FirstCash Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates retail pawn stores in the United States, Mexico, and rest of Latin America. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Pawn, Latin America Pawn, and Retail POS Payment Solutions segments. Its pawn stores lend money on the collateral of pledged personal property, including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments; and retails merchandise acquired through collateral forfeitures on forfeited pawn loans and over-the-counter purchases of merchandise directly from customers. The company also provides retail POS payment solutions, which focuses on LTO products and facilitating other retail financing payment options across the network of traditional and e-commerce merchant partners. It serves cash and credit-constrained consumers. The company was formerly known as FirstCash, Inc and changed its name to FirstCash Holdings, Inc. in December 2021. FirstCash Holdings, Inc was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

FirstCash appears to be a high-quality and profitable business, but the market has already priced in notably strong expectations. The company demonstrates steady growth in revenue, profit, assets, and equity, as well as year-over-year improvement in EPS and operating income, which supports the investment thesis. ROE, ROA, and ROI are at high levels and continue to rise, while liquidity is very comfortable: the quick ratio and current ratio are significantly above industry benchmarks. At the same time, the debt burden is noticeably above the sector median, and debt has increased over recent periods, which limits re-rating potential and raises sensitivity to deteriorating financing conditions. Margin performance in net, operating, and gross profit looks stable and is improving, but compared with the industry it does not look outstanding, so it is more of a support factor than a driver of strong upside. The P/E, P/B, and P/FCF multiples are above industry medians, with P/B being especially high, indicating an already expensive valuation relative to the balance sheet base and cash flow. P/S is only slightly below the median, so on a revenue basis the stock does not look cheap, nor does it provide a strong case for significant upside. The absence of dividend yield in the current TTM reduces attractiveness for income-oriented investors and removes one of the potential valuation buffers. Overall, the company’s fundamentals are solid, but the combination of a high valuation, elevated debt, and an already strong base forecast makes further target price revisions limited. For an investor, this is more of a quality but not cheap business with moderate re-rating potential than a deeply undervalued one.

FirstCash Holdings, Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, significantly down. The market does not support the bulls.

Средний индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов снизился, но остается значительным.

Medium index, slightly up. The outflow of funds from longs has decreased, but remains significant.

Strong profitability and business growth support FCFS, but high valuation on P/E, P/B, and P/FCF, together with elevated debt, limit the upside for revaluation.

Key Points
FirstCash maintains market leadership in pawn operations through a massive, diversified international store network.
Regulatory and litigation risks in the consumer lending sector remain permanent constraints on valuation.
The company’s ability to generate strong cash flow helps offset its reliance on cyclical retail.
Picture the customer who walks into a corner pawn shop because traditional banks have slammed the door. He needs cash for an emergency, and his collateral--a power tool, a gaming console, or a gold chain--is his only ticket to liquidity. FirstCash Holdings (NASDAQ:FCFS) operates this friction-heavy but essential corner of the global economy, overseeing over 3,300 locations across the U.S., Latin America, and the U.K. At a recent price of $227.91 as of Sept. 11, 2026, the stock has climbed 54% over the past year, reflecting the market's response to its consistent demand in diverse economic climates.
Our proprietary Hidden Gems scoring system assigns FirstCash Holdings an overall Superscore of 76 out of 100, placing it in the Strong category. The Superscore is an AI-powered score that evaluates a company's overall strength by combining financial performance, product market position, technological capabilities, leadership quality, and relative valuation. It represents the unification of all our scores into a single score for public companies, with five rating bands: Exceptional (90-100), Strong (75-89), Above Average (60-74), Average (40-59), and Cautious (0-39). A 76 places the company in the Top ~17% of every company we score, meaning it ranks ahead of roughly 83 out of every 100 companies in our database. The Superscore is one data-driven signal worth investigating, and this article pairs the reasons the score is high with the reasons it is not higher, so you can weigh both sides before doing more work.
Why FCFS Has a 76 Superscore
International market leadership: The recent acquisition of H&T Group in the U.K. adds scale to an already dominant pawn network, diversifying revenue across new geographic regions.
Resilient business model: The company's counter-cyclical pawn operations naturally thrive during economic downturns, providing a steady cash flow baseline that cushions the business when consumers face budget pressure.
Consistent revenue expansion: FirstCash achieved an 8% revenue increase in 2025, reaching $4 billion, as it successfully integrated prior acquisitions and scaled its store footprint.
Strong operational margins: The company's U.S. pawn segment maintained a pre-tax operating margin of 26% in the second quarter of 2026, demonstrating efficient inventory management and cost control at scale.
Proven capital allocation: Management balances store-network expansion with disciplined share repurchases and dividends, evidenced by the authorization of a $150 million buyback program in July 2026.
Why Is FCFS's Superscore Not Higher?
Intense regulatory scrutiny: The company operates in a highly sensitive financial sector where shifts in consumer lending laws or CFPB actions present a permanent threat to its core pawn and POS financing margins.
Merchant partner volatility: The POS payment solutions segment remains vulnerable to the health of retail partners, as evidenced by the bankruptcies of furniture merchants that have hampered leased merchandise income in recent periods.
Valuation considerations: The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 25.98, which leaves little margin for error if earnings growth cools or if market sentiment toward consumer credit firms shifts downward.
Complex litigation exposure: The company faces ongoing class action investigations, introducing potential legal costs and governance distractions that can weigh on long-term institutional investor sentiment.
FirstCash operates with high capital efficiency, ranking in the Top ~22% for return on net tangible assets. This efficiency means the business generates significant profit on a relatively small base of physical assets, allowing it to turn each dollar of revenue growth into outsized returns, which helps explain why investors accept a higher valuation multiple despite the inherent sector risks.
Hidden Gems Database Scores at a Glance
Score
Score (out of 100)
Rank
Supporting Data Point
Product (1Y)
82
Top ~16%
The acquisition of H&T Group bolstered the company's international footprint to 3,330 locations.
Product (5Y)
70
Top ~31%
The 2021 integration of American First Finance transformed the business into a diversified financial services provider.
Financial (1Y)
79
Top ~16%
Operating cash flow reached $586 million in 2025, an 8.5% increase over the prior year.
Financial (5Y)
78
Top ~10%
Revenue grew from $1.7 billion in 2021 to $3.7 billion in 2025 through store expansion and strategic M&A.
Leaders
77
Top ~24%
Executive compensation programs use rigorous long-term performance equity targets to align management with shareholder outcomes.
AI
23
Bottom ~36%
The company lacks a proprietary AI-driven moat and relies on traditional manual pawn and retail finance operations.
Valuation Risk
74
Top ~12%
The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 25.98, reflecting reasonable valuation given consistent cash flow growth.
Is FCFS Right For Your Portfolio?
This stock warrants a closer look if...
You are seeking exposure to the consumer finance sector, where companies often offer stability comparable to bank ETFs that track broad credit conditions.
You appreciate businesses that generate consistent cash flow through counter-cyclical cycles, especially when those businesses manage their own real estate footprint.
You may want to keep researching before buying if...
You are uncomfortable with the regulatory risks inherent in small-dollar credit products or the potential for ongoing litigation to distract management.
You believe the company's current valuation multiple already accounts for all near-term growth, leaving limited upside if consumer credit conditions tighten unexpectedly.
The Superscore is just one signal in the broader research process; please weigh it against your own financial goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decision.
My 5-year prediction for FCFS stock
Could FirstCash stock double within the next five years? I think it could, and history is on my side.
Consider FCFS's performance since 2021: The stock has generated a total return of 160%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1%. A $10,000 investment made five years ago would be worth about $26,000 today. That easily beats the S&P 500, which has generated an 86% total return with a 13.3% CAGR over the same period.
One big reason for the stock's exceptional performance has been its revenue growth. FCFS has averaged 23% revenue growth over the last five years. In its most recent quarter (for the three months ended June 30, 2026), revenue growth was 29%. What's more, net income has increased steadily. Total net income reached $388 million over the last 12 months, up from $119 million in 2022.
Granted, the stock isn't perfect. Its valuation has crept up in recent years, given the stock's stellar performance. FCFS's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio now stands at 2.34x. That's significantly higher than its five-year average of 1.76x. In addition, FCFS's business model could come under fire from regulators, who may seek to cap interest rates charged by pawn operators.
All in all, FCFS remains a compelling stock. Its red-hot revenue growth may attract growth-oriented investors. However, regulatory concerns and its lofty valuation cannot be overlooked, as they may limit the stock's appeal.
The Hidden Gems Superscore reflects The Motley Fool's proprietary AI-driven evaluation of a company across product, financial, leadership, and valuation pillars as of the article date and may change over time. Performance figures are point-in-time. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Should you buy stock in FirstCash right now?
Before you buy stock in FirstCash, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and FirstCash wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $383,680!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,382,954!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 937% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 28, 2026.
Jake Lerch has positions in FirstCash. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

FirstCash's 2026 Outlook: Global Pawn Network Scaling Through $150 Million Buyback Program

Last Friday, the three benchmark stock indexes on Wall Street closed a losing week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.6%, 0.8% and 0.7% respectively.
The weekly decline was primarily due to a sharp rise in oil prices amid escalating Middle East tensions, which heightened inflation concerns and pushed Treasury yields higher. The 10-year yield approached 5%, increasing fears that the Fed could maintain a restrictive stance despite an expected September rate hike.
Technology stocks showed relative resilience, helped by strength in AI-related shares, while Friday's retreat in crude and in-line CPI data sparked a broad rebound.
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:
FIGS and Charles River Laboratories Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of FIGS, Inc. FIGS have gained 33.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 2% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on July 14.
Another stock, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. CRL, which was also upgraded to a Rank #2 on July 14, has returned 21.1% since then.
A portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 2.3 percentage points this year. Through August 3rd this year, the Zacks # 1 Rank portfolio returned +12.08%, which compares to a +9.78% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +10.41% gain for the equal-weight version of the index in the same time period.
Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.4 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +23.9% through August 3rd, which compares to a +11.5% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +11.3% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
Check FIGS’ historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Check Charles River’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Grupo Cibest and Amphenol
Shares of Grupo Cibest S.A. CIB and Amphenol Corporation APH have surged 28.4% and 9.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.8% rise), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on June 26 and July 17.
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 Microsoft, CACI International Shoot Up
Shares of Microsoft Corporation MSFT, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have soared 26.8% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on February 1, 2016. Another Focus-List holding, CACI International Inc. CACI, which was added to the list on December 2, 2015, has returned 19.6% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 3.1% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +19.86% in the year-to-date period (through August 31, 2026) vs. +13.14% for the S&P 500 index and +15.59% 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 August 31, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +28.7% (vs. +20.4% for the S&P 500 index), +24.1% (vs. +21.1%), +13.6% (vs. +12.8%), +17.1% (vs. +15.4%) and +12.7% vs. (+11%), 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 Automatic Data Processing & Accenture Gain Significantly
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. ADP, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 18.6% over the past 12 weeks. Accenture plc ACN followed Automatic Data with 8% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -9.4% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30th) vs. +10.2% for the S&P 500 index.
For 2025, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. a +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 Paychex & Intercontinental Exchange Outperform Peers
Paychex, Inc. PAYX, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 15.1% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. ICE, has climbed 12% 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 -1.7% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30th) vs. +10.2% for the S&P 500 index and +9.03% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL).
The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. a +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrats 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, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 45.7% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 11.9% increase.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +15% in the year-to-date 2026 period (through August 31st) vs. +12.9% for the S&P 500 index and +14.8% 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 August 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,881.3% since 2012 vs. +648.5% for the S&P 500 index and +481.7% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +25.8% in the period 2012 through August 31, 2026, vs. +13.6% for the S&P 500 index and +11.3% for the equal-weight version of the index.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
FIGS, Inc. (FIGS) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Beat the Market the Zacks Way: FIGS, Microsoft, Amphenol in Focus

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. FIS recently announced a partnership with Ericsson to simplify how organizations launch digital wallet services. The partners plan to combine FIS payments and issuing tools with Ericsson’s wallet infrastructure and open APIs in one connected platform.
Today, businesses have to link several systems to move, store, secure and manage money, making launches slow and expensive. FIS and Ericsson want to remove that burden by offering technology designed to work together from the start. The setup could help telecom operators, retailers, healthcare organizations and government agencies turn wallet plans into live services faster, while giving consumers a direct, easier path to their money.
Ericsson’s platform has more than 15 years of experience, supports at least 131 million users who transacted during the past 90 days and processes roughly $80 billion each month across 24 countries. That scale suggests the technology can handle payment activity across markets.
Adding FIS’ payments and issuing tools could lower execution risk for clients and make new services easier to expand. It also gives FIS an entry point into different sectors, where digital identity, connectivity and payments are increasingly coming together.
The initiative could generate payment processing and issuing revenue for FIS as clients launch wallets and volumes rise. A combined platform may shorten implementation cycles, reduce client integration costs and help FIS win businesses that might otherwise avoid complex wallet projects. The longer-term opportunity is recurring revenue tied to transactions, accounts, cards or service usage.
FIS’ Price Performance
Shares of Fidelity National have declined 39% year to date, underperforming the 3.7% fall of the industry.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
FIS currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Business Services space are FirstCash Holdings, Inc. FCFS, Paymentus Holdings, Inc. PAY and Usio, Inc. USIO, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FirstCash’s current-year earnings is pegged at $11.85 per share, indicating a 35.3% year-over-year growth. FCFS has witnessed one upward earnings estimate revision over the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Paymentus’ current-year earnings indicates a 39.4% year-over-year jump. PAY beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.5%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues implies 20.4% year-over-year growth.
The consensus estimate for USIO’s current-year earnings indicates an 88.9% year-over-year improvement. It has witnessed one upward estimate revision and no downward movement over the past 30 days. The consensus estimate for USIO’s current-year revenues implies 13.9% year-over-year growth.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

How Can FIS' Wallet Partnership With Ericsson Drive Long-Term Growth?

Last Friday, the three benchmark Wall Street indexes closed a losing week. The S&P 500 fell 1.43%, the Nasdaq declined 2.05% and the Dow dropped 0.85%. Rising bond yields pressured equities, particularly technology and growth stocks, while mixed corporate results added to caution.
Investors also remained concerned about the economic impact of the Iran conflict, with higher oil prices fueling inflation worries. The resulting uncertainty over interest rates further weighed on sentiment as Treasury yields climbed, with the 30-year yield reaching its highest level since 2007.
Meanwhile, investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech, seeking clues about the outlook for AI spending and monetary policy.
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:
BYD and HBT Financial Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of BYD Company Limited BYDDY have gained 26.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.4% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on June 30.
Another stock, HBT Financial, Inc. HBT, which was also upgraded to a Rank #2 on June 30, has returned 12.2% since then.
A portfolio of Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 5.7 percentage points this year. Through July 6th this year, the Zacks #1 Rank portfolio returned +15.3%, which compares to a +9.7% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +12.6% gain for the equal-weight version of the index in the same time period.
Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks #1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.4 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +23.9% through July 6th, which compared to a +11.6% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +11.4% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
Check BYD’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Check HBT’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Delek US and Marcus Corp.
Shares of Delek US Holdings, Inc. DK and The Marcus Corporation MCS have surged 51.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 4.5% rise) and 24.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.4% rise), since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on June 26 and June 30, 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 Axon, Virtu Shoot Up
Shares of Axon Enterprise, Inc. AXON, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have soared 62.6% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on June 3, 2020. Another Focus-List holding, Virtu Financial, Inc. VIRT, which was added to the list on July 31, 2023, has returned 29.5% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 2.7% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +14.49% in the year-to-date period (through July 31, 2026) vs. +10.14% for the S&P 500 index and +13.26% 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 July 31, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +26.1% (vs. +16.7% for the S&P 500 index), +21% (vs. +19.3%), +12.9% (vs. +12.9%), +16.4% (vs. +15.1%) and +12.5% vs. (+10.9%), 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 Amgen & Paychex Gain Significantly
Amgen Inc. AMGN, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 29.5% over the past 12 weeks. Paychex, Inc. PAYX followed Amgen with 28.3% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -9.4% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30th) vs. +10.2% 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 Quest & Automatic Data Processing Outperform Peers
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated DGX, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 25.2% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Automatic Data Processing, Inc. ADP, has climbed 24.6% 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 Automatic Data’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 -1.7% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30th) vs. +10.2% for the S&P 500 index and +9.03% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL).
The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. a +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrats 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, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 43.7% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 12.1% increase.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +14.63% in the year-to-date 2026 period (through July 31st) vs. +9.90% for the S&P 500 index and +12.47% 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 July 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,870.1% since 2012 vs. +628.7% for the S&P 500 index and +470% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +25.9% in the period 2012 through July 31, 2026, vs. +13.5% for the S&P 500 index and +11.2% for the equal-weight version of the index.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Beat the Market Like Zacks: Amgen, FirstCash, Delek in Focus

(RTTNews) - FirstCash, Inc. (FCFS) announced a profit for its second quarter that Increases, from the same period last year
The company's earnings came in at $93.47 million, or $2.12 per share. This compares with $59.81 million, or $1.34 per share, last year.
Excluding items, FirstCash, Inc. reported adjusted earnings of $110.11 million or $2.50 per share for the period.
The company's revenue for the period rose 29.4% to $1.075 billion from $830.62 million last year.
FirstCash, Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $93.47 Mln. vs. $59.81 Mln. last year. -EPS: $2.12 vs. $1.34 last year. -Revenue: $1.075 Bln vs. $830.62 Mln last year.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstCash, Inc. Bottom Line Rises In Q2

(RTTNews) - FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS), an operator of pawn stores, said on Wednesday that it has appointed its Chief Executive Officer, Rick L. Wessel, as Executive Chairman, with effect from January 1, 2027.
Daniel R. Feehan, the current Chairman of the Board, will retire from his role and continue to serve as a member of the Board.
FirstCash has appointed its Chief Operating Officer, T. Brent Stuart as CEO with effect from the same day.
In conjunction with these changes, the company expects to ink new three-year employment deals in January 2027 with Wessel and Stuart along with R. Douglas Orr, the company's Chief Financial Officer.
Wessel has served as CEO of FirstCash since 2006 and as a director since 1992. Stuart had worked as CEO of Cash America International at the time of its merger with FirstCash in 2016. He joined the combined company as COO in 2016 after consummation of the merger.
FirstCash will release its second-quarter earnings report on July 23.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstCash Appoints CEO Rick Wessel As Executive Chairman

PayPal PYPL operates one of the world's largest digital payments platforms, connecting consumers and merchants across global markets. Growth is supported by rising payment volumes, expanding Venmo monetization, a broad international payments network and continued technology upgrades.
PayPal faces intense competition, slow branded checkout growth, currency headwinds, interest-rate volatility and economic uncertainty that may pressure growth and profitability.
In the past month, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 9.9% compared with the industry's growth of 8.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Aids PYPL?
PayPal benefits from its large two-sided payments network, connecting consumers and merchants across global markets. The platform supports steady payment activity and transaction growth. In the first quarter of 2026, total payment volume (TPV) increased 11% year over year to $464 billion. Its fraud management, underwriting and tokenization capabilities also strengthen customer trust.
Venmo remains a key growth driver with more than 100 million active accounts. In the first quarter of 2026, Venmo's total payment volume increased 14% on a currency-neutral basis and accounted for 19% of TPV, while Pay with Venmo transaction volume jumped 34%. The Buy Now, Pay Later offering also supports higher checkout conversion and larger order values, with BNPL volume rising 23% in the quarter.
Strategic partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, Google, Alibaba, Intuit and major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Barclays and Bank of America, expand merchant acceptance, improve checkout flexibility and strengthen PayPal's global payments network.
PayPal continues to invest in product and platform initiatives that expand its role beyond traditional online checkout and strengthen its broader commerce ecosystem. The company is enhancing its core checkout experience by improving presentment and selection while deepening consumer engagement through loyalty programs and financial services offerings, enhancing customer lifetime value and driving sustainable long-term growth.
Strong cash generation, expected adjusted free cash flow of at least $6 billion in 2026, planned share repurchases and regular dividends continue to support shareholder returns.
What’s Hurting PYPL?
PayPal faces strong competition from Block, Google, Amazon, Apple, Mastercard and Visa, which could pressure its market share, pricing power and growth in digital wallets and checkout services.
Foreign exchange volatility also remains a concern due to its significant international operations, with 43% of 2025 revenues coming from outside the United States.
Macroeconomic weakness, slower consumer spending and softer merchant activity may reduce payment volumes and transaction margins. Modest branded checkout growth in the United States and Europe, along with slower travel spending, could limit operating leverage and delay margin improvement.
PayPal remains sensitive to interest-rate changes and investment market conditions. Lower rates can reduce interest income from customer balances, while weaker markets may create volatility from strategic investments, affecting earnings stability.
Stock to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks from the other REIT sector are Corpay CPAY and FirstCash FCFS, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CPAY’s 2026 FFO per share has moved marginally northward to $26.86 over the past two months.
The consensus estimate for FCFS’s 2026 FFO per share has moved up marginally to $11.33 per share over the past week.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Corpay, Inc. (CPAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is PYPL Stock Worth Retaining in Your Portfolio for the Long Run?

Wall Street wrapped up a holiday-shortened last week with a mixed but encouraging picture. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite index closed the week with gains of 1.4%, 0.6% and 0.05%, respectively. Investor confidence was supported by easing tensions in the Middle East, improving consumer sentiment and upbeat housing data. June consumer confidence edged up to 91.2 from a downwardly revised 90.6 in May. The S&P/Case-Shiller index showed home prices rising 1.1% year-over-year in April, beating expectations.
However, the week wasn't without twists. Tech stocks, especially AI chip companies, experienced heavy volatility as investors began questioning their stretched valuations. June's jobs report showed payroll growth slowing to just 57,000, well below expectations of about 110,000. Although unemployment dipped to 4.2% as labor force participation fell to 61.5%, roughly 720,000 people left the workforce, suggesting the lower unemployment rate was not driven by stronger hiring. That weaker hiring data strengthened hopes that the Federal Reserve may delay further interest-rate hikes.
The overall data suggest that the economy is still expanding, but at a slower pace. But the markets remain focused on corporate earnings and upcoming policy signals to see whether this momentum can continue.
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:
PDF Solutions and CECO Environmental Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of PDF Solutions, Inc. PDFS have gained 57.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.1% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on April 30.
Another stock, CECO Environmental Corp. CECO, which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) on April 30, has returned 26.8% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.1% 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 portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 8 percentage points this year. Through May 5, 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 5, which compared to +11.5% gain for the S&P 500 index and +11.3% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades LifeStance Health and Alignment Healthcare
Shares of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. LFST and Alignment Healthcare, Inc. ALHC have advanced 45.8% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.8% increase) and 10.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.6% increase) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on April 27 and April 28, 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.
Zacks Focus List Stocks Lam Research, Axon Shoot Up
Shares of Lam Research Corporation LRCX, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 59.3% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the FocusList on December 5, 2016. Another Focus List holding, Axon Enterprise, Inc. AXON, which was added to the portfolio on June 3, 2020, has returned 44.5% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 13.1% 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 31, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, 10-year basis, 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 Novo Nordisk and Fair Isaac Surge
Novo Nordisk A/S MNST, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 37.5% over the past 12 weeks. Fair Isaac Corporation FICO has followed Novo Nordisk with 16.1% 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 Payche and Quest Diagnostics Outperform Peers
Paychex, Inc. PAYX, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 15.8% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated DGX, has also climbed 8.4% 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 to 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, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026, has jumped 41.6% since the list was released on January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 index’s 9.1% increase during this period.
The Top 10 portfolio retuned +19.72% in 2026 (through May 31) 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 31, 2026 vs. +13.7% for the S&P 500 index and +11.03% for the equal-weight version of the index.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Beat the Market the Zacks Way: PDF Solutions, LifeStance Health, Paychex in Focus

(RTTNews) - FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS) on Tuesday announced an agreement to acquire Ramsdens Holdings Plc (RFX.L), a pawnbroking, retail and financial services provider, for approximately 206 million pounds or $273 million, including an interim dividend.
The company expects the transaction to close by the end of 2026.
Under the terms of the agreement, the company will pay 600 pence in cash for each Ramsdens share.
Ramsdens shareholders will also receive an interim cash dividend of up to 9 pence per share.
The acquisition will add Ramsdens' network of 174 pawn stores across England, Scotland and Wales to FirstCash's U.K. operations.
The company said the deal is expected to expand its presence in the U.K. market, enhance operating scale and efficiencies, and be accretive to both EBITDA and earnings per share.
On Monday, FirstCash Holdings closed trading 0.81% higher at $228.89 on the Nasdaq.
On Monday, Ramsdens closed trading 1.09% lesser at GBp 452.50 on the London Stock Exchange.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstCash To Acquire Ramsdens For GBP 206 Mln

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 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, 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.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Bread Financial and Bank7
Shares of Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. BFH and Bank7 Corp. BSVN 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, 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, 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, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 47.5% over the past 12 weeks. Oracle Corporation ORCL 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, 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, 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.
Click here to access this portfolio on Zacks Advisor Tools.
Zacks Top 10 Stock FirstCash Delivers Solid Returns
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. FCFS, 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.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstCash Holdings, Inc.

Options Strategies