This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• An analysis of stocks in the Business Services sector, a wide-ranging area that includes many types of enterprises, from global payments to waste management to credit reporting.

• Following his usual methodology, John defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks). Using this framework, he examines the most relevant metrics to evaluate Business Services stocks,  from Return on Equity to P/E F12M to Total Debt and many more.

• As part of this analysis, John zooms in on individual equities including  well-known names like Visa Inc (V), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), and Waste Management Inc (WM), and less familiar but noteworthy tickers such as Bowman Consulting Group Ltd (BWMN), Gorilla Technology Group Inc (GRRR), and Airship AI Holdings Inc (AISP). Don’t miss these valuable insights on these stocks that help keep business in business.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• A quarterly analysis of the S&P 500’s performance and outlook, plus a focus on prospects for Tesla Inc (TSLA). When discussing the S&P 500, this is highly relevant, since Tesla is one of the “Magnificent 7” companies that have had an outsize influence on the direction of the index, especially in the last few years.

• John’s analysis of the S&P 500 includes many of the same elements as he uses in his stock analyses, including PEG Ratio, Enterprise Value/Cash Flow, P/E F12M and other metrics. In addition he looks at macro indicators that affect the index, such as Consumer Confidence, Disposable Income, Inflation, and ISM Manufacturing Production Index (PMI).

• Finally, John takes a look at what’s ahead for Tesla, a company that has been in the news for reasons other than its cars. John goes through earnings fundamentals and other technicals, the Zacks analysis of Tesla, including Reasons to Buy and Risks—and he even consults with AI on Tesla’s future. Don’t miss this highly relevant discussion of our country’s most famous stock index and one of its most controversial companies.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Equity Strategist Mayur Thaker, CFA, discusses:

• The state of the US Healthcare industry. This area of the economy represents 18% of the country’s GDP, and encompasses three main areas: Drugs, including pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, and biomedical; Medical Services, including nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient care, and health insurance; and Medical Products, such as instruments and devices, information systems and dental products.

• Healthcare is one of the few sectors of the economy that is mostly isolated from macroeconomic cycles in production, consumption, interest rates, commodities, and foreign exchange markets. However, it is also one of the most heavily regulated areas of the economy. Other macro factors impacting Healthcare are declining Medicare reimbursements and the country’s aging population.

• Mayur surveys some of the Zacks top-ranked stocks in this sector, offering his commentary on what is attractive about these companies. Tickers he highlights include AbbVie (ABBV), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Boston Scientific (BSX), and others. Finally, Mayur offers the pros and cons of investing in this sector, as well as his strategy for picking healthcare stocks. Don’t miss this to get your thorough check-up on Healthcare!

The views of Mayur Thaker, CFA are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• A journey through stocks in the Transportation sector, focusing on two industries: Air Transportation and Transportation-Other (which encompasses over-the-road and rail shipping, ocean freight, logistics and more). Before diving into the analysis, John discusses the latest trends and developments in both industries, ranging from electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) to air traffic controller staffing, AI, self-driving trucks, drone delivery and more.

• Following his usual methodology, John defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks).

• Using this framework, John examines the most relevant metrics for stocks in these industries. He also highlights noteworthy equities, including big names like Southwest Airlines (LUV), FedEx (FDX), and Union Pacific (UNP), and less familiar but noteworthy tickers such as Schneider National (SNDR) and Bollore SE (BOIVF). Don’t miss these valuable insights on top stocks that help move people and goods around the globe.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Equity Strategist Mayur Thaker, CFA, discusses:

• A review of the just-finished Q4 2024 earnings season and a preview of his outlook for the year ahead. As has been the case for years, the “Magnificent 7” big tech stocks again dominated in Q4, but EPS estimates are beginning to fade as we head into 2025.

• Meanwhile, the all-important cyclicals are seeing accelerating growth. Mayur points out that cyclicals, also known as value stocks, have great analytical value as a reflection of the true underlying economy. He argues that if the ISM Manufacturing PMI index has truly turned a corner, cyclicals could lead an expansion of market growth.

• Mayur also discusses the role of tariffs in the new administration’s pro-growth agenda. Finally, he offers his overall forecast for the S&P 500, and ideas for investors looking for deep value Cyclical stocks with strong balance sheets, high ROIC, and attractive valuations. Stocks he highlights include Littelfuse Inc (LFUS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Albemarle Corp (ALB), Gentex Corp (GNTX), and others. Get ready for what’s ahead in 2025 with this essential strategy call!

The views of Mayur Thaker, CFA are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• Top ideas in the Utilities sector, focusing on two industries: Telecom and Water. Before diving into the analysis, John discusses the latest industry trends and developments, including regulatory developments, autonomous treatment plans, financial performance challenges, and more.

• Following his usual methodology, John defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks).

• With this framework, John examines the most relevant metrics for stocks in these industries. He also highlights noteworthy equities, including Telecom Italia Group (TIIAY), Essential Utilities (WTRG), American States Water Company (AWR), York Water Company (YORW), and more. Don’t miss these valuable insights on the top stocks that help make the world go round.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Equity Strategist Mayur Thaker, CFA, discusses:

• The Zacks Deep Value Portfolio, our newest portfolio of 30 high-conviction stocks. These businesses are a cross between high value and high quality, and Mayur dives into how Zacks targets this cross between quality businesses and attractive prices.

• He shares the criteria required for a business to succeed and describes the Zacks approach to value investing. One thing these companies have in common is substantial multiple compression to normalized earnings and an established track record of core quality characteristics.

• Lastly, Mayur shares a case study using Albemarle (ALB), the world’s largest lithium producer for EVs, battery storage systems, and consumer electronics. He ends the call sharing top ideas in Deep Value Cyclicals, including Littelfuse (LFUS), Bank OZK (OZK), and more. Don’t miss this valuablestrategy call that introduces our latest portfolio.

The views of Mayur Thaker, CFA are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• Top ideas in the Utilities sector, focusing on two industries: Electric Power and Gas Distribution. Before diving into the analysis, John discusses the latest trends and developments in both industries, including integration of AI, increased natural gas use, virtual power plants, rising electricity demand, and the impact of the recent DeepSeek story.

• Following his usual methodology, John defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks).

• With this framework, John examines the most relevant metrics for stocks in these industries. He also highlights noteworthy equities, from familiar names such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE), Exelon Corp (EXE) and Duke Energy Corp (DUK)  to less well-known but intriguing companies such as Iberdrola SA (IBDRY), Atmos Energy Corp (ATO), and Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE). Get ready for 2025 with this essential analysis of the names that keep the lights on and our homes warm.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Equity Strategist Mayur Thaker, CFA, discusses:

• The recession that never happened…and what is next for the economy and market. Since Q2 2023, Mayur has made the case for a coming recession, based on “red flag” signals that have been reliable indicators of past recessions. However, these turned out to be false flags, and in this video Mayur walks through 10 of these signals, including ISM Manufacturing, Zacks Cyclical Proxy, inverted Treasury yield spread, unemployment rate, and others.

• Since these signals seem to be false flags for recession, what lies ahead? Mayur focuses on valuation risk, whether manufacturing can sustain its recovery, and how the new administration’s policies—including tariffs, tax cuts, and deportations of illegal immigrants—may affect the economy and markets.

• Mayur no longer believes recession is the base case, and offers his recommendations for investors. While he thinks it is a good idea to remain long the S&P 500, he also favors the Zacks Earnings Certain and the Zacks Deep Value Portfolios, which both offer high-quality companies that are able to withstand market volatility.

The views of Mayur Thaker, CFA are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• Top ideas in the Finance sector, focusing on three industries: Investment Brokers & Managers, Investment Funds, and Real Estate. While John’s previous sector analyses have been limited to stocks, in this week’s overview he has added an overview of ETFs that cover this sector.

• Following his usual methodology, John defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks).

• With this framework, John examines the most relevant metrics for stocks in these industries. He also highlights noteworthy equities, ranging from familiar names like JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM) and Public Storage (PSA) to less well-known but intriguing companies such as Tradeweb Markets Inc (TW) and Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc (GLPI). And as noted above, John also offers return analysis of ETFs covering the Finance sector, including IWF, XLF, RSP, and others. Get ready for 2025 with this essential analysis of Finance stocks and ETFs.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• The U.S. economy’s four-year cycle, from the recession low of 2020 going into 2025. He covers immigration, a glance at the U.S. economy, and U.S. financial conditions. John starts by laying out the Federal Reserve’s economic projections and how they have changed from June. He looks at unemployment, core PCE inflation, and Federal fund rate projections.

• The effects of the immigration surge on the federal budget and the economy. Next, he dives into key economic indicators that provide a snapshot of the U.S. economy. He looks at U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Real Personal Consumption Expenditures, unemployment, inflation, and more.

• U.S. financial conditions, including the 10-year Treasury, real estate interest rates, the St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index, and more. He wraps up the discussion by sharing why he believes there will be no recession going into 2025. Don’t miss out on this valuable end-of-year analysis.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.

This week, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist John Blank, PhD discusses:

• Top stocks in the Finance sector, including Major Banks, Banks and Thrifts, Finance (including the credit card industry), and Insurance. Before diving into the analysis, John discusses the latest trends and developments in this sector, ranging from consolidation and mergers to AI-driven services, decentralized banking solutions and crypto, rising rates and Federal regulations, and more.

• As John has done in previous analyses, he defines “top” stocks in three ways: by market capitalization, by number of analysts following the stock, and by largest percent change in F1 EPS estimate (the most important element used in assigning a Zacks Rank to stocks).

• With this framework, John examines key metrics for stocks in these industries, including Return on Equity TTM %, EPS F12M, Net Margin TTM%, Enterprise Value/Sales F12M and many more. Stocks mentioned in today’s discussion include household names such as HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC), Discover Financial Services (DFS), and Allstate Corp (ALL), plus less familiar but relevant companies such as ICICI Bank Ltd (IBN), First Foundation Inc (FFWM), Loandepot Inc (LDI), and many other important and active players in the Finance arena.

The views of John Blank, PhD are not necessarily the views of Zacks Investment Research.