Stocks From 4 Top Sectors With Solid Q1 Revenue Growth

As the Q1 reporting cycle is drawing to a close, investors must be interested in finding out the performance of the Zacks classified 16 sectors of the S&P 500. While such performance evaluation normally drawsattention to the bottom line, sales growth demands equal attention. We’ll tell you why.

Investors should note that sales are harder to be influenced in an income statement than earnings. A company can land up on decent earnings numbers by adopting cost-cutting or some other measures that do not speak of its core strength. But it is harder for a company to mold its revenue figure.

So far, 96.9% of the S&P 500 market cap and 94.8% of the companies have come up with their first-quarter 2018 reports. Total earnings for the first quarter are expected to grow 24.2% from the same period last year on 8.5% higher revenues, per the Earnings Trends issued on May 23, 2018. Around 74.5% of the companies beat on the top line while 77.6% surpassed earnings estimates.

Below, we highlight four sectors and their related stocks that could be used to book some profits on double-digit revenue growth potential.

Materials

The sector is expected to witness the highest revenue growth of 22.4% in the ongoing earnings season. On top of it, about 73.7% companies beat on revenue estimates. The materials sector is best positioned to take advantage of President Trump’s fiscal reflation. Moreover, the President’s “America First” push means more manufacturing in the U.S. territory, which should create greater need for materials.

Sierra Metals Inc. (NYSE:SMTS)

Zacks Rank: #2

Zacks Sector Rank: Top 25%

Historical Quarterly Sales Growth: 13.13%

Y-o-Y next Reported Sales Growth: 18.1%

Construction

The sector is expected to record 20.3% revenue growth in Q1, with 84.6% companies beating revenue estimates. After all, Trump’s pro-industrial agenda and upbeat U.S. economic growth gave a boost to the sector. The space has also been benefiting from a steadily developing office real estate market.

Lyon William Homes (NYSE:WLH)

Zacks Rank: #2

Zacks Sector Rank: Top 6%

Historical Quarterly Sales Growth: 44.24%

Y-o-Y next Reported Sales Growth: 24.4%

Energy

Prolonged oil woes appear to be reaching an end. This year oil prices have been on a steady ascent on talks of an extension in the OPEC output deal, U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela, and reports of U.S. crude inventory draws. Though oil prices dropped lately on news of a output boost from Saudi and Russia, the revenue growth picture in the sector remained solid.

The energy sector logged 14.2% expansion in Q1 of 2018, the third highest among the Zacks classified 16 sectors under the S&P 500 index. Around 70% of the companies registered revenue beat.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY)

Zacks Rank: #1

Zacks Sector Rank: Top 31%

Historical Quarterly Sales Growth: 28.44%

Y-o-Y next Reported Sales Growth: 20.38%

Technology

The technology sector has been positioned strongly thanks to improving economic and industry fundamentals and Trump’s corporate tax reform. About 87.1% of the companies have reported results so far. The sector is expected to witness revenue growth of 11.5% in Q1 earnings, with 88.9% of the companies exceeding sales estimates.

NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Zacks Rank: #1

Zacks Sector Rank: Top 38%

Historical Quarterly Sales Growth: 65.57%

Y-o-Y next Reported Sales Growth: 35.68%

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