returns, we have expanded our screening criteria to include additional factors.
Other Parameters:
Debt/Equity Less Than X-Industry Median: Stocks that are less leveraged than their industry peers.
Current Price Greater Than or Equal to 10: The stocks must be trading at $10 or higher.
Average 20-day Volume Greater Than or Equal to 50000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/F(-1) Greater Than X-Industry Median: Earnings growth adds to optimism, leading to a stock’s price appreciation.
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 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.
Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F (1)/F(0) Greater Than 5: This shows earnings growth expectations.
Zacks Rank #1 or 2: Irrespective of market conditions, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 have a proven history of success.
Excluding stocks with a negative or zero debt-to-equity ratio, we present our five picks out of the 17 that made it through the screen.
LifeStance Health: It is a provider of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults with mental health conditions. On Aug. 6, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results. Its revenues increased 26% year over year, while its visit volumes improved 19% to 2.6 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 revenues implies an improvement of 19.7% from the prior-year reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 earnings indicates a massive surge of 700% from the prior-year reported level. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Tutor Perini: It provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private clients and public agencies worldwide. On Aug. 13, 2026, the company announced that its subsidiary, Perini Management Services, Inc. (“PMSI”), has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $42 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Middle East District, Southwestern Division, to complete the construction of facilities at Tabuk Air Base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 revenues suggests an improvement of 14% from the prior-year reported numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 earnings indicates growth of 27.7% from the prior-year reported level. TPC currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
News Corporation: It provides media and information services. On Aug. 5, 2026, the company reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results. Its quarterly revenues improved 11% year over year, driven by growth in the Digital Real Estate Services, Book Publishing, and Dow Jones segments. Its adjusted earnings per share of 35 cents also surged 84.2% year over year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 revenues indicates an improvement of 5.7% from the prior-year reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 earnings suggests an improvement of 11% from the prior-year reported number. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.
Everus Construction Group: It provides construction services through its electrical, mechanical and transmission and distribution specialty contracting services principally in the United States. On Sept. 1, 2026, the company revealed that it has completed its acquisition of Epsilon Industries, a premier designer and manufacturer of complex, modular mechanical and electrical building infrastructure systems, for $295 million in cash. This buyout should expand ECG’s off-site modular construction capabilities.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 23.4% from the year-ago reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 32.9% from the year-ago reported level. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
HF Sinclair: It is an independent energy company producing and marketing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, lubricants, and specialty products. On Aug. 11, 2026, the company announced that it has finalized a joint venture agreement with Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan, and has made a final investment decision to move forward with the proposed Western Gateway Pipeline system. Western Gateway is expected to strengthen fuel supply reliability and deliver a more cost-effective, resilient path for growing markets across the West.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 21% from the prior-year reported actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 earnings implies an improvement of 134.2% from the prior-year reported actuals. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.