Affiliated Managers Group’s (AMG - Free Report) diverse product mix and initiatives undertaken to strengthen its retail market operations make it a promising pick right now. Further, the company remains well positioned to drive growth on successful partnerships and global distribution capability.
A positive trend in estimate revisions reflects optimism over the company’s earnings growth prospects. Consensus estimates for Affiliated Managers’ fourth-quarter and 2017 earnings have moved up marginally over the last 30 days. As a result, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The stock has surged 35.9% over the past 12 months, widely outperforming the industry’s rally of 27.6%.
Here’s What Might Drive the Stock Higher
Earnings Strength: Affiliated Managers recorded an earnings growth rate of 10.9% over the last three to five years compared with 2.9% for the industry it belongs to. The earnings growth rate for the current and the next year is anticipated to be 12.7% and 14.3%, respectively.
Further, the company has an impressive earnings surprise history, having outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average beat was 2.1%.
Impressive Capital Deployment: Affiliated Managers’ capital deployment plan is commendable. Its 2017 capital plan includes initiation of a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share in January 2017 and share repurchase authorization of four million shares. Given its solid liquidity position and earnings strength, the company should be able to sustain this level of capital deployment.
Strong Inorganic Growth: Affiliated Managers, with its strong balance sheet and liquidity position, is capable enough to invest in other companies. The company is targeting investments in alternatives and global strategies, given the strong preference of investors for the same. In July 2017, the company acquired a minority equity interest in Wealth Partners Capital Group, LLC. Earlier, in 2016, the company acquired minority stakes in at least nine firms, with a goal to strengthen profitability. Given the growing demand for differentiated return-oriented strategies among global institutional clients, the company’s profitability should improve going forward.
Favorable ROE: Affiliated Managers’ return on equity (ROE) supports its growth potential. Its ROE of 17.63% compares favorably with the industry average of 12.75%, implying that it is efficient in using its shareholders’ funds.
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other top-ranked stocks from the same space are Ashford (AINC - Free Report) and Legg Mason , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1, and Woori Bank (WF - Free Report) carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ashford witnessed an upward earnings estimate revision of 7.1% for 2017, in the last 60 days. Its share price has increased 115% in the past 12 months.
Legg Mason’s Zacks Consensus Estimate was revised 2.2% upward for 2017, in the last 60 days. The company’s share price has increased 31.2% in the past 12 months.
Woori Bank witnessed upward earnings estimate revision of 5.7% for 2017, in the last 60 days. Its share price has increased 42.2% in the past 12 months.
Investor Alert: Breakthroughs Pending
A medical advance is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating substantial revenue, and even more wondrous products are in the pipeline.
Cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in sight, and so are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks names 5 stocks to buy now.
Click here to see them >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Affiliated Managers Group’s (AMG - Free Report) diverse product mix and initiatives undertaken to strengthen its retail market operations make it a promising pick right now. Further, the company remains well positioned to drive growth on successful partnerships and global distribution capability.
A positive trend in estimate revisions reflects optimism over the company’s earnings growth prospects. Consensus estimates for Affiliated Managers’ fourth-quarter and 2017 earnings have moved up marginally over the last 30 days. As a result, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The stock has surged 35.9% over the past 12 months, widely outperforming the industry’s rally of 27.6%.
Here’s What Might Drive the Stock Higher
Earnings Strength: Affiliated Managers recorded an earnings growth rate of 10.9% over the last three to five years compared with 2.9% for the industry it belongs to. The earnings growth rate for the current and the next year is anticipated to be 12.7% and 14.3%, respectively.
Further, the company has an impressive earnings surprise history, having outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average beat was 2.1%.
Impressive Capital Deployment: Affiliated Managers’ capital deployment plan is commendable. Its 2017 capital plan includes initiation of a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share in January 2017 and share repurchase authorization of four million shares. Given its solid liquidity position and earnings strength, the company should be able to sustain this level of capital deployment.
Strong Inorganic Growth: Affiliated Managers, with its strong balance sheet and liquidity position, is capable enough to invest in other companies. The company is targeting investments in alternatives and global strategies, given the strong preference of investors for the same. In July 2017, the company acquired a minority equity interest in Wealth Partners Capital Group, LLC. Earlier, in 2016, the company acquired minority stakes in at least nine firms, with a goal to strengthen profitability. Given the growing demand for differentiated return-oriented strategies among global institutional clients, the company’s profitability should improve going forward.
Favorable ROE: Affiliated Managers’ return on equity (ROE) supports its growth potential. Its ROE of 17.63% compares favorably with the industry average of 12.75%, implying that it is efficient in using its shareholders’ funds.
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other top-ranked stocks from the same space are Ashford (AINC - Free Report) and Legg Mason , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1, and Woori Bank (WF - Free Report) carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ashford witnessed an upward earnings estimate revision of 7.1% for 2017, in the last 60 days. Its share price has increased 115% in the past 12 months.
Legg Mason’s Zacks Consensus Estimate was revised 2.2% upward for 2017, in the last 60 days. The company’s share price has increased 31.2% in the past 12 months.
Woori Bank witnessed upward earnings estimate revision of 5.7% for 2017, in the last 60 days. Its share price has increased 42.2% in the past 12 months.
Investor Alert: Breakthroughs Pending
A medical advance is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating substantial revenue, and even more wondrous products are in the pipeline.
Cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in sight, and so are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks names 5 stocks to buy now.
Click here to see them >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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