All of the three most widely followed indexes closed out a gaining week last Friday. The Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.1%, 1.9% and 2.2%, respectively. For the Dow, this was the biggest weekly progress since mid-December 2023.
The low-data week was characterized by investor optimism about the Fed’s monetary policy due to solemn numbers coming from the labor market. Even as various Fed officials continued to send mixed signals about the timeline for the first rate cut throughout the week, market participants remained hopeful that with the state of the economy, the central bank might opt for a rate cut sooner than expected and probably another cut before the year ends.
As a result, all eyes are set on this week’s inflation data, which might dictate the path the Fed might take in the near future.
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:
Micron and Montrose Environmental Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. MU have gained 22.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.3% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on March 8.
Another stock, Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. MEG, was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on March 6 and has returned 21.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.8% 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.
A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks returned +20.63% in the year-to-date period through April 1st, 2024, vs. +11.3% for the S&P 500 index and +7.7% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. This hypothetical portfolio returned +20.63% in 2023 vs. +24.83% for the S&P 500 index and +15% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 stocks is an equal-weight portfolio, while the S&P 500 index is a market-cap-weighted index that has been notably distorted by the concentrated performance of mega-cap stocks since October 2022.
The Zacks Model Portfolio – consisting of Zacks Rank #1 stocks – has outperformed the S&P index by more than 16 percentage points since 1988 (Through April 1st, 2024, the Zacks # 1 Rank stocks generated an annualized return of +27.6% since 1988 vs. +11.1% for the S&P 500 index).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>
Check Micron’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Check Montrose’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades EMCOR and Comfort Systems Higher
Shares of EMCOR Group, Inc. EME and Comfort Systems USA, Inc. FIX have advanced 21.4% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.3% rise) and 17.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.9% rise) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on March 1 and February 29, 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 Sea Limited, Quanta Services Shoot Up
Shares of Sea Limited SE, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 44.3% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on March 26, 2020. Another Focus-List holding, Quanta Services, Inc. PWR, which was added to the portfolio on December 23, 2021, has returned 28.4% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 4.3% over this period.
The Focus List portfolio returned +10.23% in 2024 Q1 vs. +10.56% for the S&P 500 index and +7.9% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index.
The 50-stock Zacks Focus List model portfolio returned +31.44% 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 produced -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
Since 2004, the Focus List portfolio has produced an annualized return of +11.91% (through March 31st, 2024). This compares to a +10.25% 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 Mettler-Toledo and McCormick Make Significant Gains
Mettler-ToledoInternational Inc. MTD, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 27.2% over the past 12 weeks. McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC has followed Mettler-Toledo with 15.1% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned +9.08% in the year-to-date period (through March 31st, 2024) vs. +10.42%. 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, 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 Tractor Supply and Colgate-Palmolive Outshine Peers
Tractor Supply Company TSCO, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 14.8% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Colgate-Palmolive Company CL, has climbed 13.9% 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 Tractor Supply’s dividend history here>>>
Check Colgate-Palmolive’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 +4.47% in the year-to-date period (through March 31st, 2024) vs. +10.42% for the S&P 500 index (IVV) and +6.9% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (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 Stocks — Freshpet Delivers Solid Returns
Freshpet, Inc. FRPT, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2024, has jumped 38.4% year to date compared with a 9.6% increase for the S&P 500 Index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +19.56% in 2024 Q1 vs. +10.56% for the S&P 500 index and +7.9% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. Since 2012, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +1,060.9% through the end of 2023 vs. +360.1% for the S&P 500 index.
Since 2012, the Zacks Top 10 portfolio has produced an annualized return of +25.02% through the end of 2024 Q1 vs. +14.1% for the S&P 500 index and +12.7% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +1,442.3% vs. +403.03% for the S&P 500 index and +331.29% for the equal-weight index.
Buy 5 Stocks BEFORE Election Day
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They include a medical manufacturer that gained +11,000% in the last 15 years… a rental company absolutely crushing its sector… an energy powerhouse planning to grow its already large dividend by 25%… an aerospace and defense standout that just landed a potentially $80 billion contract… and a giant chipmaker building huge plants in the U.S.
Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Sea Limited Sponsored ADR (SE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME) : Free Stock Analysis Report
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (MTD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. (MEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
