3 Stocks With Upgraded Broker Ratings to Bet on Amid Uncertainties

Amidst market volatility driven by trade war concerns, Zacks highlights Urban Outfitters (URBN), Inogen (INGN), and Southwest Gas Holdings (SWX) as stocks with recent broker rating upgrades. These companies have seen upward revisions in broker ratings of 9.1%, 25%, and 14.3% respectively over the past four weeks, coupled with strong Zacks Ranks and projected earnings growth for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Analysis

Amidst significant market volatility attributed to ongoing trade disputes and expectations of economic slowdown and rising inflation, with the Federal Reserve maintaining steady interest rates, the article highlights a strategy focusing on stocks with recent broker rating upgrades. This approach identifies Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN), Inogen, Inc. (INGN), and Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) as noteworthy investment opportunities. Urban Outfitters, a lifestyle specialty retailer, has seen a 9.1% upward revision in broker ratings over the past four weeks and carries a Zacks Rank #2, with fiscal 2026 earnings projected to increase 20% year-over-year. Inogen, a medical technology company specializing in respiratory health, has experienced a substantial 25% upward revision in broker ratings in the same period, holds a Zacks Rank #2, and its 2025 earnings are forecast to grow 24.3% year-over-year. Southwest Gas, a regulated natural gas utility, boasts a Zacks Rank #1 and has seen a 14.3% upward revision in broker ratings, with its 2025 earnings expected to rise 18.4% year-over-year. These selections are further supported by a screening methodology that includes criteria such as current price above $5, average 20-day volume greater than 100,000, and a VGM Score of A or B, suggesting a confluence of positive analyst sentiment, strong fundamentals, and favorable market technicals for these specific equities. The overall sentiment conveyed for these picks is strongly positive, reflecting an optimistic outlook based on the provided data signals.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors seeking opportunities in a volatile market characterized by trade uncertainties and inflation concerns should consider Urban Outfitters, Inogen, and Southwest Gas Holdings, given their significant positive broker rating revisions and strong projected earnings growth (URBN: +20% FY26, INGN: +24.3% 2025, SWX: +18.4% 2025).
• The presented screening strategy, which emphasizes broker upgrades (URBN: +9.1%, INGN: +25%, SWX: +14.3% in four weeks), high Zacks Ranks (SWX #1; URBN, INGN #2), and solid VGM scores, offers a robust framework for identifying companies with potentially strong near-term performance.
• While the article suggests these stocks are 'worth buying', investors should integrate this information with their own due diligence and risk management practices, particularly monitoring the persistence of the macroeconomic headwinds cited, such as trade tensions and inflationary pressures, as part of a diversified investment approach.