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5 Top-Ranked High-Efficiency Stocks Poised for Stronger Returns
Efficiency measures how effectively a company converts its resources and inputs into productive outputs. It is an important indicator of a company’s profit-generating potential, as higher efficiency generally reflects better resource utilization, stronger operational performance and improved profitability. Companies with high efficiency levels are therefore expected to deliver stronger returns, as efficiency is often positively correlated with stock price performance.
However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider popular efficiency ratios while selecting stocks.
CareDx, Healthcare Services Group, Forum Energy Technologies,Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Caterpillar made it through the screening process.
The efficiency ratios are:
Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio, or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivable or that it has quality customers.
Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.
Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low inventory level compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.
Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.
Our Choices
Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:
CareDx
CareDx is a commercial-stage company that develops, markets and delivers a diagnostic surveillance solution for heart transplant recipients. CDNA has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 85.7%.
Healthcare Services Group
Healthcare Services Group provides housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals. HCSG has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 57.3%.
Forum Energy Technologies
Forum Energy Technologies is a global oilfield products company, serving the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. FET has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 41.6%.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Amneal Pharmaceuticals is a diversified, global biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad portfolio of essential medicines. AMRX has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.8%.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar, known for its iconic yellow machines, is the largest global construction and mining equipment manufacturer. CAT has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.1%.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks.com featured highlights include CareDx, Healthcare Services, Forum Energy Tech, Amneal Pharma and Caterpillar
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 19, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are CareDx (CDNA - Free Report) , Healthcare Services Group (HCSG - Free Report) , Forum Energy Technologies (FET - Free Report) , Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX - Free Report) and Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) .
5 Top-Ranked High-Efficiency Stocks Poised for Stronger Returns
Efficiency measures how effectively a company converts its resources and inputs into productive outputs. It is an important indicator of a company’s profit-generating potential, as higher efficiency generally reflects better resource utilization, stronger operational performance and improved profitability. Companies with high efficiency levels are therefore expected to deliver stronger returns, as efficiency is often positively correlated with stock price performance.
However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider popular efficiency ratios while selecting stocks.
CareDx, Healthcare Services Group, Forum Energy Technologies,Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Caterpillar made it through the screening process.
The efficiency ratios are:
Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio, or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivable or that it has quality customers.
Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.
Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low inventory level compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.
Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.
Our Choices
Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:
CareDx
CareDx is a commercial-stage company that develops, markets and delivers a diagnostic surveillance solution for heart transplant recipients. CDNA has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 85.7%.
Healthcare Services Group
Healthcare Services Group provides housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals. HCSG has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 57.3%.
Forum Energy Technologies
Forum Energy Technologies is a global oilfield products company, serving the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. FET has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 41.6%.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Amneal Pharmaceuticals is a diversified, global biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad portfolio of essential medicines. AMRX has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.8%.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar, known for its iconic yellow machines, is the largest global construction and mining equipment manufacturer. CAT has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.1%.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2976190/5-top-ranked-high-efficiency-stocks-poised-for-stronger-returns
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Visit: https://www.zacks.com/
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.