Investors looking to find returns beyond the market will want to find the right investment research platform. Two of the most popular research sites are Seeking Alpha and Zacks.
This article compares Seeking Alpha vs Zacks to help you find the platform that is best for you.
Seeking Alpha is an investment research platform with both paid and free options. They have content on a wide variety of investment-related topics, and their unique approach brings together content from a community of thousands of authors.
Their free plan includes limited access to content, email alerts, stock prices and charts, and ratings.
Seeking Alpha has two paid programs. The first, for $119 per year, has unlimited access to premium content, as well as more advanced ratings and grades. They also have a pro subscription for $499 annually that includes pro content and VIP service.
There is also a coupon available for Seeking Alpha’s premium subscription.
While the breadth of content is a plus, there can end up being conflicting opinions, and newer investors will especially find it hard to wade through and find what they’re looking for.
This Seeking Alpha review includes more information on the features included.
Zacks is an investment research company like Seeking Alpha, but it differs in several ways.
Zacks founder, Len Zacks, is an MIT graduate who discovered that “earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force affecting stock prices.” Zacks is famous for their stock ranking list, which is based on this idea.
This Zacks review explains the ranking system in more detail.
Zacks has 3 levels of membership. Their free membership includes an e-newsletter and a portfolio tracker that gives you key metrics on a watch list that you set.
Zacks premium is $249 per year, and includes their stock ranking list, along with research reports on all stocks they cover. They also have filters for finding stocks yourself.
Finally, Zacks Ultimate costs $2995 per year and unlocks a suite of features. Most of the features involve stock recommendations based on different criteria. You can find recommendations on niche areas, such as energy, commodities, and marijuana stocks.
They also have advanced trading recommendations such as their Insider Trader, Black Box Trader, and Options Trader, and many other tools and features.
Let’s compare Seeking Alpha vs Zacks on some key factors.
Both Seeking Alpha and Zacks provide quality investment research, but they differ in their approach.
Seeking Alpha research depends on the content from their many contributors. You can use their stock screener to filter and find the stocks you’re looking for. Their platform is tailored to those who want to go in-depth with their own research and choose their own stocks.
Zacks, on the other hand, focuses on ranking stocks using their proprietary system. They provide stock picks and recommendations that are easy to read and act on, and they have heaps of search criteria that you can use to find lists on the types of stocks you want.
Seeking Alpha premium subscription costs $119, while Zacks premium costs $249. Seeking Alpha pro is $499, while Zacks has an Investor Collection with additional features for $495. Zacks also has their Ultimate tier for $2995.
Is the Seeking Alpha cost worth it? If you’re looking for extensive content on a broad range of topics, it’s hard to beat the low cost of Seeking Alpha.
With Zacks, their premium plan is also a great deal, as they boast that their strong buys #1 rank have had a 24.5% average return since 1988.
The Zacks Ultimate plan can also be great if you’re looking for stock recommendations in many different markets.
Seeking Alpha combines information from many sources, so you might find ten articles on one stock. This is great if you want to compare and contrast different viewpoints, but it can be challenging if you’re wanting to find actionable advice quickly.
Seeking Alpha has stock data that goes back far in the past, and they use advanced AI algorithms for their stock screener and Quant ratings. However, these programs are not easy to use and they don’t have a ton of information available on them, so you will have to dig in and learn them for yourself.
Zacks uses professional analysts and provides straightforward reports. This information is easy to sift through and find the actionable steps you’re looking for.
The investment research tool that’s right for you will depend on what you’re looking for.
Seeking Alpha is better for:
Zacks is better for:
If you want to find stocks and investment opportunities to try and beat the market, both of these platforms can be a great fit.
Get 50% off Seeking Alpha premium here, or get a free report with Zacks premium here.
