Beat the Market the Zacks Way: Micron, Credo, Coca Cola in Focus

Last Friday, the three most widely followed benchmark indexes closed a mixed week. The tech-heavy Nasdaq and the S&P 500 advanced 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average receded 0.7%.Investors weighed shifting expectations around U.S. monetary policy. Recent economic data reinforced the view that inflation is easing gradually, but uncertainty over the timing and pace of interest rate cuts limited broad risk-taking.At the same time, strong corporate developments added fuel. Retail and tech companies delivered solid earnings and boosted sentiment further. Bond market volatility also played a role, with Treasury yields fluctuating in response to central bank commentary and global policy signals. The tech sector performed well.Additionally, geopolitical developments and year-end positioning influenced sentiment. As the holiday period approached, lighter trading volumes amplified modest moves, leaving markets without a clear unified direction for the week.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:Western Hamilton Insurance and Nu Holdings Surge Following Zacks Rank UpgradeShares of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. HG have gained 20.1% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.9% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) on October 17.Another stock, Nu Holdings Ltd. NU, which was upgraded to a #2 (Buy) also on October 17, has returned 10.9% since then.A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) stocks returned +14.3% in 2025 (through December 1st) vs. +14.9% for the S&P 500 index. This portfolio returned +22.4% in 2024, vs. +28% for the S&P 500 index and +19.9% for the equal-weight version of the S&P 500 index.This hypothetical portfolio returned +20.65% in 2023 vs. +24.83% for the S&P 500 index and +15% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index.The Zacks Model Portfolio - consisting of Zacks Rank #1 stocks – has outperformed the S&P index by more than 12 percentage points since 1988 (through December 1st, 2025, the Zacks # 1 Rank stocks generated an annualized average return of +23.9% vs. +11.5% for the S&P 500 index).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>Check Hamilton’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>Check Nu’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchZacks Recommendation Upgrades AerCap and DycomShares of AerCap Holdings N.V. AER and Dycom Industries, Inc. DY have surged 18.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.3% rise) and 17.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.7% rise), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on October 16 and October 15.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 Micron, Lam Research Shoot UpShares of Micron Technology, Inc. MU, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 63.4% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on December 27, 2016. Another Focus-List holding, Lam Research Corporation LRCX, which was added to the portfolio on December 5, 2016, has returned 35.7% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 2.5% over this period. The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +22% in 2025 (through November 30th, 2025) vs. +17.8% for the S&P 500 index and +10.9% 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%.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 Thermo Fisher & Amgen Gain SignificantlyThermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 18.4% over the past 12 weeks. Amgen Inc. AMGN has also followed Thermo Fisher with 14.7% returns.The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -1.30% in the third quarter of 2025 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +8.1% gain (SPY ETF). In the year-to-date period through September 30th, the portfolio returned +2.72% vs. +14.84% 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 Coca-Cola and Starbucks Outperform Peers  The Coca-Cola Company KO, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 5.5% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Starbucks Corporation SBUX, has climbed 4.5% 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.Check Coca-Cola’s dividend history here>>> Check Starbucks’ 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 -0.01% in 2025 Q3 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +8.1% gain and the Dividend Aristocrats ETF’s (NOBL) +2.90% return. Year-to-date (through September 30th), the portfolio returned +1.58% vs. +5.15% 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 Credo Tech Delivers Solid ReturnsCredo Technology Group Holding Ltd CRDO, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 123.4% year to date compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 16.1% increase.The Top 10 portfolio returned +25.4% this year (through the end of November 2025) vs. +17.8% for the S&P 500 index and +10.9% 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.Since 2012, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,530.8% through the end of November 2025 vs. +562% for the S&P 500 index and +401% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average return of +26.1% in the period 2012 through November 30, 2025, vs. +13.2% for the S&P 500 index and +10.5% for the equal-weight version of the index.Zacks Naming Top 10 Stocks for 2026Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2026? History suggests their performance could be sensational.From 2012 (when our Director of Research Sheraz Mian assumed responsibility for the portfolio) through November, 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,530.8%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +570.3%.Now Sheraz is combing through 4,400 companies to handpick the best 10 tickers to buy and hold in 2026. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these stocks when they’re released on January 5. Be First to New Top 10 Stocks >>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 CocaCola Company (The) (KO): Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report Starbucks Corporation (SBUX): Free Stock Analysis Report Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU): Free Stock Analysis Report Micron Technology, Inc. (MU): Free Stock Analysis Report Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO): Free Stock Analysis Report Lam Research Corporation (LRCX): Free Stock Analysis Report Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY): Free Stock Analysis Report Aercap Holdings N.V. (AER): Free Stock Analysis Report Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO): Free Stock Analysis Report Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (HG): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks