For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 10, 2021 – 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: Target Corporation TGT, Ralph Lauren Corporation RL, Kohl's Corporation KSS, Agilent Technologies, Inc. A and NVIDIA Corporation NVDA.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Must-Buy Stocks Ahead of Earnings Reports This Month
We are in the middle of the first-quarter 2021 earnings season. In the January to March period, corporate revenues and profits across the board were boosted by aggressive nationwide COVID-19 vaccination, a faster-than-expected reopening of the economy, unprecedented fiscal stimulus injected by the government and an extremely accommodative Fed. These have been reflected in the impressive results so far.
Meanwhile, five major companies with a favorable Zacks Rank are poised to beat earnings estimates this month. Investment in these stocks is likely to provide a solid upside in the near future.
Robust Q1 Earnings Results So Far
The first-quarter 2021 earnings season started with much vigor. As of May 4, 343 S&P 500 companies reported results. Total earnings of these companies were up 49.2% year over year on 10.6% higher revenues, with 87.5% of companies surpassing EPS estimates and 78.1% beating on revenues.
For the first quarter as a whole, total earnings of the S&P 500 companies are expected to be up 44.1% from the same period last year on 9.1% higher revenues. These estimates compare favorably with the 20.4% jump in earnings on 5.6% higher revenues projected at the beginning of the reporting cycle.
Our Top Picks
We have narrowed down our search to six stocks each of which carries either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and has a positive Earnings ESP. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Our research shows that for stocks with the combination of a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, the chance of an earnings beat is as high as 70%. These stocks are anticipated to appreciate after their earnings releases. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Target Corp. operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. It offers beauty and household essentials, food assortments, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items; and apparel, accessories, home decor products, electronics, toys, seasonal offerings, and other merchandise.
This Zacks Rank #2 company has an Earnings ESP of +7.42% for first-quarter fiscal 2021 (ended April 2021). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.1% over the last 7 days for Target. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 53.3%, on average. The company will its release earnings report on May 19, before the opening bell.
Ralph Lauren Corp. designs, markets and distributes lifestyle products in North America, Europe, Asia and internationally. The company is progressing well with its "Next Great Chapter" plan that was announced in June 2018. This strategic growth plan focuses on delivering sustainable long-term growth and value creation.
The company has an Earnings ESP of +6.25% for fourth-quarter fiscal 2021 (ended March 2021). Ralph Lauren has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current fiscal (ending March 2022). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.7% over the last 7 days. This Zacks Rank #1 company will release earnings on May 20, before the opening bell.
Kohl's Corp. operates as a retail company in the United States. It offers branded apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home products through its stores and website. The company has an Earnings ESP of +155.56% for first-quarter fiscal 2021 (ended April 2021).
Kohl's has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current fiscal (ending January 2022). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 2.8% over the last 30 days. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 52.5%, on average. This Zacks Rank # 1 company will release earnings on May 20, before the opening bell.
Agilent Technologies is an original equipment manufacturer of a broad-based portfolio of test and measurement products serving multiple end markets. The company has an Earnings ESP of +1.57% for second-quarter fiscal 2021 (ended April 2021).
Agilent Technologies has an expected earnings growth rate of 18% for the current fiscal (ending October 2021). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.3% over the last 30 days. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.9%, on average. This Zacks Rank # 2 company will release earnings on May 25, after the closing bell.
NVIDIA Corp. is the worldwide leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor of the graphic processing unit, or GPU. Over the years, the company's focus has evolved from PC graphics to AI- based solutions that now support high-performance computing, gaming and virtual reality platforms.. The company has an Earnings ESP of +2.51% for first-quarter fiscal 2022 (ended April 2021).
NVIDIA has an expected earnings growth rate of 35.6% for the current fiscal (ending January 2022). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.4% over the last 30 days. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.7%, on average. This Zacks Rank #2 company will release earnings on May 26, after the closing bell.
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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.
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Target Corporation (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report
Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL): Free Stock Analysis Report
Kohls Corporation (KSS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A): Free Stock Analysis Report
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