Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, August 31:

Centene Corporation (CNC Quick QuoteCNC - Free Report) : This managed care company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 40.9% over the last 60 days.

Centene Corporation Price and Consensus

Centene Corporation price-consensus-chart | Centene Corporation Quote

Centene has a PEG ratio of 0.41 compared with 1.31 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

Centene Corporation PEG Ratio (TTM)

Centene Corporation peg-ratio-ttm | Centene Corporation Quote

Valero Energy Corporation (VLO Quick QuoteVLO - Free Report) : This transportation fuels and petrochemical products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 31.1% over the last 60 days.

Valero Energy Corporation Price and Consensus

Valero Energy Corporation price-consensus-chart | Valero Energy Corporation Quote

Valero Energy has a PEG ratio of 0.41 compared with 0.44 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

Valero Energy Corporation PEG Ratio (TTM)

Valero Energy Corporation peg-ratio-ttm | Valero Energy Corporation Quote

Lifetime Brands, Inc. (LCUT Quick QuoteLCUT - Free Report) : This home products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 184.9% over the last 60 days.

Lifetime Brands, Inc. Price and Consensus

Lifetime Brands, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Lifetime Brands, Inc. Quote

Lifetime Brands has a PEG ratio of 0.33 compared with 0.85 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

Lifetime Brands, Inc. PEG Ratio (TTM)

Lifetime Brands, Inc. peg-ratio-ttm | Lifetime Brands, Inc. Quote

 

 

See the full list of top-ranked stocks here.

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