Beat the Market the Zacks Way: Bank of America, Marex, Mettler-Toledo International in Focus

The softer inflation data helped stocks rebound, as markets saw less pressure for a September Fed rate hike. July CPI rose 0.1% month over month after falling 0.4% in June. Core CPI slowed to 2.5% from 2.6% in the same period. July PPI was unchanged, below expectations for a 0.1% increase. Meanwhile, initial jobless claims rose 9,000 to 209,000, while continuing claims fell to 1.777 million, suggesting a gradual cooling in the labor market. Overall, the economy appears resilient, but oil prices and sticky inflation remain key risks.

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:

Private Bancorp of America and Cushman & Wakefield Following Zacks Rank Upgrade

Shares of Private Bancorp of America, Inc. PBAM have gained 14.1% (versus the S&P 500’s 5.8% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on June 24.

Another stock, Cushman & Wakefield Limited CWK, which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on June 4, has returned 13.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 3% rise) 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 stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 5.7 percentage points this year. Through July 6 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 6, which compares to a +11.6% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +11.4% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>

Check Private Bancorp of America’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

Check Cushman & Wakefield’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Marex and ATI

Shares of Marex Group Limited MRX and ATI Inc. ATI have advanced 17.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 5.3% increase) and 15.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 5.9% increase) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on June 10 and June 25, 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 Bank of America, Arcosa Shoot Up

Shares of Bank of America Corporation BAC, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 29.6% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the FocusList on January 9, 2017. Another Focus List holding, Arcosa, Inc. ACA, which was added to the portfolio on January 6, 2020, has returned 17.1% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 5.1% 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 Mettler-Toledo International and McCormick Surge

Mettler-Toledo International MTD, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 37.6% over the past 12 weeks. McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC followed Mettler-Toledo International with 18% 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 30^th) 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%.

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 and General Mills Outperform Peers

The J. M. Smucker Company SJM, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 20.7% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, General Mills, Inc. GIS, has also climbed 18.8% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.

Check J. M. Smucker‘s dividend history here>>>

Check General Mills' 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 to significantly mitigate risk.

The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -1.7% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30) 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 VSE Delivers Solid Returns

VSE Corporation VSEC, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026, has jumped 33.4% since the list was released on January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 index’s 13.7% increase during this period.

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.

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%.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research