Zacks.com featured highlights include Wayfair, Alarm.com, ATI, Farmers & Merchants and Amerant

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 11, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are Wayfair W, Alarm.com ALRM, ATI INC ATI, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp FMAO and Amerant Bancorp AMTB.

5 Top-Ranked Efficient Stocks with Strong Growth Potential

A company’s efficiency level reflects how effectively it uses resources such as labor, capital and assets to generate profits and drive business growth. It is a key indicator of a company’s financial strength, operational performance and ability to generate sustainable profits. Companies with higher efficiency levels usually manage their operations better, reduce costs and generate stronger returns, making them more likely to deliver solid long-term stock performance.

However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider the popular efficiency ratios listed below while selecting stocks.

The stocks of Wayfair, Alarm.com, ATI INC, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Amerant Bancorp made it through the screening process.

These efficiency ratios are:

Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio, or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivables or that it has quality customers.

Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.

Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low level of inventory compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.

Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:

Wayfair

Wayfair is an online seller of home goods products, consisting of furniture and home decor. W has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.5%.

Alarm.com

Alarm.com offers interactive security solutions for home and business owners. ALRM has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.6%.

ATI INC

ATI INC is a diversified global specialty materials producer. ATI has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.7%.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp operates as a locally owned and operated community bank serving Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana, providing commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. FMAO has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%.

Amerant Bancorp

Amerant Bancorp is a bank holding company that provides deposit, credit and wealth management services to individuals and businesses primarily in the United States, as well as select international clients. AMTB has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.4%.

Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?

Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.

Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.

See Stocks Free >>

For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2987583/5-top-ranked-efficient-stocks-with-strong-growth-potential

Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Contact: Jim Giaquinto

Company: Zacks.com

Phone: 312-265-9268

Email: pr@zacks.com

Visit: https://www.zacks.com/

Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days

Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."

Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.

See them 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

ATI Inc. (ATI): Free Stock Analysis Report

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Inc. (FMAO): Free Stock Analysis Report

Wayfair Inc. (W): Free Stock Analysis Report

Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. (ALRM): Free Stock Analysis Report

Amerant Bancorp Inc. (AMTB): Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research