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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Jacobs Engineering Group, Norbord, Boise Cascade and Sterling Construction
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 9, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. , Norbord Inc. , Boise Cascade Co. (BCC - Free Report) and Sterling Construction Company, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) .
U.S. Construction Industry Remains Upbeat: 4 Top Picks
Per the latest report from U.S. Commerce Department, domestic construction spending ticked up in May on the back of a sturdy increase in investments in private as well as public construction projects.
Although, the metric came in below market expectations, it showed a steep rise on a year-over-year basis. Such an increase points toward strength in the construction market despite trade war related woes. Investors should make the most of this opportunity and bet on stocks from the space.
U.S. Construction Activity Gains Traction
Construction spending in the United States ticked up 0.4% in May. This came in lower than the consensus estimate of an increase of 0.5%. However, the spending on construction projects across the United States increased 4.5% in May to an all-time high of $1.31 trillion.
However, the data for April was revised down to 0.9% instead of 1.8% reported earlier. This would have been the biggest increase in the last 24 years. Experts speculated that a downward revision in April data could lead to economists reducing their second quarter GDP growth forecast even further.
However, the Atlanta Federal Reserve stated on Jul 2 that it expects the U.S. economy to grow at an annualized pace of 3.8% in the second quarter compared with 2% in the first quarter.
Outlays on Private and Public Construction Drove Spending Higher
The uptick in May was supported by a steady increase in outlays on private as well as public construction projects. The total investment in private construction rose 0.3% last month. Further, investments in residential projects alone rose 0.87% in May.
Also, spending shot up 0.6% on new single-family homes and 1.6% on apartment construction. On the other hand, investment in public construction rose 0.7% in May to $304.1 billion — its highest level since October 2010. What contributed to such an increase was a 0.6% rise in state and local construction projects to $282.1 billion. This marked its biggest increase since 2009.
Moreover, outlays on state and local construction constitutes about 90% of the total government spending, thereby providing the biggest push to overall government spending. Taking such factors into consideration, a faction of economists believe that construction spending would end up propelling the overall economic growth of the United States this year even as interest rates remain high.
4 Best Choices
Despite the prevalent trade war-related worries, construction activity in the United States remained robust in May. Increased spending on public as well as private construction resulted in an uptick in overall construction spending.
The Zacks Construction sector is currently placed in the top 38% out of the 16 Zacks sectors. In this context, we have selected five stocks that are expected to gain from these factors. These five stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is a provider of engineering, architectural, designing and construction services.
The company is based out of Dallas, TX and has a Zacks Rank #1. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.52%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.2% over the last 60 days.
Boise Cascade Co. is a manufacturer and distributor of wood products and construction and building materials.
The company is based out of Boise, ID and has a Zacks Rank #1. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 74.70%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 20.6% over the last 60 days.
Norbord Inc. is a producer of wood-based panels for industrial manufacturers, retail chains as well as contractor supply yards.
The company is based out of Toronto, Canada and has a Zacks Rank #2. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 6.35%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.2% over the last 60 days.
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. is engaged in civil as well as residential construction across the United States.
The company is based out of The Woodlands, TX and has a Zacks Rank #2. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 70.91%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 3.3% over the past 60 days.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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.
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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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Jacobs Engineering Group, Norbord, Boise Cascade and Sterling Construction
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 9, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. , Norbord Inc. , Boise Cascade Co. (BCC - Free Report) and Sterling Construction Company, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) .
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
U.S. Construction Industry Remains Upbeat: 4 Top Picks
Per the latest report from U.S. Commerce Department, domestic construction spending ticked up in May on the back of a sturdy increase in investments in private as well as public construction projects.
Although, the metric came in below market expectations, it showed a steep rise on a year-over-year basis. Such an increase points toward strength in the construction market despite trade war related woes. Investors should make the most of this opportunity and bet on stocks from the space.
U.S. Construction Activity Gains Traction
Construction spending in the United States ticked up 0.4% in May. This came in lower than the consensus estimate of an increase of 0.5%. However, the spending on construction projects across the United States increased 4.5% in May to an all-time high of $1.31 trillion.
However, the data for April was revised down to 0.9% instead of 1.8% reported earlier. This would have been the biggest increase in the last 24 years. Experts speculated that a downward revision in April data could lead to economists reducing their second quarter GDP growth forecast even further.
However, the Atlanta Federal Reserve stated on Jul 2 that it expects the U.S. economy to grow at an annualized pace of 3.8% in the second quarter compared with 2% in the first quarter.
Outlays on Private and Public Construction Drove Spending Higher
The uptick in May was supported by a steady increase in outlays on private as well as public construction projects. The total investment in private construction rose 0.3% last month. Further, investments in residential projects alone rose 0.87% in May.
Also, spending shot up 0.6% on new single-family homes and 1.6% on apartment construction. On the other hand, investment in public construction rose 0.7% in May to $304.1 billion — its highest level since October 2010. What contributed to such an increase was a 0.6% rise in state and local construction projects to $282.1 billion. This marked its biggest increase since 2009.
Moreover, outlays on state and local construction constitutes about 90% of the total government spending, thereby providing the biggest push to overall government spending. Taking such factors into consideration, a faction of economists believe that construction spending would end up propelling the overall economic growth of the United States this year even as interest rates remain high.
4 Best Choices
Despite the prevalent trade war-related worries, construction activity in the United States remained robust in May. Increased spending on public as well as private construction resulted in an uptick in overall construction spending.
The Zacks Construction sector is currently placed in the top 38% out of the 16 Zacks sectors. In this context, we have selected five stocks that are expected to gain from these factors. These five stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is a provider of engineering, architectural, designing and construction services.
The company is based out of Dallas, TX and has a Zacks Rank #1. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.52%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.2% over the last 60 days.
Boise Cascade Co. is a manufacturer and distributor of wood products and construction and building materials.
The company is based out of Boise, ID and has a Zacks Rank #1. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 74.70%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 20.6% over the last 60 days.
Norbord Inc. is a producer of wood-based panels for industrial manufacturers, retail chains as well as contractor supply yards.
The company is based out of Toronto, Canada and has a Zacks Rank #2. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 6.35%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.2% over the last 60 days.
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. is engaged in civil as well as residential construction across the United States.
The company is based out of The Woodlands, TX and has a Zacks Rank #2. The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 70.91%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 3.3% over the past 60 days.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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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.