Here’s What Makes Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) a Top Choice for Value Investors

Unlocking Stock Market Potential with Zacks Premium

Whether you're just starting out or have years of investing experience, making the most of the stock market and investing with assurance are shared ambitions. Zacks Premium offers a variety of resources to help you achieve both.

This comprehensive research platform delivers daily updates on the Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, grants full access to the exclusive Zacks #1 Rank List, provides in-depth Equity Research reports, and features advanced stock screening tools. These benefits are designed to empower you to make smarter, more confident investment decisions.

Subscribers also gain access to the Zacks Style Scores, a unique feature of the service.

Understanding Zacks Style Scores

The Zacks Style Scores system evaluates stocks based on three widely-followed investment strategies, serving as a valuable complement to the Zacks Rank. By combining these tools, investors can better identify stocks with the greatest likelihood of outperforming the market in the short term.

Each stock receives a letter grade—A, B, C, D, or F—reflecting its value, growth, and momentum characteristics. An 'A' rating signals stronger potential than a 'B', and so forth, indicating that higher scores suggest a greater chance of outperformance.

The Style Scores are divided into four main categories:

Value Score

Value investors seek undervalued stocks before the broader market recognizes their potential. The Value Style Score uses metrics such as price-to-earnings, PEG, price-to-sales, and price-to-cash flow ratios to highlight stocks that are attractively priced and potentially overlooked.

Growth Score

Growth-oriented investors focus on a company's future prospects and financial strength. The Growth Style Score examines both projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to pinpoint companies likely to deliver sustained growth.

Momentum Score

Momentum investors look to capitalize on trends in stock prices or earnings forecasts. The Momentum Style Score considers factors like recent price changes and shifts in earnings estimates to identify stocks experiencing strong upward or downward momentum.

VGM Score

If you prefer a blended approach, the VGM Score combines value, growth, and momentum metrics into a single, comprehensive rating. This score helps investors zero in on stocks that excel across all three investment styles.

Integrating Style Scores with the Zacks Rank

The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that relies on changes in earnings estimates to help investors build successful portfolios. Since 1988, stocks rated #1 (Strong Buy) have delivered an average annual return of +23.86%, more than doubling the S&P 500's performance over the same period. However, with over 800 stocks often holding a #1 or #2 (Buy) ranking, narrowing down the best choices can be daunting.

This is where Style Scores become invaluable.

To optimize your investment results, focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of #1 or #2 and Style Scores of A or B. If considering stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, prioritize those with high Style Scores to maximize potential gains.

Always pay close attention to the direction of earnings estimate revisions, as the Style Scores are designed to work hand-in-hand with the Zacks Rank. For example, even if a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating has high Style Scores, a negative earnings outlook increases the risk of price declines.

In summary, holding more stocks with top Zacks Ranks and high Style Scores can significantly improve your portfolio's performance.

Featured Stock: Raymond James Financial (RJF)

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Raymond James Financial Inc. and its subsidiaries—including Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Raymond James Ltd., Eagle Asset Management, and Raymond James Bank—offer a wide range of financial services throughout the United States and Canada.

Currently, RJF holds a #3 (Hold) Zacks Rank and boasts a VGM Score of B.

The company also earns a B for its Value Style Score, supported by appealing valuation measures such as a forward P/E ratio of 12.81, making it attractive to value-focused investors.

In the past two months, four analysts have raised their earnings forecasts for fiscal 2026, pushing the Zacks Consensus Estimate up by $0.04 to $11.95 per share. RJF has also delivered an average earnings surprise of +1.9%.

With its solid Zacks Rank and strong Value and VGM Scores, RJF is a stock worth considering for your watchlist.