Beat the Market the Zacks Way: FIGS, Microsoft, Amphenol in Focus

2026.09.14 12:11 (GMT+0)

Beat the Market the Zacks Way: FIGS, Microsoft, Amphenol in Focus

Last Friday, the three benchmark stock indexes on Wall Street closed a losing week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.6%, 0.8% and 0.7% respectively.

The weekly decline was primarily due to a sharp rise in oil prices amid escalating Middle East tensions, which heightened inflation concerns and pushed Treasury yields higher. The 10-year yield approached 5%, increasing fears that the Fed could maintain a restrictive stance despite an expected September rate hike.

Technology stocks showed relative resilience, helped by strength in AI-related shares, while Friday's retreat in crude and in-line CPI data sparked a broad rebound.

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:

FIGS and Charles River Laboratories Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade

Shares of FIGS, Inc. FIGS have gained 33.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 2% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on July 14.

Another stock, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. CRL, which was also upgraded to a Rank #2 on July 14, has returned 21.1% since then.

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^rd 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^rd, 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 FIGS’ historical EPS and Sales here>>>

Check Charles River’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Grupo Cibest and Amphenol

Shares of Grupo Cibest S.A. CIB and Amphenol Corporation APH have surged 28.4% and 9.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.8% rise), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on June 26 and July 17.

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 Microsoft, CACI International Shoot Up

Shares of Microsoft Corporation MSFT, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have soared 26.8% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on February 1, 2016. Another Focus-List holding, CACI International Inc. CACI, which was added to the list on December 2, 2015, has returned 19.6% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 3.1% over this period.

The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +19.86% in the year-to-date period (through August 31, 2026) vs. +13.14% for the S&P 500 index and +15.59% 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 August 31, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +28.7% (vs. +20.4% for the S&P 500 index), +24.1% (vs. +21.1%), +13.6% (vs. +12.8%), +17.1% (vs. +15.4%) and +12.7% vs. (+11%), 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 Automatic Data Processing & Accenture Gain Significantly

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. ADP, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 18.6% over the past 12 weeks. Accenture plc ACN followed Automatic Data with 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^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%.

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 Paychex & Intercontinental Exchange Outperform Peers

Paychex, Inc. PAYX, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 15.1% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. ICE, has climbed 12% 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 Paychex’s dividend history here>>>

Check Intercontinental Exchange’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 significantly mitigate risk.

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

FirstCash Holdings, Inc. FCFS, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 45.7% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 11.9% increase.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +15% in the year-to-date 2026 period (through August 31st) vs. +12.9% for the S&P 500 index and +14.8% 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 August 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,881.3% since 2012 vs. +648.5% for the S&P 500 index and +481.7% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +25.8% in the period 2012 through August 31, 2026, vs. +13.6% for the S&P 500 index and +11.3% 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.

Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.

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

Zacks Investment Research