Tap These 6 Stocks That Flaunt Impressive Net Profit Margin

Businesses earning big bucks are pursued by all and sundry. In order to estimate the profit limit of a company, there is no better measure than the net profit margin.

Net profit margin signifies the financial standing of an organization. It is indicative of the company’s ability to manage its resources, making it the paramount metric to assess its profitability.

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 gives 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 months– Most 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 six of the 24 stocks that qualified the screen:

Headquartered in Ness Ziona, Israel, Kamada Ltd. (NASDAQ:KMDA) develops, produces and markets specialty plasma-derived protein therapeutics. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has been stable at 51 cents over the past 30 days.

Lisle, IL-based SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE:SXC) is a producer of metallurgical coke in the Americas. The stock is a #1 Ranked player and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings has been revised 28.6% upward to 90 cents in the past 30 days.

Domiciled in Oak Brook, IL, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. (NASDAQ:GLDD) provides dredging services in the United States and internationally. The stock is a Zacks #2 Ranked player and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings of 68 cents has been reiterated in the past 30 days.

Bonita Springs, FL-based Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI) designs, manufactures and distributes specialty vehicles in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and internationally. The stock has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings per share has been intact at $3.21 over the last 30 days.

Based in Loudon, TN, Malibu Boats, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBUU) operates as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of sport boats, primarily in the United States. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings has been flat at $3.64 in the past 30 days.

Fremont, CA-headquartered SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE:SNX) is a global information technology supply chain services company, offering a comprehensive range of services to original equipment manufacturers, software publishers and reseller customers, worldwide. The stock has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings per share of $12.1 has been inched 1.6% up over 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.