A Guide to Low-Cost ETFs

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have grown rapidly into one of investors’ favorite ways to access the market. Their appeal comes from a combination of low costs, transparency, diversification, tax efficiency and innovative investment strategies. But when it comes to keeping more of your returns, one factor stands out — the expense ratio.

Of course, investors face other ETF-related costs, including trading commissions, bid/ask spreads, premiums or discounts to net asset value and tracking differences. Still, expense ratios are particularly important because they directly reduce an investor’s returns year after year. When two funds offer similar exposure and performance, the lower-cost option generally has an advantage.

Here’s a simple example. Suppose you invest $10,000 in two ETFs, one charging 0.10% and the other 0.50% annually. If both generate a 10% annual return, the lower-cost fund would grow to about $25,703 after 10 years compared with roughly $24,782 for the higher-cost fund.

The gap becomes even more striking over longer periods. After 30 years, the investment would grow to about $169,797 in the 0.10% ETF versus $152,203 in the 0.50% ETF. In other words, even a seemingly small difference in fees can compound into a meaningful amount over time.

Why & How Investors Should Pay Attention

The key point is that investors don't pay an expense ratio just once. The fee is charged every year, meaning its effect can compound over time. The longer the investment horizon, the greater the potential impact of even a modest fee difference.

That doesn't mean investors should automatically choose the ETF with the lowest expense ratio. A slightly more expensive ETF may offer a more effective strategy, better diversification, stronger liquidity or access to a specialized market that is difficult to replicate. The right approach is to compare costs alongside performance, holdings, liquidity, tracking quality and the fund's investment objective.

Still, when two ETFs provide similar exposure and have comparable performance, a lower expense ratio can give investors an important long-term advantage.

Passive ETFs Keep Costs Low

Passive ETFs generally come with lower expense ratios because they simply track an index rather than relying on active portfolio management. With less research, trading and management involved, these funds can keep operating costs low, allowing investors to retain more of their returns over the long term. This cost advantage is one of the key reasons passive ETFs have become so popular.

ETF Picks

Below we highlight five lowest-cost ETFs from five investing zones and charge pretty little in the current market environment.

S&P 500 – State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF SPYM – Expense Ratio: 0.02%

The underlying S&P 500 Index is designed to measure the performance of the large-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The fund charges 2 bps in fees and yields 1.01% annually. The fund’s top three holdings are NVIDIA (8.39%), Apple (7.07%) and Microsoft (5.58%).

Total Stock Market – Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF VTI – Expense Ratio: 0.03%

The underlying CRSP US Total Market Index represents nearly 100% of the U.S. investable equity market, covering nearly 4,000 constituents across mega, large, small and micro capitalizations. The fund charges 3 bps in fees and yields 1.04% annually. The fund’s top three holdings are NVIDIA (6.87%), Apple (6.30%) and Microsoft (5.10%).

Developed Markets – Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares VEA – Expense Ratio: 0.03%

The underlying FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index representing the performance of large, mid and small-cap companies in developed markets, excluding the United States. The fund charges 3 bps in fees and yields 2.40% annually. The fund’s top three holdings are Samsung (2.60%), SK Hynix (2.0%) and ASML Holding (1.95%).

Ex-United States – State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF SPDW – Expense Ratio: 0.03%

The underlying S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI Index is a market-capitalization weighted index that defines and measures the investable universe of publicly traded companies domiciled in developed countries outside the United States. The fund charges 3 bps in fees and yields 3.0% annually. Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada take the top three spots in the fund.            

Diversified U.S. Bonds – Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF SCHZ – Expense Ratio: 0.03%

The underlying Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index measures the performance of the U.S. investment-grade, taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate bonds, mortgage pass-through securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities that are publicly available for sale in the United States. The fund charges 3 bps in fees and yields 4.37% annually.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Bull of the Day: GigaCloud Technology Group Inc. (GCT)

GigaCloud Technology Group Inc. (GCT) is a rapidly growing technology and logistics company addressing a surprisingly difficult corner of the global e-commerce market: the storage, distribution and delivery of large, bulky products.

While traditional e-commerce platforms have made shipping small consumer goods remarkably efficient, moving furniture, appliances and other oversized merchandise remains expensive and logistically complicated. GigaCloud has developed an integrated marketplace and fulfillment network specifically designed to solve these challenges.

The company's business-to-business platform connects manufacturers and suppliers directly with retailers, handling everything from product sourcing and payments to warehousing and last-mile delivery. Its Supplier Fulfilled Retailing model also allows retailers to sell merchandise without holding the inventory themselves, reducing costs and inventory risk.

That specialization provides GigaCloud with a compelling competitive advantage in a large and fragmented market. The company has built a global network of 38 fulfillment centers spanning more than 12 million square feet, supported by thousands of buyers and suppliers.

More importantly, the business is delivering impressive financial results. Second-quarter revenue increased nearly 28% year over year to a record $411.6 million, while adjusted earnings per share surged nearly 45%. Gross margins also expanded, suggesting that the company's growing scale is translating into improving economics.

Those results have helped drive a sharp acceleration in earnings estimates, earning GCT a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The stock has also demonstrated exceptional price momentum, recently breaking out to new all-time highs.

Despite its strong fundamentals and powerful technical setup, GigaCloud continues to trade at a relatively modest earnings multiple, offering an attractive combination of growth and valuation.

Interestingly, the company remains lightly covered on Wall Street, with just one analyst contributing to the current Zacks Consensus Estimate. That limited coverage creates additional uncertainty, but it also suggests GigaCloud could still be flying under the radar of many investors.

With accelerating earnings expectations, strong price momentum and a differentiated business model, GCT presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking growth outside the market's most crowded technology trades.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GigaCloud Shares Get Upgraded

GigaCloud Technology currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reflecting a sharp improvement in its earnings outlook. Although the company is covered by just one analyst, the magnitude of recent upward revisions is particularly encouraging.

Over the last 60 days, current year earnings estimates have increased 17.7%, while next year estimates have climbed even faster, rising 20.5%. Estimates for the next two quarters have also been raised by 16.4% and 20%, respectively.

These upgrades follow a string of impressive earnings reports. GigaCloud has exceeded earnings expectations in each of the last four quarters, delivering positive surprises of 52.3%, 60%, 19.5% and 36.5%, respectively. Such consistently strong results suggest that the company's earnings power has been improving faster than analysts anticipated.

Looking ahead, the growth outlook remains compelling. Revenues are projected to increase 23.4% this year to $1.59 billion, followed by another 9.9% increase to $1.75 billion next year. Meanwhile, earnings per share are expected to surge 37.1% this year to $4.92, before climbing another 18.3% to $5.82 in 2027.

Notably, earnings are expected to grow considerably faster than revenues, pointing to improving profitability and potential operating leverage as the business scales.

Despite these impressive growth forecasts and upward revisions, GigaCloud shares trade at just 11.5x forward earnings, an attractive valuation for a company delivering double-digit revenue growth and even faster earnings expansion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GCT Stock Breaks Out to New Highs

Just this week, GigaCloud shares broke out from one of the cleanest bullish consolidation patterns I can find in the market today, surging to fresh highs.

The stock has spent several months building a well-defined base, with shares repeatedly testing resistance near $54 before finally breaking through. That extended consolidation, followed by a decisive move higher, is a particularly encouraging technical development.

As long as GCT holds above its breakout level near $54, the technical setup suggests shares could continue trending higher as more investors recognize the company's compelling combination of earnings growth, upward revisions and attractive valuation.

Image Source: TradingView

Should Investors Buy Shares in GCT?

GigaCloud offers investors a compelling combination of strong earnings growth, upward estimate revisions, attractive valuation and bullish price momentum. Its differentiated business model also provides exposure to a large market with significant opportunities for further expansion.

While limited analyst coverage adds uncertainty to the forecasts, the company's consistent earnings surprises and improving profitability are encouraging. With shares breaking out to new highs and trading at just 11.5x forward earnings, GCT looks well-positioned for further upside and is a stock growth investors should consider.

Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"

Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.

This innovative software-as-a-service firm upped its user base +22% year over year. That rate is increasing and margins are expanding as AI efficiencies take effect. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Bear of the Day: Shoe Station Group Inc. (SHOE)

Shoe Station Group Inc. (SHOE), formerly known as Shoe Carnival, is one of the largest family footwear retailers in the United States, operating more than 420 stores across its Shoe Carnival and Shoe Station banners.

The company sells a broad assortment of athletic, casual and dress shoes, catering primarily to value-conscious consumers. However, the business has struggled with declining sales, weakening profitability and intense competition across the footwear retail industry.

What makes the situation particularly concerning is the persistence of these challenges. Shoe Station has struggled to generate sustainable organic growth for several years, with declining sales at its legacy Shoe Carnival stores and increasing pressure on profit margins. Even its Shoe Station banner, which management has positioned as the company's primary growth opportunity, has recently experienced falling comparable-store sales.

The latest quarterly results underscore these difficulties. Revenue declined 7.2% year over year, while comparable store sales fell 7.1%. Both retail banners reported declining sales, and gross margins contracted sharply as increased promotional activity and inventory liquidation weighed on profitability.

These disappointing operating trends have been compounded by a weakening earnings outlook, putting additional pressure on investor sentiment. Although shares have already suffered a steep selloff, a low stock price does not necessarily translate into an attractive valuation when earnings are deteriorating.

The technical picture offers little encouragement either. SHOE shares have lost roughly two-thirds of their value over the last two years, dramatically underperforming the broader market and reflecting persistent selling pressure.

With little evidence of a sustained business turnaround, negative earnings momentum and a deeply bearish stock chart, Shoe Station appears to face additional downside risk despite its already substantial decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SHOE Shares Get Downgraded

The deterioration in Shoe Station's business is becoming increasingly apparent in Wall Street's earnings forecasts. Following another disappointing quarter and a reduced outlook from management, analysts have aggressively cut their expectations for the coming quarters and years.

Over the last 60 days, the current year earnings estimates have plunged 43.3%, from $1.50 to just $0.85 per share. Next year estimates have also been reduced by 18.8%, while forecasts for the next two quarters have collapsed by 51% and 65.9%, respectively.

These are substantial downward revisions, particularly for an established retailer, and highlight just how quickly the company's profitability is deteriorating. The negative revisions have pushed SHOE to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Of course, with shares already down roughly 66% over the last two years, investors might assume much of the bad news is priced in. However, that may not be the case.

SHOE still trades at 15.4x forward earnings, hardly a bargain for a retailer struggling with declining sales and shrinking profit margins. Moreover, with earnings estimates falling so rapidly, even that valuation could prove misleading if the company's financial performance continues to disappoint.

Until there is evidence that sales are stabilizing and earnings expectations have stopped falling, it is difficult to make a compelling case for a turnaround in SHOE shares.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Should Investors Avoid SHOE Stock?

Shoe Station faces a difficult road ahead. Years of sluggish sales, mounting competitive pressures and deteriorating profitability suggest the company's challenges may be more structural than cyclical.

While a turnaround is certainly possible, there is little in the current operating trends or earnings outlook to suggest one is imminent. Moreover, the stock's persistent downward momentum and relatively uninspiring valuation leave investors with little margin for error.

Until the company demonstrates meaningful improvement in its fundamentals, investors may be better served looking elsewhere in the market.

Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"

Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.

This innovative software-as-a-service firm upped its user base +22% year over year. That rate is increasing and margins are expanding as AI efficiencies take effect. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Estimates Keep Rising as Q3 Earnings Season Takes Center Stage

The Q3 earnings season takes center stage this week when JPMorgan JPM, Citigroup C, and others report September-quarter results before the market’s open on Tuesday, October 13^th. This week’s reporting docket, comprising 29 S&P 500 members, also includes companies outside the Finance sector, with bellwethers like Johnson & Johnson, Taiwan Semiconductor Company, and UnitedHealth also reporting quarterly results.

The expectation is that S&P 500 earnings will increase by +24.3% from the same period last year, the 8^th straight quarter of double-digit earnings growth for the index.

The Tech sector remains a major growth contributor, but momentum is broad-based, with 15 of the 16 Zacks sectors on track for positive earnings growth in Q3. Importantly, the revisions trend remains positive and broad-based, highlighting a steadily improving outlook.

The quarterly chart below details actual results alongside Q3 2026 growth expectations and forward projections.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As noted earlier, the revisions trend has been positive, sustaining the favorable trend in place for almost a year. Estimates for Q3 increased after the quarter got underway, and we are seeing a similar trend at play for 2026 Q4 estimates, as the chart below shows.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

This positive revision behavior is not new; it extends a tailwind that has been building for nearly a year. The positive revisions were at first concentrated in Technology and, more recently, Energy following Middle East supply disruptions. However, for 2026 Q4 and what we saw in Q3, constructive estimate revisions have broadened significantly, rising across 7 of the 16 Zacks sectors—including Aerospace, Construction, Industrials, Finance, and Transportation alongside Tech and Energy.

On the negative side, Q4 estimates remain under pressure for these 8 sectors – Conglomerates, Autos, Basic Materials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Medical, Business Services, and Retail.

It is important to note that estimates for full-year 2027 have also been similarly trending higher, which we show a little later in this note.

Sector Focus: Broad-Based Strength

Q3 earnings are expected to be above the year-earlier level for 15 of the 16 Zacks sectors, with 6 sectors expected to enjoy double-digit growth. The multi-industry Conglomerates sector is the only one expected to have lower earnings in Q3 relative to the same period last year (earnings decline of –35.1%).

The 6 sectors expected to enjoy double-digit earnings growth in Q3 are Aerospace (up +159.5%), Energy (+117.1%), Tech (+43.3%), Basic Materials (+29.7%), Transportation (+10.9%) and Industrial Products (+13.3%).

Q3 earnings growth for the S&P 500 index drops to +20.1% from +24.3% once the Energy sector’s contribution is excluded from the index. Excluding the Tech sector, Q3 earnings growth for the rest of the index drops to +14.2%.

For the Finance sector, which dominates the reporting docket this week, Q3 earnings are expected to be up +3.3% from the same period last year on +6.3% higher revenues, as the chart below shows.

The chart below shows Q3 earnings and revenue growth expectations for the Finance sector relative to the preceding two periods and what is expected over the following four quarters.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Banks and Brokerages industry, which includes JPMorgan, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and others, is expected to post +2.5% earnings growth in Q3 on +9.7% higher revenues, as the chart below shows.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The sharp rise in long-term Treasury yields during Q3 has been an overhang on bank and broker stocks lately. Rising yields don’t just cause paper losses on balance sheet holdings of available-for-sale bonds, as they also pressure net interest margins through surging deposit betas and have negative effects on credit demand and quality. The unfavorable interest rate backdrop has clouded the outlook for deal flow, with a number of high-profile IPOs getting delayed as a result.

Q3 Earnings Season Scorecard

The Q3 earnings season is not officially getting underway with this week’s results from JPMorgan, Citigroup, and others. Officially, the Q3 reporting cycle began with recent results from Pepsi PEP, Micron MU, Nike NKE, and others.

The Nike, Micron, and other reports were for these companies’ fiscal quarters ending in August, which count as part of the September-quarter tally. Including the Nike and Micron reports, we now have such Q3 results from 19 S&P 500 members. With another 29 index members reporting results this week, including the aforementioned banks, we will have seen results from 48 S&P 500 members by the end of this week.

Total Q3 earnings for the 19 S&P 500 members that have reported results already are up +150.9% from the same period last year on +27% higher revenues, with 78.9% beating EPS estimates and 73.7% beating revenue estimates.

The comparison charts below show the earnings and revenue growth rates for these companies compared to other recent periods.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The very strong earnings and revenue growth pace for this group of 19 S&P 500 members is mostly due to Micron, whose Q3 earnings increased +1075.7% from the year-earlier level. Excluding the Micron contribution, Q3 earnings for the remaining 18 index members that have reported would be up +9.4%.

The chart below shows the Q3 earnings growth pace for the companies that have reported, with and without Micron, across recent periods.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The comparison charts below show the Q3 EPS and revenue beats percentages for these companies compared to other recent periods.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Earnings Big Picture

The chart below shows the aggregate growth picture for the S&P 500 index on a calendar year basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As we noted earlier, estimates for full-year 2027areexperiencing the same positive revisions trend that we noted earlier in the context of 2026 Q4. The chart below shows how aggregate 2027 earnings estimates have evolved since the start of July.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For a detailed view of the evolving earnings picture, please check out our weekly Earnings Trends report here >>>> Banks Under Pressure from Spiking Yields Ahead of Q3 Results 

Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

How Inflation Could Change Your Retirement Plans... and What You Can Do About It

Inflation is back in the headlines.

Consumer prices rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with gas prices doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Next week, the Social Security Administration will announce how much benefits will rise in 2027, and early estimates point to the biggest bump in three years.

Most of us feel inflation at the grocery store or the gas pump. But the place it can do the most damage is somewhere you probably aren't looking every day... your retirement plan.

Retirement planning is built on assumptions. What you'll spend. What your investments will earn. What Social Security will pay. How long the money has to last. When prices rise faster than expected, every one of those assumptions starts to wobble.

The good news? You don't need to predict inflation to protect yourself from it. You just need a plan that expects it.

The Number You're Saving Toward Is a Moving Target

Inflation's core trick is simple: Over time, the same dollar buys less.

Say your household spends $100,000 a year to live the way you live now. If inflation averages 3%, that exact same lifestyle — same house, same groceries, same everything — would cost about:

- $116,000 in five years 
- $134,000 in 10 years 
- $181,000 in 20 years

Nobody got more extravagant. Prices just kept doing what prices do.

Here's another way to look at it: At 3% inflation, a dollar loses about half its purchasing power in 24 years.

So if you're 45 and picturing a "comfortable" $100,000-a-year retirement, that picture is in today's dollars. Twenty years from now, $100,000 will buy something closer to what $55,000 buys today.

And inflation doesn't clock out when you do. A 65-year-old retiree may still be paying rising prices at 75, 85 and 95. Your plan has to account for inflation before and after you stop working.

Inflation Also Speeds Up Your Withdrawals

Once you retire, inflation creates a second problem: You have to pull more money out of your portfolio every year just to stand still.

Say you retire with $2 million and withdraw $80,000 in your first year, which lines up with the well-known "4% rule" of thumb. If your costs rise 3% a year, keeping the same purchasing power means withdrawing about $104,400 in Year 10 and $140,300 in Year 20.

Your remaining investments should keep growing in the meantime, which helps. But rising withdrawals plus market volatility can squeeze a portfolio hard, especially if inflation runs hotter than planned or the market drops early in retirement, when your balance is largest and you can least afford to sell low.

That's why retirement planning can't just be about hitting a magic account balance. How you spend that money after you get there matters just as much.

Won't Social Security Cover It?

Partly.

Social Security benefits get an annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. For 2026, benefits rose 2.8%. That's a genuinely valuable feature; very few other income sources come with built-in inflation protection.

But a COLA isn't a guarantee that your purchasing power stays intact. The adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which tracks the spending of working households, not retirees. Retirees tend to spend a larger share of their budgets on health care and housing, costs that often rise faster than prices overall.

Medicare is a good example. The standard Part B premium, which is typically deducted straight from Social Security checks, jumped nearly 10% to $202.90 a month in 2026, eating into a 2.8% COLA before retirees saw a dime of it.

And for most households, Social Security was never meant to be the whole plan. It's the foundation, not the house.

5 Ways to Inflation-Proof Your Retirement Plan

You can't control inflation. You can control how exposed your plan is to it.

1. Rerun Your Numbers — With Inflation Turned On

If you haven't updated your retirement projections in a few years, now is the time.

Start with what you actually spend today, then use a retirement calculator that adjusts for inflation rather than assuming today's dollars will stretch just as far in 2046.

Then stress-test it. Here's what that $100,000 lifestyle costs in 20 years at different inflation rates:

- At 2%, about $149,000
- At 3%, about $181,000
- At 4%, about $219,000

That's a $70,000-a-year spread from a two-point difference. You don't need to guess the right number. You need to know how much a wrong guess would hurt.

2. Turn Up Your Contributions, Even a Little

The most reliable way to cover higher future costs is to save more while you're still earning.

It doesn't have to be dramatic. An extra $200 a month could grow to about $92,400 over 20 years, assuming a hypothetical 6% annual return compounded monthly.

Better yet, give part of every raise to Future You. If your paycheck goes up 4% and you send even a quarter of that increase to your 401(k), you'll barely notice the difference today, and your retirement will notice it a lot.

3. Don't Get Too Safe Too Soon

As retirement approaches, it's natural to want to dial back risk. That instinct is sensible, up to a point.

But moving too much money into cash or other low-yielding holdings creates a different risk: Your savings may not grow fast enough to keep up with prices. Cash that earns less than inflation isn't safe. It's losing value slowly instead of quickly.

A diversified portfolio with an appropriate stake in stocks can keep providing growth well into retirement. And if you want direct inflation protection, look at Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), whose principal adjusts with the Consumer Price Index.

The right mix depends on your age, finances, risk tolerance and timeline. The goal isn't to swing for the fences. It's to balance stability today with growth you'll need in Years 15, 20, and 25.

4. Know Which Expenses Can Bend

Not every retirement expense is equally essential.

Housing, utilities, groceries, insurance and health care are hard to cut. Travel, dining out, entertainment and big discretionary purchases usually aren't.

Say you plan to spend $120,000 a year in retirement, and $25,000 of that is discretionary. That's roughly 20% of your budget you could dial back in a year when inflation spikes or the market slumps, without touching the essentials or selling investments at a bad time.

That's not giving up the retirement you planned. It's giving yourself a shock absorber.

5. Plan Extra Cushion for the Costs That Outrun Inflation

A single inflation assumption is a good starting point, but some retirement costs don't play by the average.

Health care is the big one. Fidelity estimates that a 65-year-old retiring in 2026 will spend an average of $185,500 on health care and medical expenses in retirement, up 7.5% from last year's estimate, and that's before long-term care.

Property taxes, homeowners insurance and home maintenance can also rise faster than overall prices. And some expenses, like medical care or help with daily activities, tend to climb as you age.

Review your insurance coverage, build health care costs into your projections explicitly, and keep a cash cushion so one big bill doesn't force you to rework your whole plan.

Your Plan Isn't a Monument. It's a Map.

Inflation is a real threat to retirement plans. It is not a reason to assume your goals are out of reach.

The bigger danger is building a plan on assumptions that stopped being true years ago, and never checking it again.

Prices change. Markets change. Your income, health and priorities change. Your retirement plan should change with them. Revisit your savings rate, investment mix, expected expenses and withdrawal strategy at least once a year, and you'll spot shortfalls while there's still time to fix them.

You don't need to know what a gallon of milk will cost in 2050.

You just need a plan flexible enough to handle whatever it turns out to be.

Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Sigma Lithium Corporation (SGML) Stock Dips While Market Gains: Key Facts

In the latest trading session, Sigma Lithium Corporation (SGML) closed at $9.35, marking a -2.2% move from the previous day. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.6%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.83%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.64%.

The stock of company has fallen by 5.06% in the past month, leading the Basic Materials sector's loss of 9.48% and undershooting the S&P 500's gain of 1.34%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Sigma Lithium Corporation in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of -$0.01, indicating a 90% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $36.39 million, indicating a 27.45% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $0.27 per share and a revenue of $218.36 million, indicating changes of +160% and +98.49%, respectively, from the former year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Sigma Lithium Corporation. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 40% lower. Sigma Lithium Corporation is currently a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Sigma Lithium Corporation has a Forward P/E ratio of 35.41 right now. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 17.41, which means Sigma Lithium Corporation is trading at a premium to the group.

The Mining - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 208, putting it in the bottom 16% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Zoetis (ZTS) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know

In the latest close session, Zoetis (ZTS) was up +2.37% at $74.81. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.6% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.83%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.64%.

Shares of the animal health company witnessed a gain of 0.3% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Medical sector with its loss of 1.97%, and underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.34%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Zoetis in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on November 5, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.52, showcasing a 10.59% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $2.31 billion, indicating a 3.66% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $6.2 per share and a revenue of $9.24 billion, demonstrating changes of -3.28% and -2.45%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Zoetis. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been no change in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Right now, Zoetis possesses a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

Digging into valuation, Zoetis currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 11.78. This expresses a discount compared to the average Forward P/E of 16.14 of its industry.

We can also see that ZTS currently has a PEG ratio of 1.7. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Medical - Drugs industry was having an average PEG ratio of 1.69.

The Medical - Drugs industry is part of the Medical sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 190, placing it within the bottom 23% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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