Slingshot Stocks: 3 Picks Primed to Catapult Higher in the Next Market Surge

Aerospace and Defense Industry - Lockheed Martin's Q1 2024 net sales increased significantly to $17.2 billion from $15.1 billion in the same period the previous year, showcasing its ability to generate substantial income [3] - The company has a healthy backlog of $159 billion, indicating a robust pipeline of potential future revenue-generating projects [3] - The FY2024 defense budget provides funds for several important initiatives, including multi-year munitions acquisition, hypersonics, and secret operations, further strengthening Lockheed Martin's growth prospects [4] - Lockheed Martin's global market reach is demonstrated by agreements to provide F-35 aircraft to countries like the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Singapore, broadening its income sources beyond its home country [4] Smokeless Oral Products Market - Philip Morris International's ZYN nicotine pouches have seen remarkable growth, with shipping volume increasing by 79.7% year-over-year to 131.6 million cans in the U.S., reflecting high customer demand [5] - ZYN has achieved consecutive gains in market share within the oral nicotine pouch category in the U.S., with its share rising to over 74% for the fourth consecutive quarter, a sequential rise of 1.3 percentage points [5] - In Japan, Philip Morris' IQOS products have seen a significant rise in market share, increasing by more than three percentage points to above 29% [6] IT Infrastructure and Hybrid Solutions - IBM's infrastructure segment revenue increased by 0.2% at constant currency, with hybrid infrastructure driving the majority of the rise at 6% [7] - Revenue from IBM Z, the company's flagship hardware product, increased by 5%, demonstrating ongoing demand for IBM's mainframe solutions [7] - Distributed infrastructure grew at a pace of 7% at constant currency, highlighting IBM's growth and durability in hybrid solutions [7] - In Q1 2024, IBM generated $1.9 billion in free cash flow, a notable $600 million increase annually, with $11.8 billion generated over the previous 12 months, positioning the company for further investment and strategic objectives [8] - IBM's robust cash flow supports strategic acquisitions, such as the upcoming acquisition of HashiCorp, preserving its financial stability [8]