We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: First American Financial Corp, Manulife Financial Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, J.Jill and Alps Electric
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 01, 2017 – 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 includeFirst American Financial Corp (NYSE:(FAF - Free Report) – Free Report), Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:(MFC - Free Report) – Free Report), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:(WMT - Free Report) – Free Report), J.Jill Inc (NYSE:(JILL - Free Report) – Free Report) and Alps Electric Co Ltd (OTCMKTS:(APELY - Free Report) – Free Report).
U.S. GDP Crosses $19 Trillion for 1st Time: 5 Best Gainers
After a feeble start to the year, Americans spent more in the spring driving the U.S. economy beyond the $19 trillion mark for the first time. Real gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded in the second quarter and more than doubled from the first quarter. Pick-up in consumer spending and an uptick in business investment in software, research and equipment boosted economic growth. Consumer outlays in particular improved on a steady job market and healthier household finances. Hence, it seems judicious to invest in areas where consumers have led the way.
US Economy Strengthens under Trump
According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, US GDP expanded to $19.2 trillion at the end of the second quarter. The figure was at around $19 trillion at the close of the first quarter, while at the end of last year it was $18.9 trillion. Under Trump, the U.S. economy grew more than $300 billion in just two quarters. Conversely, at the end of the first two quarters under President Obama, U.S. GDP had contracted. At the end of Obama’s first quarter in office, US GDP had shrunk to $14.4 trillion and then to $14.3 trillion at the close of the second quarter.
GDP is the most comprehensive economic statistics and is used by the White House to prepare the Federal Budget. And the official scoreboard for the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.6% in the second quarter, almost double the downwardly revised 1.2% pace of growth in the first quarter. This indicated that the early slowdown was mostly due to seasonal factors like poor weather and late tax refunds.
Consumer Spending Drives GDP to New Highs
A rebound in consumer spending boosted overall economic growth. Consumer outlays grew 2.8% in the second quarter as Americans spent more on healthcare, groceries and clothes. Spending rebounded in the last quarter, buoyed by an uptick in household finances. Disposable income adjusted for inflation saw the best back-to-back quarters this year since the first half of 2015.
Consumer spending was also driven by the strongest labor market in years. The U.S. added 16.6 million new jobs since 2010 to push the unemployment rate down to nearly a 16-year low of 4.4%. In fact, the U.S. job market roared back to life in June, with a better-than-expected 222,000 job additions in the month. Payroll in May and April was revised higher to 152,000 and 207,000, respectively.
Gad Levanon, chief economist North America, for the Conference Board said that “the strong job growth in June and the upward revisions for May and April suggest that the concerns about a major slowdown in job growth were premature”. Employment gains have averaged 180,000 per month this year and several economists believe that the economy might need to add only 100,000 jobs on a regular basis to maintain growth levels.
Business Investments Ramp Up
Companies, in the meanwhile, increased investments in equipment like computers, which rose at a rate of 8.2%, the highest in almost two years. This also highlights the optimism among companies over demand in domestic and overseas markets.
Among other bright spots, nonresidential fixed investment that includes structures and intellectual properties contributed 0.64 percentage points to growth. Government spending also increased at a clip of 0.7%, adding 0.12 point to growth. But, national defense spending and residential investments, to name a few, saw declining investments in the said quarter. Nevertheless, the economy continues to be in good shape and has expanded for eight straight quarters since the recession.
5 Solid Choices
As consumers raises their spending on healthcare, groceries and garments, investing in stocks from such areas seems a prudent choice. Significant increase in expenditure on software, research and development also calls for investing in such a space. We have, thus, selected five solid stocks from the aforesaid areas that flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and also a VGM Score of ‘A’ or ‘B.’ Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three metrics. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners.
First American Financial Corp(NYSE:FAF – Free Report) is engaged in the business of providing financial services. The company operates through the title insurance and services segment, and specialty insurance segment. First American Financial has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings advanced 4.3% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 6.2% this year, higher than the industry’s projected gain of 0.2%. The company has yielded a solid return of 33.7% on a year-to-date basis.
Manulife Financial Corporation(NYSE:MFC – Free Report) provides financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its year earnings increased 2.5% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to register a solid gain of 11.1% this year. It has already given a return of 14.7% on a year-to-date basis.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc(NYSE:WMT – Free Report) is engaged in the operation of retail, wholesale and other units in various formats around the world. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of ‘A.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings improved 0.2% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 0.9% this year, in contrast to the industry’s projected decline of 4.4%. Wal-Mart has outperformed the industry on a year-to-date basis (+15.5% vs +10.3%).
J.Jill Inc(NYSE:JILL – Free Report) operates as a specialty retailer in the women’s apparel industry. J.Jill is a women’s apparel brand focused on customer in the 40-65 age segment. J.Jill has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings soared 7.6% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 24.6% this year; in contrast the industry is projected to decline 5.5%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Alps Electric Co Ltd(OTCMKTS:APELY – Free Report) engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of electronic components worldwide, including the U.S. The company has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘A.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings rose 12.5% over the last 30 days. The company has returned 16.5% this year, while the same for next year is projected at 12.3%.
More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs.
A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: First American Financial Corp, Manulife Financial Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, J.Jill and Alps Electric
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 01, 2017 – 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 includeFirst American Financial Corp (NYSE:(FAF - Free Report) – Free Report), Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:(MFC - Free Report) – Free Report), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:(WMT - Free Report) – Free Report), J.Jill Inc (NYSE:(JILL - Free Report) – Free Report) and Alps Electric Co Ltd (OTCMKTS:(APELY - Free Report) – Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
U.S. GDP Crosses $19 Trillion for 1st Time: 5 Best Gainers
After a feeble start to the year, Americans spent more in the spring driving the U.S. economy beyond the $19 trillion mark for the first time. Real gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded in the second quarter and more than doubled from the first quarter. Pick-up in consumer spending and an uptick in business investment in software, research and equipment boosted economic growth. Consumer outlays in particular improved on a steady job market and healthier household finances. Hence, it seems judicious to invest in areas where consumers have led the way.
US Economy Strengthens under Trump
According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, US GDP expanded to $19.2 trillion at the end of the second quarter. The figure was at around $19 trillion at the close of the first quarter, while at the end of last year it was $18.9 trillion. Under Trump, the U.S. economy grew more than $300 billion in just two quarters. Conversely, at the end of the first two quarters under President Obama, U.S. GDP had contracted. At the end of Obama’s first quarter in office, US GDP had shrunk to $14.4 trillion and then to $14.3 trillion at the close of the second quarter.
GDP is the most comprehensive economic statistics and is used by the White House to prepare the Federal Budget. And the official scoreboard for the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.6% in the second quarter, almost double the downwardly revised 1.2% pace of growth in the first quarter. This indicated that the early slowdown was mostly due to seasonal factors like poor weather and late tax refunds.
Consumer Spending Drives GDP to New Highs
A rebound in consumer spending boosted overall economic growth. Consumer outlays grew 2.8% in the second quarter as Americans spent more on healthcare, groceries and clothes. Spending rebounded in the last quarter, buoyed by an uptick in household finances. Disposable income adjusted for inflation saw the best back-to-back quarters this year since the first half of 2015.
Consumer spending was also driven by the strongest labor market in years. The U.S. added 16.6 million new jobs since 2010 to push the unemployment rate down to nearly a 16-year low of 4.4%. In fact, the U.S. job market roared back to life in June, with a better-than-expected 222,000 job additions in the month. Payroll in May and April was revised higher to 152,000 and 207,000, respectively.
Gad Levanon, chief economist North America, for the Conference Board said that “the strong job growth in June and the upward revisions for May and April suggest that the concerns about a major slowdown in job growth were premature”. Employment gains have averaged 180,000 per month this year and several economists believe that the economy might need to add only 100,000 jobs on a regular basis to maintain growth levels.
Business Investments Ramp Up
Companies, in the meanwhile, increased investments in equipment like computers, which rose at a rate of 8.2%, the highest in almost two years. This also highlights the optimism among companies over demand in domestic and overseas markets.
Among other bright spots, nonresidential fixed investment that includes structures and intellectual properties contributed 0.64 percentage points to growth. Government spending also increased at a clip of 0.7%, adding 0.12 point to growth. But, national defense spending and residential investments, to name a few, saw declining investments in the said quarter. Nevertheless, the economy continues to be in good shape and has expanded for eight straight quarters since the recession.
5 Solid Choices
As consumers raises their spending on healthcare, groceries and garments, investing in stocks from such areas seems a prudent choice. Significant increase in expenditure on software, research and development also calls for investing in such a space. We have, thus, selected five solid stocks from the aforesaid areas that flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and also a VGM Score of ‘A’ or ‘B.’ Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three metrics. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners.
First American Financial Corp(NYSE:FAF – Free Report) is engaged in the business of providing financial services. The company operates through the title insurance and services segment, and specialty insurance segment. First American Financial has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings advanced 4.3% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 6.2% this year, higher than the industry’s projected gain of 0.2%. The company has yielded a solid return of 33.7% on a year-to-date basis.
Manulife Financial Corporation(NYSE:MFC – Free Report) provides financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its year earnings increased 2.5% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to register a solid gain of 11.1% this year. It has already given a return of 14.7% on a year-to-date basis.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc(NYSE:WMT – Free Report) is engaged in the operation of retail, wholesale and other units in various formats around the world. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of ‘A.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings improved 0.2% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 0.9% this year, in contrast to the industry’s projected decline of 4.4%. Wal-Mart has outperformed the industry on a year-to-date basis (+15.5% vs +10.3%).
J.Jill Inc(NYSE:JILL – Free Report) operates as a specialty retailer in the women’s apparel industry. J.Jill is a women’s apparel brand focused on customer in the 40-65 age segment. J.Jill has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘B.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings soared 7.6% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 24.6% this year; in contrast the industry is projected to decline 5.5%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Alps Electric Co Ltd(OTCMKTS:APELY – Free Report) engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of electronic components worldwide, including the U.S. The company has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of ‘A.’ The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings rose 12.5% over the last 30 days. The company has returned 16.5% this year, while the same for next year is projected at 12.3%.
More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs.
A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Get the full Report on FAF - FREE
Get the full Report on MFC - FREE
Get the full Report on WMT – FREE
Get the full Report on JILL - FREE
Get the full Report on APELY - FREE
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com/
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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.