The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Archer-Daniels-Midland, Casey's General Stores, Nucor, Ross Stores and Imperial Oil
📈 Wall Street has seen a significant rally since early 2023, primarily driven by the global artificial intelligence (AI) technology boom.
💡 Zacks Investment Research highlights five non-AI stocks that have also surged year-to-date as favorable investment opportunities for 2026.
🏆 All five featured companies—Archer-Daniels-Midland, Casey's General Stores, Nucor, Ross Stores, and Imperial Oil—carry either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy).
🌾 Archer-Daniels-Midland is benefiting from a rebound in its Nutrition segment and gaining traction in Human Nutrition with improved margins.
⚙️ ADM is advancing its Optimize, Drive, and Grow pillars to enhance productivity, accelerate cost savings, and unlock margin opportunities through digital tools.
📊 ADM has an expected revenue growth rate of 6.5% and an earnings growth rate of 32.4% for the current year with improved consensus estimates.
🛒 Casey's General Stores shows strong growth momentum driven by resilient inside sales in prepared foods, beverages, and high-margin grocery categories.
⛽ CASY's fuel segment is outperforming industry trends, strengthening market share and profitability despite price fluctuations.
🤝 The Fikes/CEFCO acquisition for Casey's is boosting scale, operational efficiency, and long-term growth potential through integration synergies.
📈 Casey's General Stores has an expected revenue growth rate of 10.8% and an earnings growth rate of 12.4% for the current year ending April 2027.
🏗️ Nucor is committed to expanding production capabilities and growing its business through strategic acquisitions and growth projects.
🚗 Nucor is seeing strong momentum in non-residential construction and remains focused on achieving greater penetration in the automotive market.
📈 Nucor has an expected revenue growth rate of 14% and a significant earnings growth rate of 92.5% for the current year with improved estimates.
👕 Ross Stores is benefiting from its off-price retail model, delivering 21% sales growth and 17% comparable sales growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
🏬 Ross Stores is progressing on store-expansion plans targeting 2,900 Ross Dress for Less stores and 700 dd's DISCOUNTS stores long-term.
💰 Ross Stores expects comps growth of 6-7% and earnings of $7.50-$7.74 for fiscal 2026, representing a 13-17% year-over-year increase.
📈 Ross Stores has an expected revenue growth rate of 8.2% and an earnings growth rate of 15.6% for the current year ending January 2027.
- Archer-Daniels-Midland is benefiting from a rebound in its Nutrition segment, with Human Nutrition gaining traction and the Flavors portfolio seeing solid North American demand.
- ADM's Flavors portfolio is achieving improved margins driven by international customer wins, a favorable mix, and disciplined pricing strategies.
- ADM continues to advance its Optimize, Drive and Grow pillars to enhance productivity, accelerate cost savings, and unlock margin opportunities through digital tools.
- Archer-Daniels-Midland has an expected revenue growth rate of 6.5% and an earnings growth rate of 32.4% for the current year.
- The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM's current year earnings has improved by 5.3% over the last 30 days, indicating rising analyst confidence.
- Casey's General Stores shows strong growth momentum supported by resilient inside sales in prepared foods, beverages, and high-margin grocery categories.
- CASY's inside gross margin is anticipated to expand by 60 basis points year over year in fiscal 2026.
- The Fikes/CEFCO acquisition for Casey's General Stores is boosting scale, operational efficiency, and long-term growth potential through integration synergies.
- Casey's General Stores has an expected revenue growth rate of 10.8% and an earnings growth rate of 12.4% for the current year ending April 2027.
- Nucor is committed to expanding production capabilities and growing its business through strategic acquisitions to drive profitability.
- Nucor is seeing strong momentum in non-residential construction and remains focused on achieving greater penetration in the automotive market.
- Higher steel prices are expected to support Nucor's margins amid a recovery in demand in key markets and tighter supply conditions.
- Nucor has an expected revenue growth rate of 14% and an earnings growth rate of 92.5% for the current year.
- The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nucor's current year earnings has improved by 1.8% over the last seven days.
- Ross Stores is benefiting from solid demand for value-driven merchandise, delivering 21% sales growth and 17% comps growth in first-quarter fiscal 2026.
- Ross Stores is progressing well on store-expansion plans with long-term growth potential across both banners, targeting 2,900 Ross Dress for Less and 700 dd's DISCOUNTS stores.
- For fiscal 2026, Ross Stores expects comps growth of 6-7% with earnings of $7.50-$7.74, up 13-17% year over year.
- Ross Stores has an expected revenue growth rate of 8.2% and an earnings growth rate of 15.6% for the current year ending January 2027.
- The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores' current year earnings has improved by 3.9% over the last seven days.
- The article is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting only growth metrics and buy ratings without mentioning any negative aspects or risks.
- No specific downside catalysts, regulatory concerns, competitive threats, or declining metrics are mentioned in the provided text.
