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Bet on These 5 Stocks With a Significant Net Profit Margin

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As the primary motive of any investor is to pick stocks that generate maximum returns, companies raking in huge profits make solid picks.

Net profit margin is the most effective way to measure a company’s profitability. A proper analysis of the same reveals how well a company is run in the face of headwinds.

Net Profit Margin= Net profit/Sales * 100.

In simple terms, net profit is the amount a company retains after deducting all costs, interest, depreciation, taxes and other expenses. In fact, net profit margin can turn out to be a potent point of reference to gauge the strength in a company operations and cost-control measures.

Also, higher net profit is essential for rewarding stakeholders. Further, strength in the metric not only attracts investors but also draws well-skilled employees that eventually add to the value of the business.

Moreover, a higher net profit margin compared to its peers lends the company a competitive edge.

Net Profit Margin= Net profit/Sales * 100

In simple terms, net profit is the amount a company retains after deducting all costs, interest, depreciation, taxes and other expenses. In fact, net profit margin can turn out to be a potent point of reference to gauge the strength of a company’s operations and cost-control measures.

Also, higher net profit is essential for rewarding stakeholders. Net margin helps investors judge the risk involved in an investment. Creditors also view it as crucial to determining a company’s ability to pay off debts.

Moreover, a higher net profit margin compared to its peers lends the company a competitive edge.

Pros and Cons

Net profit margin helps investors gain clarity on a company’s business model in terms of pricing policy, cost structure and manufacturing efficiency. Hence, a strong net profit margin is preferred by all classes of investors.

However, net profit margin as an investment criterion has its own share of pitfalls. The metric varies widely from industry to industry. While net income is a key metric for investment measurement in traditional industries, it is not that important for technology companies.

Moreover, the difference in accounting treatment of various items — especially non-cash expenses like depreciation and stock-based compensation — makes comparison a daunting task.

Further, for companies preferring to grow with debt instead of equity funding, higher interest expenses usually weigh on net profit. In such cases, the measure is rendered ineffective while analyzing a company’s performance.

The Winning Strategy

A healthy net profit margin and solid EPS growth are the two most sought-after elements in a business model.

Apart from these, we have added a few criteria to ensure maximum returns from this strategy.

Screening Parameters

Net Margin 12 monthsMost Recent (%) greater than equal to 0: High net profit margin indicates solid profitability.

Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/(F-1) greater than equal to 0: It indicates earnings growth.

Average Broker Rating (1-5) equal to 1: A rating of #1 indicates brokers’ extreme bullishness on the stock.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) generally perform better than their peers in all types of market environment.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here

VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential.

Here are five of the 23 stocks that qualified the screen:

Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao is the largest traditional retailer in the food segment in Brazil and the second largest player in the cash and carry segment.The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings per share remained unchanged at $1 over the last 30 days.

Camp Hill, PA-based Harsco Corporation is a provider of industrial services and engineered products serving global industries that are fundamental to worldwide economic growth and infrastructure development. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings remained unchanged at $1.23 per share in the last 30 days. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of A.

Manchester-based Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR - Free Report) designs, manufactures, and supplies high-performance materials, components, and high-pressure gas-containment devices for healthcare, environmental, protection, and specialty end-markets in Europe, North America, and internationally. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings remained stable at $1.45 per share in the last 30 days. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B.

Turtle Beach Corp. (HEAR - Free Report) is a premium San Diego, CA-based audio technology company that designs audio products for consumer, commercial and healthcare markets. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings increased 13.8% to $2.47 per share in the last 30 days.

Lisle, IL-based SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC - Free Report) is a producer of metallurgical coke in the Americas. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings grew 31% to 38 cents per share in the last 30 days.

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Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks' portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.


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