Take the Zacks Approach to Beat the Markets: Hecla Mining, GE Aerospace & Stride in Focus

Major U.S. indexes experienced a choppy but overall positive holiday-shortened trading week. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.02% and 1.96%, respectively, last week, hovering near all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched slightly up by 0.23%. Weakness in the U.S. labor market has fueled investor optimism for an early Federal Reserve interest rate cut at its September 16-17 meeting, driving positive market momentum. However, a grim jobs report, persistent inflation and the impact of trade policies have intensified recession fears.The Fed's preferred inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 0.3% in July, resulting in a 2.6% rise on a year-over-year basis.  The core prices (excluding food and energy) rose to 2.9%, the highest level in five months. The August jobs report showed weaker-than-expected data. The economy added only 22,000 jobs, far below economists’ expectations of 75,000. Additionally, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose by 8,000 to 237,000 for the week ending August 30.The unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, its highest level since 2021.  The labor market is cooling significantly, which is a cause for concern for the overall economic momentum. Moody’s Chief Economist, Mark Zandi, has also cautioned that the economy is on the verge of a recession. It is vital for the Fed to carefully strike the right balance between supporting growth and curbing inflation.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 forecasts to prepare better for your next action. 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:Hecla Mining and Shoals Technologies Following Zacks Rank UpgradeShares of Hecla Mining Company HL have gained 50.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 4.8% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on July 1.Another stock, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. SHLS, which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on July 7, has returned 19.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.6% increase) since then.A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) stocks returned +1.47% in 2025 (through August 4) vs. +5.60% for the S&P 500 index and +6.77% for the equal-weight version of the 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 August 4, 2025, the Zacks # 1 Rank stocks generated an annualized average return of +23.6% vs. +11.3% for the S&P 500 index).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>Check Hecla Mining Company’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>Check Shoals Technologies’ historical EPS and Sales here>>>Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchZacks Recommendation Upgrades OPENLANE & GE AerospaceShares of OPENLANE, Inc. KAR and GE Aerospace GE have advanced 16.7% (versus the S&P 500’s 4.1% increase) and 9.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.8% increase), since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on July 16 and July 14, 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 Shopify, Sea Limited Shoot UpShares of Shopify Inc. SHOP, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 31.8% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on September 6, 2022. Another Focus-List holding, Sea Limited SE, which was added to the portfolio on March 26, 2020, has returned 15.7% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced by 8.1% over this period.The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned 10.91% in 2025 (through July 31, 2025) vs. +8.59% for the S&P 500 index and +5.84% 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%.The portfolio leads the broader market over the preceding one, three, five and ‘since 2004’ periods. These annualized return comparisons are: +17.71% for the Focus List vs. +16.35% for the index over the one-year period, +19.21% vs. +17.101% over the 3-year period, +16.98% vs. +15.88% over the 5-year period, and +11.9% vs. +10.51% since 2004.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 AutoZone & Mettler-Toledo International Make Significant GainsAutoZone, Inc. AZO, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 13.5% over the past 12 weeks. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. MTD has followed AutoZone with 10.3% returns.The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned +0.20% in the second quarter of 2025 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +10.94% gain (SPY ETF). In the year-to-date period through June 30, the portfolio returned +3.93% vs. +6.20% 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 Johnson & Johnson and Home Depot Outperform PeersJohnson & Johnson JNJ, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 15.1% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, The Home Depot, Inc. HD, has increased 14.1% 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 Johnson & Johnson's dividend history here>>>Check Home Depot’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 to significantly mitigate risk.The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -3.17% in 2025 Q2 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +10.94% gain and the Dividend Aristocrats ETF’s (NOBL) -0.09% return. Year-to-date (through June 30), the portfolio returned +2.38% vs. +2.18% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF. For full-year 2024, the portfolio has 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 Stride Delivers Solid ReturnsStride, Inc. LRN, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 54.7% year to date compared with the S&P 500 index’s 10.5% increase.The Top 10 portfolio returned +16.9% this year (through the end of July 2025) vs. +8.6% for the S&P 500 index and +5.8% 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 +2,220.4% through the end of July 2025 vs. +517.8% for the S&P 500 index and +378% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average return of +26.1% in the period 2012 through July 31, 2025, vs. +14.4% for the S&P 500 index and +12.2% for the equal-weight version of the index.Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor StockThis under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.See This Stock Now for Free >>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 GE Aerospace (GE): Free Stock Analysis Report Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report The Home Depot, Inc. (HD): Free Stock Analysis Report Sea Limited Sponsored ADR (SE): Free Stock Analysis Report AutoZone, Inc. (AZO): Free Stock Analysis Report Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (MTD): Free Stock Analysis Report Hecla Mining Company (HL): Free Stock Analysis Report Stride, Inc. (LRN): Free Stock Analysis Report OPENLANE, Inc. (KAR): Free Stock Analysis Report Shopify Inc. (SHOP): Free Stock Analysis Report ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL): ETF Research Reports Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS): 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