About Zacks Performance
We are very proud of the returns generated by the Zacks Rank, our model portfolios, and our Research Wizard strategies. We also are committed as a firm to the concept of transparency and to providing you with accurate and transparent explanation of our performance metrics. You will find this information below. Just click on "details" to see the specifics in the Model Portfolios, Zacks Method for Trading & Research Wizard strategies and Trading Services. Some of the performance numbers we show are based on backtests while others are based on the actual trades delivered to clients via our web sites. To effectively use our services you should understand the difference between returns of a backtest.
Questions or comments can be forwarded to support@zacks.com. Or call us 800.767.3771 x9339. (Outside the U.S., call 312.265.9339).
Return data displayed on this page has been updated as of March 4, 2024 unless specifically noted otherwise.
| Model Portfolios | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | Annualized* | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zacks #1 Rank* | +2.83% | +20.63% | -7.62% | +41.10% | +24.15% | Stocks, Disclosure |
| Focus List | +6.63% | +31.44% | -15.20% | +20.95% | +13.37% | Stocks, Disclosure |
| S&P 500 | +8.46% | +24.83% | -17.96% | +28.68% | +11.08% |
Zacks Rank Disclosure
Annualized returns are for January 1, 1988 through March 4, 2024. Comparable annualized returns for the S&P 500 are +11.08%
How was the Return of the Zacks Rank #1 Portfolio Calculated?
The performance reported in the table above is the equal weighted performance of a hypothetical portfolio consisting of stocks with a Zacks Rank of #1 that was rebalanced monthly or weekly from January 1988 through March 4, 2024.
Monthly and Weekly Portfolio Returns
The portfolio was rebalanced monthly from January 1988 through December 2013 and weekly from 12/31/13 through Monday's open on March 4, 2024.
Monthly Rebalancing
For each stock with a Zacks Rank #1 at the beginning of the month, the total return during the month was calculated as the % change in the price of the stock from the closing price of the prior month to the closing price of the current month plus any dividends received during the month. The monthly individual stock returns were then averaged to determine the portfolio return for the month. Weekly Rebalancing
For each stock with a Zacks Rank #1 at the beginning of the week, the total return during the week was calculated as the % change in the price of the stock from the opening price for the week to the opening price of the next week plus any dividends received during the week. The weekly individual stock returns were then averaged to determine the portfolio return for the week.
If no month-end price or week end open price was available for a stock, it was not included in the portfolio return for the month or the week.
Calculation of Annual Returns
The monthly and weekly returns were compounded to arrive at the annual returns.
Calculation of Annualized Returns
The annualized return is the annual return that, had it been achieved in each year or portion of a year, would have compounded to create the total return over the full time period.
Returns are not based on a backtest
These returns are not based on a backtest. They are based on the list of Zacks Rank #1 Stocks that was available to clients of Zacks as of the beginning of the month, when returns were calculated monthly, or as of the beginning of the week when returns were calculated weekly.
These returns are not achievable with actual portfolios
These returns are higher than the returns an investor could achieve investing real money in a portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 stocks because the returns of the hypothetical Zacks Rank #1 portfolio exclude a number of costs, including commissions incurred for trading, the average bid ask spread, the price impact of the trading and, prior to 2013, in those months when the end of the month fell on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the overnight return from the month end close to the open on the next trading day.
Universe of Companies
The universe of companies for which Zacks Rank #1 performance is reported has changed over time. The portfolios of Zacks #1 Ranked stocks created monthly from 1988 through 1995 exclude ADRs, exclude Canadian companies trading only on Canadian Exchanges, exclude companies trading on the OTC Bulletin Board and exclude companies followed by only one analyst. From 1996 through 2007 the portfolios exclude ADRs, exclude Canadian companies trading only on Canadian exchanges and exclude companies trading on the OTC Bulletin Board, but include companies followed by only one analyst. From 2008 and going forward the portfolios are comprised of all stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank which is more reflective of the list of stocks that customers will find on the Zacks websites.
S&P Comparable Returns
The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. The annual S&P 500 returns in this table for the years 2016, 17, 18 differ by +2.8%, -.4% and +.6% from the S&P 500 returns shown on other web sites. The S&P 500 returns shown for these periods are total returns of the IVV S&P 500 Index Fund and the returns are shown for 364 day periods that begin at the first Monday open of each year for years 2016, 17 and 18. Similarly the S&P 500 returns for the months are IVV returns for the 28 or 35 day periods that begin at the open on the first Monday of each month.
Independent Confirmation
The Zacks Rank #1 performance schedule for the period from April 2, 2018 through March 31, 2022 was examined by PKF Mueller, an independent accounting firm, who concluded that the Zacks Rank #1 performance schedule is presented in accordance with the criteria established by Zacks, in all material respects. The Zacks #1 Rank Performance from January 1, 1988 through Monday's open on April 2, 2018 was examined and attested by Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, an independent accounting firm.
Focus List Disclosure
Annualized returns are for February 1, 1996 through YTD February 29, 2024. Comparable annualized returns for the S&P 500 over this time period are +9.51% .
The performance of the Focus List for annual and year-to-date periods are the linked monthly total returns (price changes + dividends) of equal weighted hypothetical portfolios, rebalanced at the time a trade is made and assuming zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios. The hypothetical portfolios and changes to these portfolios are available to Zacks Premium subscribers on the Zacks web site.
Zacks Method for Trading & Research Wizard
Zacks Research Wizard contains numerous predefined stock screens and strategies designed to help the individual investor beat the market on a consistent basis. An investor could also create their own strategy and test its performance over time. The results of a few of the predefined strategies are highlighted below.
Zacks Method for Trading & Research Wizard
| Method | 2024* Return |
2023 Return |
2022 Return |
2021 Return |
2020 Return |
2019 Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value Method1 | -4.0% | +11.0% | +38.9% | +95.3% | +72.1% | +16.4% |
| Momentum Method1 | +10.0% | +27.5% | -7.4% | -0.8% | +9.1% | +51.8% |
| Filtered Zacks Rank5 | -1.2% | +25.1% | +15.6% | +48.2% | +2.4% | |
| Upgrades and Revisions3 | +7.1% | +30.0% | -4.0% | +67.6% | +44.1% | +43.3% |
| Big Money Zacks | +4.4% | +6.7% | +5.6% | +45.9% | +8.6% | +9.0% |
| S&P 500 | +5.2% | +26.2% | -18.2% | +28.8% | +18.5% | +32.6% |
Stock trading/investing involves risk and you can lose some or all of your investment. Hypothetical or backtested results may not always be duplicated in the real world. Backtesting can at times produce an unintended look-ahead bias. Results can also at times be over or understated due to the exclusion of inactive companies. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading, not the least of which is the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading strategy in spite of trading losses. These are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. The backtested results prepared for the Zacks Method were done using the DBCMHIST database and consisted of only active companies. The Research Wizard program has been aligned, to the extent possible, to eliminate look-ahead bias. Zacks however cannot make any guarantees in regard to this or any other possible limitations.
Potential Limitations in Backtesting
There are four types of biases that can distort your backtest results.
1. Look Ahead bias - this occurs when the stocks selected on a rank date use financial information that was not available on that rank date. For example if a company reports its financials for the quarter ending Mar 2006 on Apr 20, 2006, the rank that is created at the end of the March 2006 quarter should not use the financials for that quarter, since they were not available at the end of the quarter. We have eliminated to the best of our ability all of the look ahead bias from backtesting using the DBCMHIST database.
2. Restatement bias - this occurs when a company restates its historical financials. For example if a company reports its 3/06 results and restates its Dec 2005 results; a rank done as of end of Dec 2005 should use the originally reported financials for Dec 2005, not the restated financials for Dec 2005 which were not available until March 2003. We have eliminated to the best of our ability all of the restatement bias from backtesting using the DBCMHIST database.
3. Survivor bias - this occurs when stocks that have been delisted or acquired are not included in the backtest results. Depending on your strategy, the impact of survivor bias on your backtest may be significant. As of May, 2010, we have eliminated to the best of our ability the survivorship bias from from Dec 17, 1999 to the present in the DBCMHIST database.
4. Split bias - this can occur if your screen uses price as a qualifier, e.g., Price > $5.00. The DBCMHIST database is split adjusted. So using the example above, if the company had a stock split between the screened date and the date of your backtest, the company may not be included in your backtest results if the split adjustment caused the historical price at the date of the backtest to be below that $5.00 threshold. Typically, stock splits occur at higher prices. If a stock's price is an important part of your screen definition (and backtesting), we suggest that you test your screen and vary the price limit to see the impact on your results.