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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: General Motors, Charles River, DSW, Shoe Carnival and Boingo

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –March 4, 2019 – 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: General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) , Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL - Free Report) , DSW Inc. , Shoe Carnival, Inc. (SCVL - Free Report) and Boingo Wireless, Inc. .

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

5 Stocks to Reap Rewards from U.S.'s Banner 2018

The U.S. economy finished one of the best years of a decade-long economic expansion, growing at a commendable pace in the fourth quarter and defying slowdowns elsewhere in the world.

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, healthier household finances and tax cuts. Hence, it seems judicious to invest in areas where consumers have led the way.

GDP Matches Fastest Growth Since Recession

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. GDP expanded a 2.6% annual pace in the fourth quarter of 2018. It was way more than analysts’ expectations of a 1.9% growth rate. The U.S. economy had expanded at a solid 3.4% clip in the third quarter, which followed an even better 4.2% growth in the second quarter.

A slight drop at the end of 2018, however, kept the economy from clocking 3% annual growth rate for the first time since 2005. But, GDP for the full year did match the growth rate attained in 2015, which was the highest since the 2007-2009 Great Recession.

The fourth quarter growth rate is certainly laudable. After all, such steady growth was achieved despite slowdown in global economic growth, consistent turbulence in the financial markets, trade-related disputes with China and the longest partial government shutdown in history.

In fact, the government shutdown that began shortly before Christmas may have cost the economy 0.1 percentage point of growth in the fourth quarter, added the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Consumer Spending Drives GDP, Business Investments Ramp Up

Consumer spending boosted economic growth. Consumer outlays grew a healthy 2.8% in the fourth quarter as Americans splurged on cars and trucks, health care, clothes and financial services, among other things. Disposable personal income, by the way, increased $225.1 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of $190.6 billion in the preceding quarter.

Spending improved mostly due to a strong jobs market, household income gains and tax cuts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment gains in 2018 turned out to be the strongest in the last three years. In fact, if we consider December’s job additions of 222,000, November’s 196,000 and this January’s 304,000, the labor market has posted the best three-month stretch during an economic expansion dating back nine-and-a-half years ago.

The $1.5-trillion tax cut package that Trump got Congress to pass last year also did put a lot of money in consumers’ pocket. The tax bill trimmed the ultra-rich individual tax bracket from 39.6% to 37%, while the middle class has been excused from paying hefty taxes.

In the meantime, companies increased investments in equipment and product research, offsetting the drop in investments in new construction. Business investment climbed 7% in the year, while investments in software, research & development increased 7.7%, surpassing the 7.5% gain in 2016 — the best since 2000’s 9.5%.

5 Solid Choices

As consumers bump up their spending on cars, healthcare and garments, to name a few, investing in stocks from such areas seems prudent. Significant increase in expenditure on software, research and development also calls for investing in such spaces.

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.

General Motors Companydesigns, builds, and sells cars, trucks, crossovers, and automobile parts worldwide. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The company’s earnings growth rate for the past five years have been 15.5%, more than the Automotive - Domestic industry’s gain of 8.2% (read more: Wall Street Takes Notice of These 4 Stocks - Should You?).

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services. The company, which is part of the Medical Services industry, has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is a steady 7.5%.

DSW Inc.offers dresses, casual and athletic footwear, and accessories under various brands for women, men, and kids. It also provides handbags, hosiery, jewelry, and other accessories. The company has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 16.5%, more than the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry’s projected gain of 10.6%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. operates as a family footwear retailer in the United States. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 62.4%, higher than the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry’s projected growth of 10.6%.

Boingo Wireless, Inc.provides wireless connectivity solutions for smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, and other wireless-enabled consumer devices. The company has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of B. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 71.4%, way higher than the Internet - Software and Services industry’s projected growth of 8.8%.

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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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) - free report >>

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Shoe Carnival, Inc. (SCVL) - free report >>

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