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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Forterra, Rite Aid, Everi, Focus Financial and Performance Food
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 21, 2020 – 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: Forterra Inc. , Rite Aid Corp. , Everi Holdings Inc. (EVRI - Free Report) , Focus Financial Partners Inc. and Performance Food Group Co. (PFGC - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Strong Economic Data Bolster Longest U.S. Expansion: 5 Picks
The U.S. economy is expanding for the last 11.5 years — the longest expansion historically. Since mid-2019, several economists have cautioned several times that the slowing pace of GDP growth and aging economic growth are likely to lead to a recession in 2020.
However, a series of economic data released in the last two trading days of the previous week allayed any such concern. Fabulous economic data confirms U.S. economic stability and clearly indicates that the expansionary phase is here to stay.
Strong Economic Data
Retail sales grew 0.3% in December and November’s retail sales growth rate was revised upward to 0.3% from 0.2% reported earlier. For the full year, retail sales jumped 5.8%, marginally higher than the past 30 years’ average. A report from National Retail Federation (NRF) revealed that holiday retail sales increased 4.1% year over year, outpacing the modest increase of 2.1% in 2018. Strong retail sales shows higher consumer spending, which generates 70% of GDP.
U.S. housing starts jumped 16.9% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.608 million units, reflecting the highest percentage gain since October 2016. November’s data was revised upward from 1.365 million units to 1.375 million units. Building permits fell slightly to 1.416 million units in December after hitting their highest level in more than 12.5 years in November.
Recovery of the housing market in 2019 after a pathetic 2018 was a major positive for the U.S. economy as the sector constitutes nearly 3.1% of GDP. Moreover, the National Association of Home Builders’ monthly confidence index came in at 75 in January, remaining near to the highest reading since 1999.
Low mortgage owing to three rate cuts by the Fed last year revived the housing market. Per the mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to an average of 3.65% in December 2019 from 4.94% in November 2018.
U.S. manufacturing rose 0.2% in December. However, excluding motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing production grew 0.5%. Market was expecting a downturn in manufacturing production last month. Production of food, beverage and tobacco, nonmetallic mineral products, primary metals and computer and electronics products grew 1.3%, 2.3%, 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively.
Interim Trade Deal and Dovish Fed to Boost Expansion
The recently signed phase-one trade deal between the United States and China has significantly cooled down the nearly two year old tariff war. Although a complete deal is not likely to be signed before the U.S. presidential election this November, the interim deal will at least help in restoring U.S. business confidence and global economic growth.
Moreover, Fed’s timey intervention with 75 basis point rate cut in 2019 boosted the economy and raised investors’ confidence. The Fed chair has reiterated his commitment to do whatever needed to support economic expansion and not raise interest rate until the inflation rate, which is currently at just 1.6%, crosses the Fed’s target level of 2%.
The three major stock indexes — the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite — are already up 2.8%, 3.1% and 4.6%, respectively year to date, after witnessing the best yearly performance in six years in 2019.
Our Top Picks
At this stage, it will be prudent to invest in stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank that skyrocketed in the past three months and still have strong growth potential. Although several stocks fit in the box, selecting the best ones may be difficult. Our VGM Score will come handy in this situation.
The chart below shows price performance of our five picks in the past three months.
Forterra Inc.manufactures and sells pipe and precast products the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It operates through Drainage Pipe & Products and Water Pipe & Products segments. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 680% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 141.7% over the past 30 days. The stock has rallied 78.5% in the past three months.
Rite Aid Corp.operates a chain of retail drugstores in the United States. It operates through two segments, Retail Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 70.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 566.7% over the past 30 days. The stock has jumped 41.8% in the past three months.
Everi Holdings Inc.provides technology solutions for the casino gaming industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and Asia. It operates in two segments, Games and FinTech. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 65.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.8% over the past 30 days. The stock has soared 37.4% in the past three months.
Focus Financial Partners Inc.provides wealth management services to primarily high net worth individuals and families. It offers investment advice, financial and tax planning, consulting, tax return preparation, family office services and other services. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.2% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 0.4% over the past 30 days. The stock has climbed 25.1% in the past three months.
Performance Food Group Co.markets and distributes food and food-related products in the United States. It operates in two segments, Foodservice and Vistar. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 13.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.4% over the past 30 days. The stock has surged 20.4% in the past three months.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
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 http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Forterra, Rite Aid, Everi, Focus Financial and Performance Food
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 21, 2020 – 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: Forterra Inc. , Rite Aid Corp. , Everi Holdings Inc. (EVRI - Free Report) , Focus Financial Partners Inc. and Performance Food Group Co. (PFGC - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Strong Economic Data Bolster Longest U.S. Expansion: 5 Picks
The U.S. economy is expanding for the last 11.5 years — the longest expansion historically. Since mid-2019, several economists have cautioned several times that the slowing pace of GDP growth and aging economic growth are likely to lead to a recession in 2020.
However, a series of economic data released in the last two trading days of the previous week allayed any such concern. Fabulous economic data confirms U.S. economic stability and clearly indicates that the expansionary phase is here to stay.
Strong Economic Data
Retail sales grew 0.3% in December and November’s retail sales growth rate was revised upward to 0.3% from 0.2% reported earlier. For the full year, retail sales jumped 5.8%, marginally higher than the past 30 years’ average. A report from National Retail Federation (NRF) revealed that holiday retail sales increased 4.1% year over year, outpacing the modest increase of 2.1% in 2018. Strong retail sales shows higher consumer spending, which generates 70% of GDP.
U.S. housing starts jumped 16.9% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.608 million units, reflecting the highest percentage gain since October 2016. November’s data was revised upward from 1.365 million units to 1.375 million units. Building permits fell slightly to 1.416 million units in December after hitting their highest level in more than 12.5 years in November.
Recovery of the housing market in 2019 after a pathetic 2018 was a major positive for the U.S. economy as the sector constitutes nearly 3.1% of GDP. Moreover, the National Association of Home Builders’ monthly confidence index came in at 75 in January, remaining near to the highest reading since 1999.
Low mortgage owing to three rate cuts by the Fed last year revived the housing market. Per the mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to an average of 3.65% in December 2019 from 4.94% in November 2018.
U.S. manufacturing rose 0.2% in December. However, excluding motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing production grew 0.5%. Market was expecting a downturn in manufacturing production last month. Production of food, beverage and tobacco, nonmetallic mineral products, primary metals and computer and electronics products grew 1.3%, 2.3%, 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively.
Interim Trade Deal and Dovish Fed to Boost Expansion
The recently signed phase-one trade deal between the United States and China has significantly cooled down the nearly two year old tariff war. Although a complete deal is not likely to be signed before the U.S. presidential election this November, the interim deal will at least help in restoring U.S. business confidence and global economic growth.
Moreover, Fed’s timey intervention with 75 basis point rate cut in 2019 boosted the economy and raised investors’ confidence. The Fed chair has reiterated his commitment to do whatever needed to support economic expansion and not raise interest rate until the inflation rate, which is currently at just 1.6%, crosses the Fed’s target level of 2%.
The three major stock indexes — the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite — are already up 2.8%, 3.1% and 4.6%, respectively year to date, after witnessing the best yearly performance in six years in 2019.
Our Top Picks
At this stage, it will be prudent to invest in stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank that skyrocketed in the past three months and still have strong growth potential. Although several stocks fit in the box, selecting the best ones may be difficult. Our VGM Score will come handy in this situation.
We have narrowed our search to five such stocks each carriying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and having a VGM Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The chart below shows price performance of our five picks in the past three months.
Forterra Inc.manufactures and sells pipe and precast products the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It operates through Drainage Pipe & Products and Water Pipe & Products segments. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 680% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 141.7% over the past 30 days. The stock has rallied 78.5% in the past three months.
Rite Aid Corp.operates a chain of retail drugstores in the United States. It operates through two segments, Retail Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 70.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 566.7% over the past 30 days. The stock has jumped 41.8% in the past three months.
Everi Holdings Inc.provides technology solutions for the casino gaming industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and Asia. It operates in two segments, Games and FinTech. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 65.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.8% over the past 30 days. The stock has soared 37.4% in the past three months.
Focus Financial Partners Inc.provides wealth management services to primarily high net worth individuals and families. It offers investment advice, financial and tax planning, consulting, tax return preparation, family office services and other services. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.2% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 0.4% over the past 30 days. The stock has climbed 25.1% in the past three months.
Performance Food Group Co.markets and distributes food and food-related products in the United States. It operates in two segments, Foodservice and Vistar. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 13.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.4% over the past 30 days. The stock has surged 20.4% in the past three months.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>
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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 http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.