Best Growth Stocks to Watch on March 12: A Detailed Look at Three Names Highlighted by Zacks

Investors searching for fresh growth ideas on March 12 were given a short but notable list by Zacks Investment Research. In its latest growth-stock screen, Zacks spotlighted Air France-KLM SA (AFLYY), HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS), and Latham Group, Inc. (SWIM) as three stocks that combined a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with favorable growth characteristics. According to the syndicated version of the report, all three companies posted upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates over the last 60 days, carried attractive PEG ratios versus their industries, and earned a Growth Score of A.

This rewritten report takes that brief market note and expands it into a fuller, easier-to-read analysis in English. Rather than simply repeating the original stock callout, this article explains why these companies may have appeared on a growth screen, what their businesses actually do, how the Zacks method works at a high level, and what investors should keep in mind before treating any screen as a buy list. The goal is not to provide personalized investment advice, but to offer a clear and detailed news-style summary of the ideas behind the March 12 selection.

Why This March 12 Growth Stock List Drew Attention

Daily stock screens from firms like Zacks often attract attention because they blend earnings estimate revisions with style-based scoring systems. The March 12 list was especially interesting because it pulled candidates from three very different parts of the market: international aviation, business software, and residential pool products. That kind of sector mix suggests the screen was not based on a single macro trend alone. Instead, it appears to have favored companies showing improving profit expectations and valuations that still looked reasonable compared with their industry peers.

In the syndicated article carrying the Zacks content, Air France-KLM was noted for a 7.3% increase in the current-year earnings consensus over the prior 60 days, HubSpot for a 7% increase, and Latham Group for a 17.7% increase. Those revisions matter because Zacks has long emphasized that rising earnings estimates can be an important signal in stock selection. Zacks also notes on its own site that the Rank system is built around earnings estimate revisions, while its style scoring framework is designed to highlight value, growth, and momentum characteristics.

How the Zacks Growth Framework Works

The importance of earnings estimate revisions

Zacks’ stock-ranking approach gives major weight to changes in analyst earnings estimates. The basic idea is simple: when analysts collectively raise their expectations for a company’s profits, it may reflect improving business conditions, stronger execution, better demand, or stronger pricing power. Zacks describes the Rank system as revision-driven, and its site says Zacks #1 Rank stocks have historically outperformed on average, though past results do not guarantee future returns.

Why PEG ratios matter in growth investing

The March 12 screen also referenced PEG ratios, a metric that compares a stock’s price-to-earnings valuation to expected growth. In general, a lower PEG ratio can suggest that the market is not fully pricing in future growth, although the usefulness of the ratio depends heavily on how reliable growth forecasts are. In the Zacks-syndicated summary, Air France-KLM showed a PEG ratio of 0.07 versus 0.40 for its industry, HubSpot posted 1.18 versus 3.21, and Latham Group posted 1.14 versus 1.21. On paper, each stock looked more attractively valued than its broader industry benchmark on this measure.

The Growth Score factor

All three companies also carried a Growth Score of A in the March 12 report. Zacks says its style scores are meant to help investors narrow down candidates based on characteristics tied to growth, value, or momentum. A strong Growth Score generally suggests a favorable mix of factors tied to expansion and earnings potential, though it should still be paired with deeper fundamental research.

Stock No. 1: Air France-KLM SA (AFLYY)

Why it appeared on the list

Among the three names, Air France-KLM may be the most surprising for some growth investors because airlines are not always the first sector people think of when they hear the word “growth.” Yet the March 12 screen cited a 7.3% increase in current-year earnings estimates over 60 days, a PEG ratio of 0.07, and a Growth Score of A. Those figures imply that analysts had recently become more optimistic while the stock still appeared inexpensive relative to expected growth.

What the company does

Air France-KLM is a major European airline group with global passenger, cargo, and maintenance operations. On its corporate website, the group describes itself as a leader in international air transport departing from Europe and says it serves a broad worldwide network. That scale matters because large airline groups can benefit when long-haul travel demand stays healthy, premium traffic remains resilient, and cargo operations support revenue diversification.

Recent business momentum

Recent reporting also supports the view that Air France-KLM entered 2026 with improving momentum. Reuters reported on February 19, 2026, that the company posted a record annual operating profit for 2025, helped by strong premium demand, especially on transatlantic routes, and lower fuel prices. Reuters said the group planned capacity growth of 3% to 5% in 2026 and was aiming to improve its operating margin further by 2028. Those developments help explain why earnings expectations may have moved higher ahead of the March 12 stock screen.

Why investors may find it attractive

For growth-oriented investors, Air France-KLM offers a different type of opportunity than a software stock. Instead of recurring subscription revenue, the appeal comes from operating leverage. When capacity, pricing, premium demand, and fuel costs move in the right direction at the same time, profits can improve quickly. That can drive outsized earnings revisions, which is exactly the type of signal Zacks tends to favor. The very low PEG ratio shown in the March 12 summary also suggests the market may still be cautious about the airline industry despite better profit trends.

Risks to remember

Even with stronger earnings momentum, airline stocks remain exposed to fuel-price swings, labor costs, geopolitical disruptions, airport constraints, and changing travel demand. Reuters noted that while Air France-KLM delivered strong results, management also remained cautious about softer American travel demand to Europe. That means the stock may look attractive on screening metrics while still carrying meaningful cyclical risk.

Stock No. 2: HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS)

Why it made the cut

HubSpot’s inclusion feels more traditional for a growth-stock list. In the March 12 article, the company was described as a provider of cloud-based CRM, marketing, sales, and customer service software. It carried a Zacks Rank #1, its current-year earnings estimate had risen 7% over 60 days, its PEG ratio stood at 1.18 versus 3.21 for the industry, and it also earned a Growth Score of A.

What HubSpot does

HubSpot says its customer platform brings together marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM tools, with growing use of artificial intelligence across the product suite. On its site, the company positions itself as a platform for go-to-market teams and says its Smart CRM acts as a central source of truth for business data. On its “Our Story” page, HubSpot says it was founded in Boston in 2006 and has grown into a platform used by millions of businesses worldwide.

Why the market keeps watching HubSpot

HubSpot has long been seen as a high-quality software company because it sits at the intersection of digital marketing, customer management, automation, and now AI-enabled productivity. A recent Investors Business Daily report described the company as benefiting from strong revenue growth, improving earnings, and AI-related product expansion. The same report said HubSpot posted a strong quarterly performance and continued to integrate AI across its platform. That kind of combination—steady growth, improving profitability, and exposure to AI demand—can make a stock appealing even if it is not cheap on a plain price-to-earnings basis.

Why the PEG ratio stood out

HubSpot’s PEG ratio in the March 12 screen was well below the industry comparison cited by Zacks. That does not automatically mean the shares are undervalued, but it suggests that relative to the growth the market expects, HubSpot may screen better than many software peers. In technology, this matters because investors often worry about paying too much for future growth. A lower PEG can signal that strong execution is not fully reflected in the valuation, especially when earnings estimates are still being revised upward.

What could support future growth

HubSpot’s long-term story depends on expanding customer adoption, upselling into a broader software stack, and using AI to improve workflow efficiency for clients. Its official website emphasizes a connected platform that helps businesses grow, scale, close deals, and retain customers. That broad value proposition matters because it gives HubSpot multiple growth levers rather than relying on a single product line. In other words, it is not just a marketing tool company anymore; it is trying to become a wider operating layer for customer-facing teams.

Key risks for HubSpot

Software stocks can still be volatile, especially when expectations are high. HubSpot faces competition across CRM, marketing automation, customer support, and AI workflow tools. It also trades in a sector where sentiment can turn quickly if revenue growth slows or if companies become more cautious about spending. So while the March 12 screen highlighted improving estimates and an attractive PEG relative to peers, investors still need to assess execution risk and valuation risk.

Stock No. 3: Latham Group, Inc. (SWIM)

Why it appeared on the list

Latham Group was perhaps the least well-known name in the March 12 lineup, but it posted the largest earnings-estimate revision of the three. The Zacks-syndicated report said Latham’s current-year earnings estimate climbed 17.7% over the last 60 days. It also noted a PEG ratio of 1.14 versus 1.21 for the industry and a Growth Score of A. For a smaller-cap consumer-related company, that kind of estimate change can be enough to trigger meaningful investor interest.

What the company does

Latham Group says it is the largest designer, manufacturer, and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America. Its investor relations site says the company is headquartered in Latham, New York, while other company-profile summaries note operations in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, along with products such as fiberglass pools, packaged pools, pool covers, and liners.

Why a pool maker can qualify as a growth stock

At first glance, a pool company may not sound like a classic growth play. But growth screens do not just chase flashy technology stories. They also look for improving earnings trajectories, favorable industry comparisons, and attractive valuations. If Latham is executing well, managing costs effectively, gaining share, or benefiting from better demand trends in its product categories, analyst estimates can rise quickly. That appears to be what the March 12 Zacks screen captured.

What may be supporting the story

Although the March 12 item did not go deep into the operating story, Latham has continued to maintain a visible brand position in the pool market. A recent Times Union report noted that the company became an official sponsor of USA Artistic Swimming and highlighted its broad presence in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. While sponsorship alone does not drive earnings, it shows an effort to strengthen brand visibility and connect the company more closely with swimming culture and consumer engagement.

Why some investors may like Latham here

Among the three names, Latham may appeal most to investors looking for a less crowded growth idea. It is not as widely followed as a major airline group or a large software platform. Smaller companies with improving estimates can sometimes move sharply because fewer investors are paying attention at first. The March 12 screen’s 17.7% earnings-estimate increase is the strongest revision among the three stocks mentioned, which may be why the name stood out.

Main risks to keep in mind

Latham is tied more closely to consumer spending, housing-related trends, outdoor living demand, and seasonal buying patterns. That means demand can weaken if households cut back on large discretionary purchases or if financing conditions become less supportive. Like many niche consumer companies, it may also be more sensitive to execution issues than a larger diversified business.

Comparing the Three Stocks Side by Side

Different sectors, same screening theme

What makes the March 12 screen interesting is that the three stocks come from completely different corners of the market, yet all met the same broad conditions: upward earnings revisions, strong growth scores, and PEG ratios that looked favorable relative to industry averages. Air France-KLM represents cyclical travel recovery and operating leverage. HubSpot represents software scale, recurring revenue, and AI-enabled business tools. Latham represents a more niche consumer-products growth story with sharply improving earnings expectations.

Which one looks most aggressive?

Based on the Zacks-syndicated figures alone, Air France-KLM looks like the most aggressively cheap on a PEG basis, while Latham shows the strongest estimate revision, and HubSpot appears to offer the most familiar quality-growth profile. That does not make one automatically better than the others. It simply shows that “growth” can mean very different things depending on the sector. Some investors may prefer the higher-margin software story of HubSpot, while others may be drawn to the cyclical upside in Air France-KLM or the underfollowed setup in Latham.

What Investors Should Learn From This Screen

The biggest takeaway from the March 12 list is that good stock screens are a starting point, not a finish line. A screening model can identify names with improving analyst sentiment and appealing valuation-growth combinations, but it cannot fully capture industry risk, competitive pressure, management quality, balance-sheet strength, or macroeconomic shocks. Even Zacks’ own materials make clear that screens are tools for narrowing the field, not guarantees of future returns.

Still, the March 12 screen did what it was supposed to do: it surfaced three companies with fresh positive momentum in earnings expectations. In a market where investors often chase only the largest technology names, this list served as a reminder that opportunity can emerge in very different industries at the same time. Airlines can screen as growth plays when operating trends improve. Niche manufacturers can qualify when estimates jump sharply. And software names can remain compelling when earnings and product expansion continue to support the story.

Final Wrap-Up

Rewritten in plain English, the original March 12 Zacks note comes down to this: Air France-KLM, HubSpot, and Latham Group were highlighted because analysts have become more optimistic on their earnings outlooks, their growth characteristics remain favorable, and their PEG ratios compare well with industry peers. Air France-KLM offers a cyclical recovery and profitability story tied to travel demand and premium traffic. HubSpot offers a platform-software story with AI and customer-management tailwinds. Latham Group offers a more under-the-radar consumer-products growth angle with the strongest estimate revision of the group.

For readers following market news, this trio shows how broad the definition of growth can be in 2026. For investors, the more important step is what comes next: digging deeper into company fundamentals, competitive positioning, and risk before making any decision. For more background on the Zacks methodology and ranking approach, readers can review the firm’s public education pages and stock-rank materials on its website.

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