5 Top-Ranked High-Efficiency Stocks Poised for Stronger Returns
Efficiency measures how effectively a company converts its resources and inputs into productive outputs. It is an important indicator of a company’s profit-generating potential, as higher efficiency generally reflects better resource utilization, stronger operational performance and improved profitability. Companies with high efficiency levels are therefore expected to deliver stronger returns, as efficiency is often positively correlated with stock price performance.
However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider popular efficiency ratios while selecting stocks.
CareDx CDNA, Healthcare Services Group HCSG, Forum Energy Technologies FET, Amneal Pharmaceuticals AMRX and Caterpillar CAT made it through the screening process.
The efficiency ratios are:
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 receivable 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 inventory level 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
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 has narrowed down the universe of over 7,906 stocks to 19.
Our Choices
Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:
CareDx
CareDx is a commercial-stage company that develops, markets and delivers a diagnostic surveillance solution for heart transplant recipients. CDNA has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 85.7%.
Healthcare Services Group
Healthcare Services Group provides housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals. HCSG has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 57.3%.
Forum Energy Technologies
Forum Energy Technologies is a global oilfield products company, serving the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. FET has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 41.6%.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Amneal Pharmaceuticals is a diversified, global biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad portfolio of essential medicines. AMRX has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.8%.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar known for its iconic yellow machines, is the largest global construction and mining equipment manufacturer. CAT has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.1%.
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See Stocks Free >>Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (FET) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
CareDx, Inc. (CDNA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (AMRX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
