3 Growth Stocks To Buy Before Q4

Last week was relatively quiet for the major U.S. stock indexes. The Nasdaq gained 0.4%, the Dow added 0.27%, and the S&P 500 was essentially flat. At the same time, a stronger-than-expected August jobs report pushed expectations toward another potential Fed rate hike. 

In addition, last week we saw growth stocks outperform their value counterparts by the widest margin in a month — suggesting investors are still willing to reward companies capable of delivering meaningful expansion. 

Of course, growth alone doesn’t make a stock attractive. With valuations elevated in many corners of the market, investors have good reason to prioritize companies where strong growth prospects are backed by equally impressive fundamentals. 

Manually contrasting and comparing potential investments is simply too time-consuming — thankfully, there’s a simple way to expedite the process. All you have to do is turn to …

Growth Stock Strategy

Our in-house quant system looks at 4,600 stocks each day through the lens of 115 fundamental metrics and factors split across 7 categories called Component Grades. Those insights are boiled down into a single, straightforward metric — a stock’s Zen Rating.

Only the stocks that rank in the top 5% for overall fundamentals are given a Zen Rating of A, equivalent to a Strong Buy recommendation. That immediately narrows down the playing field — but it does still leave 230 tickers to consider on any given day. The best way to make the research process even more efficient is to then turn to one of our exclusive Zen Strategies.

There are 11 strategies in total — each is a portfolio that consists of just 7 carefully selected stocks. Today, we’ll be taking a look at a strategy with an all-time annual return of 25.82%. Over the past 30 days, it has rallied by 4.67% — for reference, the S&P 500 marked a paltry 0.11% gain in the same timeframe. This week, the spotlight is on our Growth Stock Strategy.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at 3 exciting stocks from this portfolio.

Precigen (PGEN)

Our first pick, Precigen, is a biotech company focused on gene and cell therapies. PGEN ranks in the top 2% of all the stocks we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A. It is also the 3rd highest-rated stock in the Biotech industry.

Precigen ranks in the top 14% with regard to our Artificial Intelligence Component Grade. That means that our in-house neural network, trained on more than 20 years of market data, has picked up on subtle signs that hint at outperformance to come. In terms of Momentum and Sentiment, PGEN ranks in the top 6% — which indicates strong, positive price action and significant smart money inflows. The star of the show, however, is Growth — a category where our first pick ranks in the top 1%.

The only real mark against the stock, on a fundamental level, is Safety. Precigen shares have a Beta of 1.79, so a smooth ride from here on out is not a likely outcome. That degree of volatility isn’t unusual for a biotech company still relatively early in its commercial ramp.

The company has notched 3 EPS beats in a row, and the revenue from its flagship product, PAPZIMEOS, has more than doubled on a sequential basis — and that kind of growth trajectory is hard to ignore.

Astronics Corporation (ATRO)

Our second pick, Astronics, designs and manufactures specialized technologies for the aerospace and defense industries. ATRO ranks in the top 1% of all the stocks we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A. It is also the highest-rated stock in the Defense industry.

Safety starts things off with a placement in the top 20%, followed by Momentum in the top 17% and Sentiment in the top 14% — which tells us we’re looking at steady, reliable execution, positive price action, and significant smart money support. Financials take things a step further with a ranking in the top 7%, indicating an outstanding balance sheet. Best of all, however, is Growth — where ATRO ranks in the top 1% of the entire market.

The main caveat is valuation. After gaining roughly 95% over the past year, the stock’s Value rating sits closer to the middle of the pack. With that being said, that one area where it’s not exceptional is easily overshadowed by the areas in which it is.

The latest quarter set records across sales, profit, and bookings. In addition, this is the 3rd quarter in a row where ATRO has posted a record backlog — a clear sign that demand remains strong.

YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF)

Our final pick, YPF, is Argentina’s largest integrated energy company, with operations spanning oil and gas production, refining, fuel marketing, and power generation. YPF ranks in the top 1% of all the stocks we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A. It is also the highest-rated stock in the A-rated Oil & Gas Integrated industry.

Value starts things off in the top 16%, followed by Financials in the top 10% and Sentiment in the top 7%. Momentum comes in at the top 3%, while our Artificial Intelligence rating places YPF in the top 2%. The star of the show, however, is Growth — where the stock ranks in the top 1% of everything we track.

Safety is the one softer spot here. Oil-price volatility and the additional uncertainty that comes with operating in Argentina add some risk to an otherwise exceptional fundamental profile.

YPF’s latest quarter delivered 47% shale-oil production growth, prompting management to raise its 2026 EBITDA estimate from roughly $6 billion to $8 billion. Meanwhile, its long-term LNG export strategy continues to move forward. While YPF shares have been relatively flat since late July, a fresh move to the upside could ensue if the business notched a 3rd consecutive earnings beat in its next quarterly report, due late next month.

Interested In More Great Stock Picks? 

The 3 stocks highlighted above are just a fraction of what you get from our proven Growth Stock strategy.

That’s because each day our system recalibrates — and Zen Strategies members get access to the top 7 growth stocks based on 115 different parameters that point to outperformance. 

See all Top 7 Growth Stocks here >

However, maybe growth stocks aren’t what you’re after right now. Perhaps you would like to see all 11 of our market beating strategies including Buy the Dip, Momentum, Value, and our coveted AI Factor model. 

Each featuring the top 7 stocks.

Each featuring tremendous performance

We spell it all out in this timely presentation below that lives up to its name:

10 Minutes a Month to Beat the Market > 

What to Do Next?

• 77 Best Stocks NOW! >
• Options Trading with the Zen Ratings >
• 2 New Stocks to Buy from Steve Reitmeister >

Want to get in touch? Email us at news@wallstreetzen.com.