Zacks Premium
Annual Subscription
Promotion
Our Rating
Best For
Zacks Premium is a powerful stock research service designed for investors who want deeper insights, expert-backed stock rankings, and earnings-driven strategies.
One of its standout features is full access to the Zacks Rank #1 list, which identifies top-rated stocks based on earnings estimate revisions.
Investors can also use Zacks Iindustry rank to target sectors with the highest growth potential and the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to find stocks likely to beat earnings expectations.
For those who prefer long-term investing, the focus list highlights 50 carefully selected stocks backed by detailed equity research reports, providing in-depth analysis of fundamentals and future potential.
Zacks premium screens allow investors to filter stocks based on price targets, style scores, and other key data points.
Despite its advantages, Zacks Premium has limitations. It lacks real-time data, advanced technical analysis, and personalized investment recommendations.
- Full Zacks Rank #1 access
- Equity research reports
- Zacks Industry Rank
- Premium stock screener
- Zacks VGM Score
- Focus List stock picks
- Daily market newsletters
- Portfolio tracking tools
- Zacks Style Scores
- Earnings ESP filter
- Mutual fund & ETF rankings
- Bull & Bear of the Day
- Strong stock rankings system
- Comprehensive equity research reports
- Effective earnings prediction tools
- Robust industry ranking feature
- Wide range of stock screeners
- No real-time stock data
- Limited technical analysis tools
- Lacks personalized investment advice
- Minimal ETF and mutual fund analysis
- Focuses only on U.S. stocks
Zacks Premium Pricing vs Other Plans
Zacks Premium is a low-tier plan of Zacks, offering more in-depth stock research, screening tools, and expert rankings compared to the free version, while remaining more affordable
Plan | Monthly Subscription | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Zacks Premium | Annual: $249 ($20.75/month)
No monthly plan | 30-day free trial |
Zacks Investor Collection | $59
$495 ($41.25 / month) if paid annually | 30-day free trial |
Zacks Ultimate | $299
$2,995 ($249.5 / month) if paid annually | 30-day free trial |
Investor Collection is the mid-tier plan, adds expert-picked stock recommendations, while Ultimate is the top-tier plan includes premium trading strategies and exclusive short-term stock picks.
How To Find & Analyze Stocks Based On Zacks Ratings
Zacks Premium provides full access to Zacks ranks as well as other premium features. Here are the main features to know:
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Full Access To Zacks Ranks ( Including Zacks Rank #1 List)
One of the biggest advantages of Zacks Premium is full access to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List.
Unlike the free version, which only shows a few Strong Buy stocks in articles and reports, the Premium plan unlocks the entire list of top-ranked stocks, updated daily.
The long-term track record of this ranking system has shown significant outperformance compared to the S&P 500, which adds credibility.
By regularly checking this list, investors can find stocks with strong upward momentum before they become widely recognized.
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Deep Fundamental Analysis & Equity Research Reports
Unlike the free plan, which offers only a basic snapshot of a stock, Zacks Premium includes Equity Research Reports on more than 1,000 widely followed companies.
These reports, written by Zacks analysts, provide in-depth analysis, including growth prospects, valuation, competitive positioning, and earnings forecasts.
We reviewed several reports and found them well-structured and easy to understand, even for non-professional investors.
Each report breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of a company, giving a clearer picture of whether a stock is a good buy, hold, or sell.
Also, Zacks is one of the best stock analysis software, offering key stock research tools, including Zacks Rank, valuation ratios, and analyst ratings breakdown:
The analyst report provides professional insights, while key company metrics help evaluate stocks.
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Zacks Industry Rank
Zacks Premium offers the Industry Rank, which groups stocks into over 250 industry categories and ranks them based on earnings estimate trends.
We analyzed this feature and found it particularly useful for identifying strong-performing industries before they gain broader market attention.
Research shows that industries in the top half of rankings have historically outperformed those in the bottom half by a factor of 2-to-1.
We tested this by tracking stocks from highly ranked industries, and many of them continued to show strong gains over time.
By using this tool, investors can identify industries with growing earnings potential and focus their stock selection within those high-ranking sectors.
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Zacks Premium Screens (Stocks, ETF & Mutual Funds)
The Zacks Premium Screener offers over 45 predefined stock screening strategies, designed to identify high-potential stocks quickly. It offers stocks, ETF and mutual funds screeners.
We tested different screens, including the Price Target Upside screen and Zacks Rank + Style Score screen, and found them highly effective at filtering stocks based on value, growth, momentum, and earnings potential.
The Premium version allows more refined searches by incorporating analyst ratings, earnings expectations, and valuation metrics. The ability to combine multiple filters lets investors customize stock selection based on their preferred strategy.
For example, we used a growth-focused screen and identified multiple stocks that had strong earnings growth and positive analyst revisions, which later showed strong performance.
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Zacks VGM Score (Value, Growth, Momentum)
The VGM Score is an enhanced version of Zacks’ Style Scores, allowing investors to filter stocks based on a combination of Value, Growth, and Momentum factors.
We tested this feature and found it particularly effective when combined with Zacks Rank #1 or #2 stocks, as these selections historically outperform the market.
Unlike the free plan, which only provides individual Style Scores, the Premium plan’s VGM Score offers a weighted combination of all three, giving investors a more balanced perspective.
It helps narrow down the best-ranked stocks that also fit an investor’s preferred strategy, making stock selection easier.
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Focus List
The Focus List is a handpicked portfolio of 50 long-term stock recommendations, selected by Zacks’ Director of Research based on earnings momentum and growth potential.
We reviewed this feature and found that each stock on the list comes with a detailed equity research report explaining why it was chosen.
Additionally, weekly market insights from Zacks analysts provide updates on the overall market direction, sector allocation, and changes to the list.
Investors who prefer a hands-off approach but still want exposure to carefully selected stocks may find this list especially useful.
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Daily Newsletter & Articles
Zacks offers market insights through its Profit from the Pros newsletter and a variety of expert articles covering market trends, stock recommendations, and earnings reports.
The daily newsletter provides a concise summary of key stock market movements, making it ideal for quick updates without deep research.
Zacks’ articles break down complex investment topics, including analyst ratings, stock analysis, and financial strategies, helping both beginner and intermediate investors navigate the market.
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Portfolio Tracker & Email Alerts
The Zacks Portfolio Tracker allows investors to monitor their holdings and watchlists in a single dashboard, integrating Zacks Rank and Style Scores for deeper insights.
It provides real-time updates on stock performance and email alerts notifying users about Zacks Rank changes or major news affecting their holdings.
The tool’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to track financial performance without switching between multiple platforms.
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Zacks Style Scores
Zacks Style Scores help investors refine their stock selection by grading stocks from A (best) to F (worst) in three key areas: Value, Growth, and Momentum.
The Value Score identifies undervalued stocks with strong fundamentals, the Growth Score highlights companies with high earnings potential, and the Momentum Score pinpoints stocks showing strong price trends.
This feature is particularly beneficial for investors who follow specific investing styles, allowing them to filter stocks based on their preferred strategy.
Whether focusing on growth stocks or value investments, Zacks Style Scores provide an additional layer of analysis beyond standard earnings estimates.
Zacks Premium Plan vs. Competitors: Worth the Price?
Zacks Premium competes with platforms like Seeking Alpha Premium, Morningstar Investor, InvestingPro, TipRanks Premium, and Benzinga Pro.
In terms of pricing, Zacks Premium has a lower price than most of its competitors.
Plan | Subscription | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Morningstar Investor | $34.95
$249 ($20.75 / month) if paid annually | 7-Day free trial |
Zacks Premium | $249 ($20.75/month)
No monthly plan | 30-day free trial |
Motley Fool Stock Advisor | $199 (16.60 / month)
No monthly plan
| 30-day money-back guarantee |
Benzinga Pro | $37
$367 ($30.58 / month) if paid annually | $129
$129 for new member’s annual price ($11/month), including 7-day money-back guarantee
|
GuruFocus Premium | $499 ($41.58/ month)
No monthly plan, price for US citizens, price change by region | 7-day free trial + 30-day money-back guarantee |
StockTwits Edge | $22.95
$229.50 ($19.10 / month) if paid annually
| N/A |
Stock Analysis | $9.99
$79 ($6.58 / month) if paid annually | 60-day money back guarantee |
Zacks Premium stands out for its proven Zacks Rank system, but traders needing real-time data or AI-driven insights may prefer competitors.
For example, InvestingPro and TipRanks offer AI-driven stock research, while Benzinga Pro provides real-time news for active traders.
More Than Just Stock Ratings: Additional Features & Tools
Zacks Premium offers several powerful tools beyond its core features. These additional tools provide an extra edge for those looking to improve portfolio performance:
- Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) Filter: Identifies stocks with the highest likelihood of beating or missing earnings estimates, based on analysts’ revisions and historical accuracy.
- Zacks #5 Rank List (Strong Sell): Identifies stocks with the weakest earnings momentum, helping investors avoid potential underperformers or find short-selling opportunities.
- Sector and Industry Analysis: Provides sector-based insights and reports, helping investors understand which industries are gaining or losing momentum in the market.
- Earnings Trend Reports: Tracks analyst earnings estimate revisions and trends across industries, making it easier to identify potential earnings growth opportunities.
- Options Research Reports: Offers analysis on options trading strategies, including insights on implied volatility and potential earnings-driven trades.
- Zacks Mutual Fund Rank: Rates mutual funds based on performance, risk, and expenses, helping long-term investors identify top-ranked funds.
- ETF Research Reports: Provides deeper insights into ETFs, including fund composition, performance outlook, and comparison tools.
- Earnings Whisper Screener: Helps investors track stocks that are generating significant earnings speculation and investor interest ahead of earnings reports.
- Bull and Bear of the Day: Features a daily highlight of one strong buy stock and one strong sell stock based on Zacks' research and ranking system.
- Custom Portfolio Monitoring: Allows Premium users to track multiple portfolios and receive tailored alerts based on Zacks Rank changes, earnings revisions, and other key stock movements.
- Dedicated Services Team: Provides Premium users with direct access to a support team for assistance with research tools, stock screens, and Zacks’ proprietary rankings.
Why Zacks Premium Might Not Be Enough
While Zacks Premium offers a strong set of research tools, it still has some gaps compared to competitors:
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Limited Technical Analysis Tools
While Zacks excels in fundamental stock research, it falls short when it comes to technical analysis features.
The charting tools are basic and rely on TradingView integration, but they don’t provide advanced technical indicators, pattern recognition, or backtesting tools.
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No Personalized Investment & Potfolio Recommendations
Despite offering stock rankings and prebuilt screens, Zacks Premium does not provide customized investment recommendations or portfolio analysis based on a user’s preferences, risk tolerance, or investing goals.
Platforms like Morningstar Investor, Seeking Alpha Premium, and some robo-advisors offer more personalized insights and AI-driven recommendations.
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No Real-Time Market Data
Zacks Premium provides stock rankings, research reports, and earnings forecasts, but it does not include real-time stock quotes or market data.
Investors looking for up-to-the-second price movements, Level 2 quotes, or live options chains will need to rely on their broker or add Zacks Real Time Quotes Platinum or Gold plans.
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Limited Mutual Fund & ETF Analysis
Zacks Premium includes mutual fund and ETF rankings, but the depth of analysis is not as strong as competitors like Morningstar Premium or ETF.com.
It lacks detailed fund breakdowns, manager analysis, risk assessments, or comparison tools beyond basic expense ratios and performance data.
Is Zacks Premium Right For You?
Zacks Premium is best suited for investors who rely on fundamental analysis. Here’s who might benefit the most:
- Long-Term Growth Investors: Those focused on buy-and-hold strategies can use Zacks Rank, Equity Research Reports, and the Focus List to identify high-quality stocks with strong earnings potential for long-term gains.
- Value Investors: Investors looking for undervalued stocks can use Zacks’ VGM Score, Style Scores, and Premium Screeners to find stocks that trade below their intrinsic value but have strong future growth prospects.
- Sector & Industry-Focused Investors: Investors who like to target high-performing industries can use Zacks Industry Rank to find sectors with the strongest earnings momentum and pick the best stocks within them.
- Fundamental Investors Who Want Deeper Research: Zacks Premium provides detailed equity research reports, allowing investors to go beyond basic stock rankings and understand the reasoning behind buy or sell recommendations.
Zacks Premium: Who It’s Not For
Zacks Premium is a powerful tool for fundamental investors, but it’s not the best fit for everyone:
- Day Traders & High-Frequency Traders: Zacks Premium does not offer real-time quotes, Level 2 data, or advanced technical indicators, making it less useful for traders who need second-by-second price movements.
- Technical Analysis-Driven Traders: Investors who rely on chart patterns, moving averages, and other technical signals will find Zacks’ charting tools too basic.
- Investors Looking for Personalized Advice: Unlike some premium services, Zacks does not offer customized investment recommendations tailored to an individual’s portfolio or risk profile.
- Options & Crypto Traders: Zacks Premium focuses on stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, with limited options research and no cryptocurrency analysis.
- International Stock Investors: Zacks primarily covers U.S.-listed stocks, making it less useful for investors focused on global markets.
FAQ
Yes, Zacks has a mobile app for iOS and Android, where Premium users can access stock research, rankings, and reports.
The Focus List is updated weekly, and users receive an email with insights on market direction and stock changes.
No, Zacks Premium does not include backtesting for investment strategies, which may be a downside for quantitative investors.
Zacks focuses more on earnings-driven stock rankings, while Morningstar Premium provides deeper mutual fund research and valuation analysis.
No, Zacks does not provide a full historical ranking for individual stocks over time, which limits long-term trend analysis.
No, Zacks Premium focuses on stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds but does not provide in-depth bond or commodity analysis.
Yes, Zacks Premium offers dividend screening tools and research reports, making it useful for income-focused investors.
Review Premium Stock Analysis Tools
How We Rated Premium Investing Analysis & Research Tools
At The Smart Investor, we evaluated premium investment research platforms based on their advanced features, data depth, and overall value compared to other paid alternatives. Each platform was rated based on the following key aspects:
- Advanced Fundamental Analysis Tools (20%): We assessed the depth of financial data, historical reports, earnings forecasts, and valuation models. Platforms that provided institutional-grade insights, DCF analysis, customizable financial models, and access to premium analyst reports scored higher.
- Advanced Technical Analysis Features (20%): We reviewed the availability of real-time charting, advanced indicators, custom scripting, and AI-driven pattern recognition. Platforms that offered backtesting tools, automated trading strategies, and integration with third-party software received better ratings.
- Stock Screener & Premium Filters (15%): A high-quality screener is essential for pro investors, so we evaluated customization depth, real-time filtering, and AI-driven stock discovery. Platforms offering pre-built expert screeners, backtesting capabilities, and sector-specific analytics scored the highest.
- Portfolio Tracking & Advanced Alerts (10%): We rated platforms on their ability to provide real-time performance tracking, portfolio rebalancing tools, and tax optimization insights. Platforms with smart alerts, AI-driven risk assessments, and brokerage integration ranked higher.
- Ease of Use & Customization (15%): We assessed how well premium platforms balance advanced capabilities with user-friendly interfaces. Those offering custom dashboards, API access, and seamless multi-device usability received better ratings.
- Pricing (20%): We considered how the plan's pricing compared to other premium plans and what benefits traders/investors get. Is it worth it overall?
