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4 Top-Ranked Momentum Picks Using Driehaus Strategy

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Richard Herman Driehaus used the "buy high and sell higher" rule to create an investment approach. Investors with a high appetite for risk may think of using this particular investment strategy. Usually, momentum stocks are picked using the Driehaus strategy. The success of this investment approach eventually helped Richard Driehaus make a place in Barron’s All-Century Team.

Portfolios such as the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) have proven time and again that the strategy has the potential to offer high returns. Thus, investors with a high-risk appetite may opt for this strategy.

To that end, we have selected ArcBest Corporation (ARCB - Free Report) , Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) , ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) , and First Business Financial Services, Inc. (FBIZ - Free Report) as the momentum picks for the day, using the Driehaus strategy.

A Look at Driehaus’ Strategy

After a detailed study of the Driehaus’ strategy, AAII concluded that it mainly focuses on strong earnings growth rates and impressive prospects to pick potential outperformers. While this strategy was created to provide better returns over the longer haul, companies with a strong history of beating estimates were also given importance.

“I would much rather invest in a stock that’s increasing in price and take the risk that it may begin to decline than invest in a stock that’s already in a decline and try to guess when it will turn around,” Driehaus had said in an interview.

Screening Parameters

The percentage 50-day moving average is one of the key criteria in this strategy. A positive percentage 50-day moving average indicates that the stock is trading at a price higher than its 50-day moving average level, indicating an uptrend. It is calculated by dividing the numerator (month-end price minus 50-day moving average of month-end price) by the 50-day moving average of the month-end price. Another momentum indicator – positive relative strength – has also been included in this strategy. 

In order to make the strategy more profitable, we have only considered those stocks that have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as well as a momentum score of ‘A’ or ‘B’. Our research shows that stocks with a Style Score of ‘A’ or ‘B’ when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential.

• Zacks Rank equal to #1

No matter whether the market is good or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 have a proven history of outperformance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

• Last 5-year average EPS growth rates above 2%

Strong EPS growth history ensures improving business

• Trailing 12-month EPS growth greater than 0 and industry median

Higher EPS growth compared to the industry average indicates superior earnings performance

• Last four-quarter average EPS surprise greater than 5%

Solid EPS surprise history indicates better price performance

• Positive percentage change in 50-day moving average and relative strength over 4 weeks

Positive percentage change in 50-day moving average and relative strength signal uptrend

• Momentum Score equal to or less than B        

A favorable momentum score indicates that it is ideal to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.

These few parameters have narrowed down the universe of over 7,720 stocks to only 26.

Here are four of the 26 stocks:

ArcBestCorporation is a provider of freight transportation services and solutions. ArcBest's Freight Transportation segment offers transportation of general commodities, motor carrier freight transportation services, business-to-business air transportation services, ocean transport services, global customizable supply chain solutions and integrated warehousing services.

ArcBest has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise for ARCB is 31.4%, on average.         

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. is the owner and operator of a lifestyle retail chain devoted to western and work-related footwear, apparel and accessories.

BOOT has a Momentum Score of A and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 35.3%, on average.

ConocoPhillips is a global exploration and production (E&P) company with operations all over the world.

ConocoPhillips has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise is 12.6%, on average, for COP.

First Business Financial Services, Inc. is the bank holding company for First Business Bank that provides commercial banking products and services.

FBIZ has a Momentum Score of A. The four-quarter earnings surprise for First Business Financial Services is 25%, on average.

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

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.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

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