5 Broker-Favorite Stocks to Keep an Eye on Amid Current Volatility

U.S. equity markets have been gripped by extreme volatility lately, thanks to the DeepSeek-induced turbulence and escalating trade tensions. Concerns over the Federal Reserve’s rate cut plans have also contributed significantly to the volatility.However, this volatile scenario does not mean that investors should shy away from investing in stocks. Broker-favored stocks like General Motors GM, Dana DAN, Valero Energy VLO, National Vision Holdings EYE and Avis Budget Group CAR are worth keeping on one’s radar for healthy returns despite this uncertainty.We have designed a screen to shortlist stocks based on improving broker recommendations and upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past four weeks. Also, since the price/sales ratio is a strong complementary valuation metric in the presence of broker information, it has been included. The price/sales ratio takes care of the company’s top line, making the strategy a well-rounded one.Screening Criteria# (Up- Down Rating)/ Total (4 weeks) =Top #75 (This gives the list of the top 75 companies that have witnessed net upgrades over the last 4 weeks).% change in Q (1) est. (4 weeks) = Top #10 (This gives the top 10 stocks that have witnessed earnings estimate revisions over the past 4 weeks for the upcoming quarter).Price-to-Sales = Bot%10 (The lower the ratio, the better. Companies meeting this criterion are in the bottom 10% of our universe of over 7,700 stocks with respect to this ratio).Price greater than 5 (as a stock trading below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most of the investors).Average Daily Volume greater than 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days (Volume has to be significant to ensure that these are easily traded).Market value ($ mil) = Top #3000 (This gives us stocks that are the top 3000 in terms of market capitalization).Com/ADR/Canadian= Com (This takes out the ADR and Canadian stocks).Here are five of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen:Based in Detroit, MI, General Motors is one of the world’s largest automakers. The company’s massive electric vehicle (EV) push is commendable. General Motors is advancing well in its electrification journey. It aims to achieve improved sales and profitability in its EV business by reducing battery costs, introducing new models and expanding scale.Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has moved up 6.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for General Motors’ 2025 earnings indicates 6.7% growth from the 2024 actual. GM, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.8%, on average. GM shares have gained 29.6% in a year.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Dana is a provider of power conveyance and energy-management solutions for vehicles and machinery in North America, Europe, South America and the Asia Pacific. The company is headquartered in Maumee, OH.DAN currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAN’s 2025 earnings has been revised 15.4% upward over the past 60 days.Valero Energy operates an extensive refinery network across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, with a strategic infrastructure that supports diverse customer needs. Among all the independent refiners, Valero offers the most diversified refinery base.Valero surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four reported quarters (missing the mark in the remaining quarter). The average beat is 101.2%. VLO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).National Vision is a leading optical retailer. It is deploying remote medicine technology in tandem with electronic health record technology to drive expanded capacity, improve in-store efficiencies and improve patient experience.Following a comprehensive store fleet review, National Vision is taking actions to improve the overall health of the core business and deploy capital to growth initiatives. National Vision surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an earnings surprise of 93.7%, on average. EYE currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. Avis Budget is based in Parsippany, N.J. The car rental industry, particularly in North America, has been experiencing strong demand driven by changes in consumer behavior, including an emphasis on short-term vehicle access rather than ownership. Avis Budget’s strong market share positions it to capitalize on these trends. Avis Budget's strategic management of its fleet, including acquiring vehicles at favorable prices and quickly adjusting its fleet size based on demand, has contributed to better operational efficiency. Avis Budget currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAR’s 2025 earnings has remained stable at $3.69 per share over the past seven days.You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for a 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard stock picking and backtesting software. You can also create your own strategies and test them first before making investments.The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performanceOnly $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and SellsWe're not kidding.Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent.Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators,and more, that closed 228 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2023 alone.See Stocks Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR): Free Stock Analysis Report Valero Energy Corporation (VLO): Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM): Free Stock Analysis Report Dana Incorporated (DAN): Free Stock Analysis Report National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks