In 1978, after receiving his doctorate from MIT, Len Zacks was the first to document the value of earnings estimate revisions within the stock selection process.
The Origins of Zacks Investment Research
As time went on, his seminal article proved to be both accurate and influential. Zacks estimate revisions studies have become the most powerful indicator in forecasting material changes in earnings, and earnings have continued to be the most important fundamental factor affecting stock prices. Zacks Investment Management became synonymous with earnings estimate revisions analysis, and began originating concepts and innovations such as:
Earnings per share (EPS) surprise, now widely used in the investment industry
The Zacks Performance Rank, a proprietary stock-ranking model and the core of the Zacks Investment Philosophy
Numerous proprietary quantitative models
To trace the history of Zacks is to draw a through-line from one of one of today’s largest independent equity research providers, through 40 years of pioneering studies, to Wall Street’s original think tank.
Zacks Investment Research is now one of the largest providers of independent research in the U.S., with a litany of Ph.D.s and other analysts involved in developing and refining models, assessing data and conducting research in order to form new insights into the investment process.
In 1992, Zacks Investment Management was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zacks Investment Research. As a boutique wealth management firm, we apply the time-tested insights of our parent company to create models like the Zacks Dividend Strategy.
Zacks Investment Management:
Since our inception, Zacks Investment Management has been dedicated to delivering results for our clients by seeking excess returns over standard benchmarks within a risk-controlled framework.
Ultimately, our active management approach and bottom-up fundamental stock selection process were built upon the very discoveries that changed the industry over 40 years ago, and have generated exceptional results ever since. Within the Zacks Dividend Strategy, we will continue to adhere to this discipline in all market cycles.
“The Zacks legacy was born on research and it has been proven through history. We’re an independent family business and to this day we’re proud to share the fruits of our expert insights for the benefit of our clients.”
Mitch Zacks
Principal and Senior Portfolio Manager