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Zacks.com featured highlights include include Nutrisystem, Johnson Outdoors, Bayerische Motoren Werke, SP Plus and Arkema

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 20, 2017 - Stocks in this week’s article include Nutrisystem Inc. (Nasdaq:  – Free Report), Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: (JOUT - Free Report)  – Free Report), Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (OTCMKTS: (BAMXF - Free Report)  – Free Report), SP Plus Corporation (Nasdaq:  – Free Report) and Arkema SA (OTCMKTS: (ARKAY - Free Report)  – Free Report).

Screen of the Week of Zacks Investment Research:

5 Solid Stocks with Impressive Net Profit Margin

The primary motive of any investor is to generate maximum returns. Thus, investors are always on the lookout for companies which are raking in impressive profits.

Here, the net profit margin comes into play as it is the most effective way to measure a company’s profits. A proper analysis of the same reveals how efficiently a company is run. A higher net margin reflects the company’s efficiency at converting sales into actual profits.

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’s operations and cost-control measures.

Higher net profit is essential for rewarding stakeholders. Net margin helps investors judge the risks of investing in a company. Creditors also view it as a major factor in determining a company’s ability to pay off debts.

Moreover, a higher net profit margin as compared to peers lends a competitive edge. Strength in the metric not only attracts investors but also draws well-skilled employees that eventually add to the value of the business.

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 the net profit. In such cases, the measure is rendered ineffective to analyze 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 other 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 of the stock.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Stocks having a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) generally perform better than their peers in all types of market environment.

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 five of the 20 stocks that qualified the screen:

Headquartered in Fort Washington, PA, Nutrisystem Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRIFree Report) provides weight management products and services for women and men. The stock flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of B. Notably, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 earnings remained steady at $1.90 over the last 30 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUTFree Report) is a leading global outdoor recreation company that designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Equipment. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2017 earnings has remained steady at $3.50 over the last 30 days.

Munich, Germany-based Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (OTCMKTS: BAMXFFree Report) is a multi-brand automobile manufacturer that focuses on the premium segments of the worldwide automobile and motorcycle markets. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of B. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 earnings remained unchanged at $13.59 over the last 30 days.

Chicago-based SP Plus Corporation (Nasdaq: SPFree Report) provides professional parking, ground transportation, facility maintenance, security, and event logistics services to property owners and managers in the real estate industry. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 earnings remained unchanged at $1.67 over the last 30 days.

France-based Arkema SA (OTCMKTS: ARKAYFree Report) is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of vinyl products, industrial chemicals, and performance products. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 earnings remained unchanged at $8.51 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.

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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.

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