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After a flurry of solid back-to-back performance in the past few quarters, fourth-quarter earnings season has flagged off on an unimpressive note. This, coupled with decline in 2019 estimates, reflects the widespread fear that the trend is reversing. With a global economic slowdown, the fourth quarter is expected to register soft earnings and revenue growth on a year-over-year basis.
As investors employ a wait-and-see approach in a classic example of “backing and filling” in the market, they could benefit from ‘cash cow’ stocks that garner higher returns.
However, singling out cash-rich stocks alone does not make for a solid investment proposition unless these are backed by attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE). A high ROE ensures that the company is reinvesting its cash at a high rate of return.
Why ROE?
ROE = Net Income/Shareholders’ Equity
ROE helps investors distinguish profit-generating companies from profit burners and is useful in determining the financial health of a company. In other words, this financial metric enables investors to identify stocks that diligently deploy cash for higher returns.
Moreover, ROE is often used to compare the profitability of a company with other firms in the industry — the higher, the better. It measures how well a company is multiplying its profits without investing new equity capital and portrays management’s efficiency in rewarding shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Screening Parameters
In order to shortlist stocks that are cash rich with high ROE, we have added Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE greater than X-Industry as our primary screening parameters. In addition, we have taken a few other criteria into consideration to arrive at a winning strategy.
Price/Cash Flow lesser than X-Industry: This metric measures how much investors pay for $1 of free cash flow. A lower ratio indicates that investors need to pay less for a better cash flow generating stock.
Return on Assets (ROA) greater than X-Industry: This metric determines how much profit a company earns for every dollar of asset, which includes cash, accounts receivable, property, equipment, inventory and furniture. The higher the ROA, the better it is for the company.
5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than X-Industry: This criterion indicates that continued earnings momentum has translated into solid cash strength.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
Here are five of the fourteen stocks that qualified the screen:
The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) : Based in Mayfield Village, OH, Progressive is one of the major auto insurers in the country. Founded in 1965, the company is a leading independent agency writer of private passenger auto coverage. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.3%. Progressive currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Celgene Corporation : Summit, NJ-based Celgene is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs targeting cancer and inflammatory diseases through next-generation solutions in protein homeostasis, immuno-oncology, epigenetic, immunology and neuro-inflammation. This Zacks #1 Ranked stock has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20.3% with a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 2.5%.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) : Falls Church, VA-based Northrop supplies a broad array of products and services to the U.S. Department of Defense, including electronic systems, information technology, aircraft, space technology and systems integration services. The company has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 17.9% and long-term earnings growth projection of 14.8%. Northrop sports Zacks Rank #1, at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) : Founded in 1985 and based in Seattle, WA, Starbucks is the leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. It has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 6% and long-term earnings growth expectation of 12.8%. Currently, Starbucks carries a Zacks Rank #2.
General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) : Detroit, MI-based General Motors is a leading global automotive company, which is engaged in designing, building and selling cars, trucks, crossovers and automobile parts worldwide. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 21.8% and long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.5%.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
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.
Image: Bigstock
5 ROE Stocks to Profit Amid Soft Earnings Season
After a flurry of solid back-to-back performance in the past few quarters, fourth-quarter earnings season has flagged off on an unimpressive note. This, coupled with decline in 2019 estimates, reflects the widespread fear that the trend is reversing. With a global economic slowdown, the fourth quarter is expected to register soft earnings and revenue growth on a year-over-year basis.
As investors employ a wait-and-see approach in a classic example of “backing and filling” in the market, they could benefit from ‘cash cow’ stocks that garner higher returns.
However, singling out cash-rich stocks alone does not make for a solid investment proposition unless these are backed by attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE). A high ROE ensures that the company is reinvesting its cash at a high rate of return.
Why ROE?
ROE = Net Income/Shareholders’ Equity
ROE helps investors distinguish profit-generating companies from profit burners and is useful in determining the financial health of a company. In other words, this financial metric enables investors to identify stocks that diligently deploy cash for higher returns.
Moreover, ROE is often used to compare the profitability of a company with other firms in the industry — the higher, the better. It measures how well a company is multiplying its profits without investing new equity capital and portrays management’s efficiency in rewarding shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Screening Parameters
In order to shortlist stocks that are cash rich with high ROE, we have added Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE greater than X-Industry as our primary screening parameters. In addition, we have taken a few other criteria into consideration to arrive at a winning strategy.
Price/Cash Flow lesser than X-Industry: This metric measures how much investors pay for $1 of free cash flow. A lower ratio indicates that investors need to pay less for a better cash flow generating stock.
Return on Assets (ROA) greater than X-Industry: This metric determines how much profit a company earns for every dollar of asset, which includes cash, accounts receivable, property, equipment, inventory and furniture. The higher the ROA, the better it is for the company.
5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than X-Industry: This criterion indicates that continued earnings momentum has translated into solid cash strength.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
Here are five of the fourteen stocks that qualified the screen:
The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) : Based in Mayfield Village, OH, Progressive is one of the major auto insurers in the country. Founded in 1965, the company is a leading independent agency writer of private passenger auto coverage. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.3%. Progressive currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Celgene Corporation : Summit, NJ-based Celgene is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs targeting cancer and inflammatory diseases through next-generation solutions in protein homeostasis, immuno-oncology, epigenetic, immunology and neuro-inflammation. This Zacks #1 Ranked stock has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20.3% with a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 2.5%.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) : Falls Church, VA-based Northrop supplies a broad array of products and services to the U.S. Department of Defense, including electronic systems, information technology, aircraft, space technology and systems integration services. The company has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 17.9% and long-term earnings growth projection of 14.8%. Northrop sports Zacks Rank #1, at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) : Founded in 1985 and based in Seattle, WA, Starbucks is the leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. It has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 6% and long-term earnings growth expectation of 12.8%. Currently, Starbucks carries a Zacks Rank #2.
General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) : Detroit, MI-based General Motors is a leading global automotive company, which is engaged in designing, building and selling cars, trucks, crossovers and automobile parts worldwide. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 21.8% and long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.5%.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
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.