Core Viewpoint - Philippe Laffont of Coatue Management has invested significantly in Philip Morris International, indicating the company's potential as a growth stock within the defensive tobacco industry [1][3][17] Investment Details - Laffont purchased over $220 million worth of Philip Morris stock in Q1, marking it as his fourth-largest purchase and second-largest new addition [3] - This investment is notable given Laffont's typical focus on technology stocks, which include major companies like Meta Platforms and Amazon [2] Growth Drivers - Philip Morris is experiencing growth through its smokeless products, particularly Zyn and Iqos, which are appealing alternatives to traditional tobacco [5][8] - Zyn's U.S. shipment volumes surged 53% to 202 million cans in Q1, prompting an increase in full-year shipment guidance to between 800 million and 840 million cans [7] - Iqos has also seen a nearly 12% increase in heated tobacco units (HTUs) to 37.1 billion units, with strong sales growth in Japan and Europe [9] Market Position - Philip Morris has successfully bought back Iqos' U.S. rights and is preparing for a broader rollout in the U.S. market, which could enhance growth without cannibalizing existing customers [10] - The company has managed to produce modest cigarette volume growth internationally, contrasting with the steep decline seen in the U.S. market [12][13] Financial Metrics - Zyn and Iqos have better unit economics compared to traditional cigarettes, with Zyn offering six times better product contribution levels and Iqos providing 2 to 2.5 times [11] - The stock is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of under 23 and a PEG ratio of under 0.35, suggesting it is undervalued [15] Conclusion - Given its defensive nature, growth potential, and attractive valuation, Philip Morris is viewed as a favorable investment opportunity [14][17]

Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth S ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying stocks that can fulfill this potential is challenging [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (LINC) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2][9] Group 2: Earnings Growth - The historical EPS growth rate for Lincoln Educational Services is 10.3%, but projected EPS growth for this year is expected to be 28.6%, surpassing the industry average of 23.8% [4][3] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - The year-over-year cash flow growth for Lincoln Educational Services is currently at 41%, significantly higher than the industry average of 3.2% [5] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 22.9%, compared to the industry average of 9.2% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Lincoln Educational Services, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 5.9% over the past month [7]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying the right ones can be challenging due to associated risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - CareTrust REIT (CTRE) is currently highlighted as a promising growth stock, supported by a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The stock is part of a category that has historically outperformed the market, especially those with a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is a critical factor for growth investors, with double-digit growth being particularly attractive [4] - CareTrust REIT has a historical EPS growth rate of 1.1%, but projected EPS growth for this year is 18.7%, significantly outperforming the industry average of -0.3% [5] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - High cash flow growth is essential for growth-oriented companies, allowing them to expand without relying on external funding [6] - CareTrust REIT's year-over-year cash flow growth stands at 67.6%, far exceeding the industry average of 3% [6] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 12.5%, compared to the industry average of 3.3% [7] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Trends in earnings estimate revisions are indicative of potential stock price movements, with positive revisions being favorable [8] - The current-year earnings estimates for CareTrust REIT have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.7% over the past month [9] Group 5: Conclusion - CareTrust REIT has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2, indicating it is a solid choice for growth investors due to positive earnings estimate revisions [11]

Core Viewpoint - HCI Group is identified as a promising growth stock due to its strong earnings growth, efficient asset utilization, and positive sales growth projections, making it a solid choice for growth investors [2][9]. Earnings Growth - HCI Group has a historical EPS growth rate of 117% and is projected to achieve an EPS growth of 109.7% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 2.9% [4]. Asset Utilization Ratio - The company's asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets) stands at 0.36, indicating that it generates $0.36 in sales for every dollar in assets, which is higher than the industry average of 0.33, showcasing better efficiency [5]. Sales Growth - HCI Group's sales are expected to grow by 18.4% this year, compared to the industry average of 5.8%, highlighting its strong sales growth potential [6]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for HCI Group, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 3.7% over the past month, indicating favorable market sentiment [7]. Overall Assessment - HCI Group holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, suggesting it is positioned as a potential outperformer in the growth stock category [9].

Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Z ...

Financial analyst by day and a seasoned investor by passion, I've been involved in the world of investing for over 15 years and honed my skills in analyzing lucrative opportunities within the market.I specialize in uncovering high quality dividend stocks and other assets that offer potential for long term-growth that pack a serious punch for bill-paying potential. I use myself as an example that with a solid base of classic dividend growth stocks, sprinkling in some Business Development Companies, REITs, an ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying those that can fulfill their potential is challenging [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Kontoor Brands (KTB) is currently recommended as a growth stock by the Zacks Growth Style Score system, which evaluates a company's real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - The company has a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for growth investors [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Kontoor's historical EPS growth rate is 13.6%, with projected EPS growth of 9.5% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 1.8% [4] Group 3: Asset Utilization - Kontoor has an asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) of 1.58, indicating that the company generates $1.58 in sales for every dollar in assets, compared to the industry average of 1.19 [5] Group 4: Sales Growth - The company's sales are expected to grow by 1.1% this year, surpassing the industry average growth of 0.8% [6] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Kontoor have increased by 2.9% over the past month, reflecting a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions [7] Group 6: Investment Potential - Kontoor has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of B, suggesting it is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [9]

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are increasingly focused on stocks with above-average financial growth, which can lead to solid returns, but identifying such stocks is challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - New Jersey Resources (NJR) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock, possessing a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company has a historical EPS growth rate of 9.6%, with projected EPS growth of 9% this year, surpassing the industry average of 8.9% [5] - NJR's cash flow growth stands at 10.3% year-over-year, significantly higher than the industry average of 3.3% [6] Group 2: Financial Metrics - The annualized cash flow growth rate for NJR over the past 3-5 years is 12.3%, compared to the industry average of 7.2% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NJR's current-year earnings has increased by 1.9% over the past month, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions [8] Group 3: Investment Potential - NJR has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, suggesting it is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [10]