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QuantumScape & 2 More Stocks Show Strong Earnings Acceleration

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Key Takeaways

  • Earnings acceleration is seen as a stronger driver of stock prices than steady growth.
  • QuantumScape, Delek Logistics and RingCentral all show impressive EPS acceleration.
  • The screening narrowed 7,735 stocks to 13, with these three emerging as top picks.

Top corporate officials and analysts prioritize persistent earnings growth, as it reflects a company’s profitability. However, earnings acceleration has more impact on driving stock prices higher. This is because various studies have shown that stocks often experience an earnings surge before their stock value rises. 

In this context, QuantumScape Corporation (QS - Free Report) , Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL - Free Report) and RingCentral, Inc. (RNG - Free Report) are showcasing impressive earnings acceleration.  

What is Earnings Acceleration? 

Earnings acceleration is the incremental growth in a company’s earnings per share (EPS). In other words, if a company’s quarter-over-quarter earnings growth rate increases within a stipulated time frame, it can be called earnings acceleration. 

In the case of earnings growth, you pay for something that is already reflected in the stock price. However, earnings acceleration helps spot stocks that haven’t yet caught the attention of investors and, once secured, will invariably lead to a rally in the share price. This is because earnings acceleration considers both the direction and magnitude of growth rates. 

An increasing percentage of earnings growth means that the company is fundamentally sound and has been on the right track for a considerable period. Meanwhile, a sideways percentage of earnings growth indicates a period of consolidation or slowdown, while a decelerating percentage of earnings growth may drag prices down. 

Screening Parameters Using Research Wizard: 

Look at stocks for which the last two quarter-over-quarter percentage EPS growth rates exceed the previous periods’ growth rates. The projected EPS growth rates for the upcoming quarter are expected to exceed those of prior periods. 

EPS % Projected Growth (Q1)/(Q0) greater than EPS % Growth (Q0)/(Q-1): The projected growth rate for the current quarter (Q1) over the completed quarter (Q0) has to be greater than the growth rate from the completed quarter (Q0) over one quarter ago (Q-1). 

EPS % Growth (Q0)/(Q-1) greater than EPS % Growth (Q-1)/(Q-2): The growth rate for the completed quarter (Q0) over one quarter ago (Q-1) has to be greater than the growth rate from one quarter ago (Q-1) over two quarters ago (Q-2). 

EPS % Growth (Q-1)/(Q-2) greater than EPS % Growth (Q-2)/(Q-3): The growth rate from one quarter ago (Q-1) over two quarters ago (Q-2) has to be greater than the growth rate from two quarters ago (Q-2) over three quarters ago (Q-3). 

In addition to this, we have added the following parameters: 

Current Price greater than or equal to $5: This screens out low-priced stocks. 

Average 20-day volume greater than or equal to 50,000: High trading volume implies that the stocks have adequate liquidity. 

The above criteria narrowed the universe of around 7,735 stocks to only 13. Here are the top three stocks: 

QuantumScape  

QuantumScape concentrates on developing and commercializing solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and other uses in the United States. QuantumScape has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). QuantumScape’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 19.2%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

Delek Logistics  

Delek Logistics offers pipeline, transportation, and other services for crude oil, refined products and natural gas in the United States. Delek Logistics has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). DKL’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.4%.  

RingCentral 

RingCentral delivers cloud-based business communications, contact center solutions, video and hybrid event solutions globally. RingCentral has a Zacks Rank #3. RNG’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 14.9%.  

You can sign up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your 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.
 


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


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Delek Logistics Partners, L.P. (DKL) - free report >>

Ringcentral, Inc. (RNG) - free report >>

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) - free report >>

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