Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, February 18:

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (EDU Quick QuoteEDU - Free Report) : This company that provides private educational services in China carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 4.8% over the last 60 days.

New Oriental Education & Technology has a PEG ratio of 0.85 compared with 0.99 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB Quick QuoteBLKB - Free Report) : This company that provides cloud software solutions to educational institutions carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 2.6% over the last 60 days.

Blackbaud has a PEG ratio of 1.20 compared with 1.50 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A

Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL Quick QuoteRL - Free Report) : This lifestyle products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.2% over the last 60 days.

Ralph Lauren has a PEG ratio of 1.45 compared with 2.02 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.