Beat the Market the Zacks Way: Accelerant, Insight, General Mills in Focus
Last week, major U.S. indexes were driven by a tug-of-war between strong corporate earnings/AI optimism and renewed concerns about the Federal Reserve’s policy. The Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained by 2.16%, 1.02% and 0.29%, respectively. The tech heavy Nasdaq Composite benefited most from the AI/technology rally, while the Dow lagged because it has less exposure to high-growth technology stocks. Though the week began with a tech-led sell-off, falling Treasury yields and a rebound in chip stocks helped stabilize sentiment. NVIDIA’s strong revenue outlook, in particular, provided the fuel for the rally, while rising Treasury yields and increased expectations of a September rate hike limited the upside.
Underneath the market gains, however, the economic picture looked less comfortable. Geopolitical tensions involving Iran and rising U.S.-Canada trade friction kept investors cautious. Inflation remained sticky, with July PCE inflation rising 3.7% year over year, while core PCE increased 3.3%, remaining well above the Fed’s 2% target. Consumer spending grew just 0.2% in July, although personal income rose 0.4%. Consumer confidence slipped to 89.4 in August, while the University of Michigan sentiment index fell to 51.7. Meanwhile, GDP growth held at 1.5% in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in the first quarter.
On the brighter side, weekly jobless claims dropped to 203,000, continuing claims declined to 1.778 million, and durable goods orders increased 1.1%. The biggest market-moving moment came from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, whose warning about persistent inflation pushed expectations for a September rate hike. In short, the economy is still moving forward, but inflation and a slowdown in consumer confidence are making the road bumpier.
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:
Accelerant and 3M Company Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Accelerant Holdings ARX have gained 53.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.2% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on July 2.
Another stock, 3M Company MMM, which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on July 3, has returned 8.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.3% 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 (Strong Buy) stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 2.3 percentage points this year. Through August 3 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 3, 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.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>
Check Accelerant’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
Check 3M Company’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>
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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Insight and ZIM Integrated Shipping
Shares of Insight Enterprises, Inc. NSIT and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. ZIM have advanced 39.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.4% increase) and 8.8% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.2% increase) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on July 7 and July 2, 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 Shopify, Broadridge Financial Shoot Up
Shares of Shopify Inc. SHOP, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 28.8% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the FocusList on September 6, 2022. Another Focus List holding, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. BR, which was added to the portfolio on August 29, 2017, has returned 19.5% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 1.7% 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 Cencora and McCormick Surge
Cencora, Inc. COR, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 19.6% over the past 12 weeks. McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC followed Cencora with 16.8% 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 30) 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 28.2% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, General Mills, Inc. GIS, has also climbed 22.9% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.
Check 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 Carpenter Technology Delivers Solid Returns
Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026, has jumped 40.8% since the list was released on January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 index’s 12.7% increase during this period.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +14.63% in the year-to-date 2026 period (through July 31) 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%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpBroadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
3M Company (MMM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
General Mills, Inc. (GIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Cencora, Inc. (COR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Accelerant Holdings (ARX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Shopify Inc. (SHOP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL): ETF Research Reports
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
