Last week, the U.S. stock market saw major indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average rise by 0.82%, 0.84%, and 0.96%, respectively. A partial government shutdown brought uncertainty, but investor optimism was fueled by AI innovations and hopes for more Fed rate cuts. The shutdown caused delays in key economic data releases.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index for September dropped to 94.2, the lowest since April, due to inflation and a weakening job market. Job openings increased slightly to 7.227 million in August, but hiring decreased to 5.126 million. Expectations for Fed rate cuts to boost the labor market were high as inflation rose moderately.

Zacks Research offers unbiased guidance for investors. Recent upgrades like Amneal Pharmaceuticals gaining 29.9% and Leidos Holdings rising 19.8% since Zacks Rank upgrades show the effectiveness of their methodologies. Zacks’ track record in uncertain markets can help investors make informed decisions.

Zacks’ hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 stocks outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, returning +8.64%. Since 1988, the Zacks Model Portfolio has delivered an average return of +23.8%, outperforming the S&P 500. Zacks’ research tools can help investors navigate market uncertainties and achieve better returns.

Zacks upgrades Hippo Holdings Inc. and Vishay Precision Group, Inc., resulting in significant gains of 31.7% and 21.5% respectively. The Zacks Rank and Zacks Recommendation systems aim to predict stock performance over short and medium terms. Analysts can override recommendations based on factors beyond the quantitative model.

The Zacks Focus List saw Intellia Therapeutics and Shopify Inc. gain 85.9% and 38.3% respectively over the past 12 weeks. The Focus List portfolio has consistently outperformed the S&P 500, returning 13.74% in 2025. Zacks’ Focus List offers investors high-potential stocks for better returns in volatile markets.

AutoZone, Inc. and Hershey Company, part of Zacks’ Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), saw gains of 11.8% and 10.6% over the last 12 weeks. The ECAP returned +0.20% in Q2 2025, aiming to minimize capital loss by holding stocks with proven earnings resilience. Zacks Advisor Tools provide access to these portfolios.

Johnson & Johnson and The Home Depot, part of Zacks’ Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), returned 20.9% and 6.3% in the past 12 weeks. The ECDP, with a low beta and stable earnings history, offers dividend stocks for income security. Zacks’ ECDP has consistently outperformed market benchmarks, showcasing its reliability.

Goldman Sachs from Zacks’ Top 10 Stocks for 2025 surged 38% YTD, outperforming the S&P 500. The Top 10 portfolio returned +17.72% in 2025, demonstrating its strong performance. Since 2012, the Top 10 portfolio has delivered a cumulative return of +2,369.7%, highlighting its consistency in beating market indices.

Read more at Nasdaq: Take the Zacks Approach to Beat the Markets: Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Leidos & Vishay Precision in Focus