Chicago, IL – October 21, 2024 – Stocks in this week’s article are Tilray Brands TLRY, Consol Energy CEIX and Apogee Enterprises APOG.
3 Must-Buy Efficient Stocks to Increase Portfolio Returns
Irrespective of market conditions, companies with favorable efficiency levels are more likely to be investors’ choices. The reason is that a company with a favorable efficiency level is expected to offer impressive returns as it is believed to be positively correlated to its price performance.
The efficiency ratio is an indication of a company’s financial health. It analyzes how efficiently a company uses its assets and liabilities internally.
However, at times it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider the popular efficiency ratios listed below while selecting stocks.
To that end, Tilray Brands, Consol Energy and Apogee Enterprises made it through the screen process:
Efficiency Ratios – To Be Considered
Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivables or that it has quality customers.
Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.
Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low level of inventory compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.
Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.
Screening Criteria Using Research Wizard:
In addition to the above-mentioned ratios, we have added a favorable Zacks Rank — Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) — to the screen to make this strategy more profitable. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization, and Operating Margin greater than the industry average
(Values of these ratios higher than industry averages may indicate that the efficiency level of the company is higher than its peers.)
The use of these few criteria narrowed down the universe of over 7,906 stocks to 13.
Here are the top three stocks that made it through the screen:
Tilray Brands
Tilray Brands is a cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company that operates principally in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia and Latin America. TLRY has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 30%.
Consol Energy
Consol Energy is a producer and exporter of high-Btu bituminous thermal and crossover metallurgical coal. CEIX has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 23.7%.
Apogee Enterprises
Apogee Enterprise is a leader in architectural products and services, providing architectural glass, aluminum framing systems and installation services for buildings as well as value-added glass and acrylic for custom picture framing and displays. APOG has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 19.7%.
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For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2352875/3-must-buy-efficient-stocks-to-increase-portfolio-returns
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