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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Steel Dynamics, Gerdau, D.R. Horton, M.D.C. Holdings and America's Car-Mart

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – March 17, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) , Gerdau S.A. (GGB - Free Report) , D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI - Free Report) , M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC - Free Report) and America's Car-Mart, Inc. (CRMT - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Stock with Good Growth Records and Attractive Valuations

We are coming to the close of the first quarter of 2021 and it's clear that the economy is limping – or should I say leaping – back to normal.

The first two quarters of 2021 will see easier comps for most sectors because the pandemic hit in March 2020 and we had lockdowns going into June. But easier comps aren't the only reason for the strong expectations. As companies resumed production and sales, the outlook continued to improve. So quarterly expectations have improved steadily.

The earnings growth expectation for quarter one of 2021 was 11.7% back in December. But with repeated revisions right through the past few months, it now stands at 18.5%. What's more, second quarter earnings growth expectation is currently at 48.7% (mainly because the second quarter of 2020 was the weakest).

Last year, the strongest sectors were technology and construction with auto picking up towards year-end. But this year is very different with most of the industrials and basic materials also joining the fray. Even the pandemic-hit entertainment, airlines, restaurants and other services are expected to come back as more and more people get inoculated.

And the best part is that Americans have the money to spend on these things given the record-high savings rate and stimulus checks the government is serving up.

So this is a great time to invest in stocks. And needless to say, investors are making the most of it.

No matter what your risk appetite or your investment goals, it's important to remember that we want to minimize losses. So check the past performance and go with the experts on the future performance.

Because chances are that a company generating solid results over the last five years won't suddenly change course.

Particularly if it belongs to an industry with multiple growth drivers.

And also, if analyst estimates point to attractive growth this year and strong long-term potential.

All the better if they have sufficient liquidity to continue pursuing growth.

And of course an attractive valuation.

So with all that in mind, let's look at a few stocks-

Steel Dynamics

Fort Wayne, IN-based Steel Dynamics is among the leading steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States with a steelmaking and coating capacity of more than 11 million tons. It's one of the most diversified steel companies with a vast range of specialty products. The company offers steel products, recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and steel joist and decking products for both domestic and international consumption.

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company belongs to the Steel – Producers industry (top 9%).

In the last 5 years its earnings have grown 22.1% and its estimated long-term earnings growth rate is 12.0%.

Revenue and earnings are expected to grow 17.6% and 56.7%, respectively this year with a drop-off forecasted for 2022.

The company's current assets are sufficient to cover its current liabilities/obligations 3.38X over. So it is not financially constrained from pursuing growth.

Valuation: At 11.07X forward P/E the shares look cheap, especially considering the company's steady performance in the last five years, future growth potential and financial liquidity.

Gerdau

Brazilian steel maker Gerdau S.A. is the largest long steel producer in Latin America. Gerdau steel is used in construction and industry as well as in the automotive and agricultural sectors.

This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is also part of the Steel – Producers industry (top 9%).

In the last 5 years its earnings have grown 43.1% while its long-term earnings growth rate is estimated to be 14.6%.

Revenue and earnings are expected to grow 25.6% and 66.1%, respectively this year with a drop-off forecasted for 2022.

Its current assets can meet current obligations 2.04X.

Valuation: At 9.53X forward earnings, the shares are trading cheap.

D.R. Horton

Texas-based home construction company D.R. Horton primarily focuses on the construction and sale of single-family houses for entry-level and move-up customers. D.R. Horton's operations are spread over 90 markets across 29 states in the East, Midwest, Southeast, South Central, Southwest and West regions of the United States. Its houses are sold under the brand names D.R. Horton - America's Builder, Emerald Homes, Express Homes and Freedom Homes.

This Zacks Rank #2 company belongs to the Building Products - Home Builders industry (top 16%).

In the last 5 years its earnings have grown 26.4% and its estimated long-term earnings growth rate is 13.4%.

Revenue and earnings are expected to grow 28.3% and 41.8%, respectively this year with a slight deceleration forecasted for 2022.

Its current ratio of 6.28 indicates that its current assets are 6.28X its current liabilities.

Valuation: At 8.87X forward earnings, the shares are trading cheap.

M.D.C. Holdings

M.D.C. Holdings is engaged in the construction, sale and related financing of residential housing and the acquisition and development of land for use in the Denver, Phoenix, Maryland, Virginia, mid-Atlantic region, Las Vegas, Dallas, California metropolitan areas. MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries operate under the name Richmond American Homes.

This Zacks Rank #2 company is also part of the Building Products - Home Builders industry (top 16%).

In the last 5 years its earnings have grown 32.5%.

Its estimated long-term earnings growth rate is 10.6%.

Revenue and earnings are expected to grow 33.4% and 34.6%, respectively this year with a slight deceleration forecasted for 2022.

Its current ratio is 7.43.

Valuation: At 8.25X forward earnings, the shares are trading cheap.

America's CarMart

Bentonville, AR-based America's Car-Mart is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States focused exclusively on the Buy Here/Pay Here segment of the used car market. The company operates its dealerships primarily in small cities and rural locations throughout the South-Central United States, selling quality used vehicles and providing financing for substantially all of its customers.

It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

It belongs in the Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry (top 17%).

In the last 5 years its earnings have grown 47.1%.

Its estimated long-term earnings growth rate is 13.6%.

Revenue and earnings are expected to grow 16.5% and 56.2%, respectively this year (ending April). Current estimates for 2022 indicate a respective 6.3% and 2.6% increase in revenue and earnings.

Current ratio is 2.03.

Valuation: At 14.15X forward earnings, the shares look cheap.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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