Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock’s recent trend in either direction. In the ‘long’ context, investors will be essentially be “buying high, but hoping to sell even higher.” With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock’s price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the
Zacks Style Scores
, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at
First Solar (FSLR)
, which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It’s also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. First Solar currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of
Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?
Let’s discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for FSLR that show why this largest U.S. solar company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
Looking at a stock’s short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For FSLR, shares are up 9.41% over the past week while the Zacks Solar industry is up 9.44% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 6.5% compares favorably with the industry’s 12.37% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics — such as performance over the past three months or year — can be useful as well. Shares of First Solar have increased 32.05% over the past quarter, and have gained 73.3% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 12.27% and 16.79%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to FSLR’s average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. FSLR is currently averaging 2,215,359 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings Outlook
The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with FSLR.
Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost FSLR’s consensus estimate, increasing from $3.74 to $3.92 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom Line
Given these factors, it shouldn’t be surprising that FSLR is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you’re looking for a fresh pick that’s set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep First Solar on your short list.
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