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Top 6 Bets With Wide Net Profit Margin to Add to Portfolio

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Businesses earning big bucks are pursued by all and sundry. In order to estimate the limit of profit, there is no better measure than the net profit margin.

Net profit margin signifies the financial standing of a company. It is indicative of the company’s ability to manage its resources, making it the paramount metric to assess its profitability.

Net Profit Margin= Net profit/Sales * 100.

In simple terms, net profit is the amount a company retains after deducting all costs, interest, depreciation, taxes and other expenses. In fact, net profit margin can turn out to be a potent point of reference to gauge the strength in a company operations and cost-control measures.

Also, higher net profit is essential for rewarding stakeholders. Further, strength in the metric not only attracts investors but also draws well-skilled employees that eventually add to the value of the business.

Moreover, a higher net profit margin compared to its peers gives the company a competitive edge.

Pros and Cons

Net profit margin helps investors gain clarity on a company’s business model in terms of pricing policy, cost structure and manufacturing efficiency. Hence, a strong net profit margin is preferred by all classes of investors.

However, net profit margin as an investment criterion has its own share of pitfalls. The metric varies widely from industry to industry. While net income is a key metric for investment measurement in traditional industries, it is not that important for technology companies.

Moreover, the difference in accounting treatment of various items — especially non-cash expenses like depreciation and stock-based compensation — makes comparison a daunting task.

Further, for companies preferring to grow with debt instead of equity funding, higher interest expenses usually weigh on net profit. In such cases, the measure is rendered ineffective while analyzing a company’s performance.

The Winning Strategy

A healthy net profit margin and solid EPS growth are the two most sought-after elements in a business model.

Apart from these, we have added a few criteria to ensure maximum returns from this strategy.

Screening Parameters

Net Margin 12 monthsMost Recent (%) greater than equal to 0: High net profit margin indicates solid profitability.

Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/(F-1) greater than equal to 0: It indicates earnings growth.

Average Broker Rating (1-5) equal to 1: A rating of #1 indicates brokers’ extreme bullishness on the stock.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) generally perform better than their peers in all types of market environment.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here

VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential.

Here are six of the 32 stocks that qualified the screen:

Headquartered in Plano, TX, Diodes Incorporated (DIOD - Free Report) is a manufacturer and supplier of application-specific standard products, primarily to the communications, computing, industrial, consumer electronics and automotive markets.The stock sports a Zacks Rank of 1 and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings of $2.35 has remained unaltered in the past 30 days.

Chicago-based Enova International Inc. (ENVA - Free Report) is a provider of online financial services. The stock is a Zacks #1 Ranked player and has a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has remained constant at $2.58 in the past 30 days.

Manchester-based Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR - Free Report) designs, manufactures and supplies high-performance materials, components and high-pressure gas-containment devices for healthcare, environmental, protection and specialty end-markets in Europe, North America and internationally. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 bottom line of $1.67 has remained fixed in the past 30 days. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A.

Stamford, CT-based Information Services Group, Inc. (III - Free Report) is a technology research and advisory company with global operations. The stock is a #1 Ranked player and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings has been retained at 43 cents in the past 30 days.

Camp Hill, PA-based Harsco Corporation is a provider of industrial services and engineered products serving global industries that are fundamental to worldwide economic growth and infrastructure development. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has been reaffirmed at $1.26 in the past 30 days. The stock has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of B.

Lisle, IL-based SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC - Free Report) is a producer of metallurgical coke in the Americas. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings has been reiterated at 43 cents in the past 30 days.

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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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