Key Takeaways Markets hit record highs despite a government shutdown and lingering inflation concerns.High-ROE stocks such as Arista, TE Connectivity, and Corning offer strong earnings momentum.AppLovin and Banco Bilbao join the list for robust cash flow, solid growth, and efficient returns.Shrugging off concerns regarding a government shutdown, the broader equity markets have been hitting all-time highs on the trot or thereabouts over the past few days. The government shutdown, which has led to an economic ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of sales growth over traditional earnings metrics for evaluating stocks, especially in volatile market conditions [2][3][10] - A selection of stocks with strong sales growth and cash flow is recommended, including Universal Health Services, Methanex, Arista Networks, Voya Financial, and Maximus [2][10][12] Sales Growth as a Metric - Sales growth is preferred as it reflects actual demand for a company's products or services, providing better visibility into the durability of the business model [3][5] - Companies that can expand their sales during economic stress demonstrate pricing power and competitive advantages [3][5] Earnings Limitations - Earnings can be misleading due to one-off charges, cost-cutting, and accounting adjustments, making them less reliable indicators of a company's trajectory [4] Cash Flow and Financial Flexibility - Sustained sales growth leads to stronger cash flows, allowing companies to reinvest in innovation, expand markets, or return capital to shareholders without excessive debt reliance [5] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks are shortlisted based on criteria such as 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [6] - Additional metrics include P/S Ratio, % Change in Sales Estimate Revisions, Operating Margin, Return on Equity, and Zacks Rank [7][8][9] Recommended Stocks - Universal Health Services (UHS) is expected to have a sales growth rate of 8.5% in 2025 and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 [11][12] - Methanex (MEOH) anticipates a sales growth rate of 5.6% in 2025 with a Zacks Rank of 1 [12] - Arista Networks (ANET) is projected to achieve a sales growth of 25.4% in 2025 and has a Zacks Rank of 2 [13] - Voya Financial (VOYA) expects a sales growth of 16.1% in 2025, also holding a Zacks Rank of 2 [14] - Maximus (MMS) forecasts a sales growth of 2.7% in fiscal 2025 and has a Zacks Rank of 1 [15]

Market Overview - The broader equity markets have reached all-time highs, driven by optimism regarding a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve despite concerns about the economy and a slowdown in the labor market [1] - The consumer price index increased by 0.4% for the month, surpassing expectations of a 0.3% rise, while only 22,000 jobs were added in August, indicating soft labor market conditions [1] Investment Strategy - Investors are adopting a wait-and-see approach regarding the central bank's monetary policy and its outlook on economic growth and inflation, which may influence future rate cuts [2] - Identifying "cash cow" stocks with high returns is essential, but it must be supported by attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE) [2][3] Importance of ROE - ROE, calculated as Net Income divided by Shareholders' Equity, helps investors differentiate between profit-generating companies and those that are not, indicating financial health [3] - A higher ROE signifies effective management in generating profits without new equity capital, thus rewarding shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns [4] Stock Screening Parameters - Stocks were shortlisted based on criteria including Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE exceeding the industry average [5] - Additional metrics include Price/Cash Flow lower than the industry average, Return on Assets (ROA) greater than the industry average, and 5-Year EPS Historical Growth exceeding the industry average [6][7] Featured Stocks - **Arista Networks Inc. (ANET)**: Engaged in cloud networking solutions with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 18.7% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.8%, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [8][9] - **TE Connectivity plc (TEL)**: A global technology company with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.8% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, holding a Zacks Rank 2 [10][11] - **Corning Incorporated (GLW)**: Focused on glass technologies with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 18.2% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.7%, also holding a Zacks Rank 2 [12] - **Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA)**: Provides banking services with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.4%, holding a Zacks Rank 2 [13] - **AppLovin Corporation (APP)**: Offers software solutions for advertisers with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.4%, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [14]

Group 1: OptimizeRx - OptimizeRx provides consumer and physician platforms to assist patients in affording and complying with their medications and healthcare products [1] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 26.4% over the last 60 days [1] - OptimizeRx's shares gained 33.4% over the last three months, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 9.5% [2] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [2] Group 2: Kanzhun - Kanzhun operates an online recruitment platform primarily in China [2] - The company also has a Zacks Rank of 1 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 1.9% over the last 60 days [2] - Kanzhun's shares gained 23.3% over the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 9.5% [3] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [3] Group 3: Arista Networks - Arista Networks provides cloud networking solutions for data centers and cloud computing environments [3] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 1 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased by 9.8% over the last 60 days [3] - Arista Networks' shares gained 42.2% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 9.5% [4] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [4]

Market Overview - Broader equity markets have reached record highs, driven by a favorable inflation report that increased the likelihood of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve as early as next month [1] - The July consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.7% year on year, slightly below the expected 2.8%, while the core CPI increased by 3.1%, exceeding the expected 3% [1] - The probability of a rate cut is now at 94%, supported by strong second-quarter earnings [1] Investment Opportunities - A 90-day extension on higher tariffs against China has led to a positive market sentiment, with investors adopting a wait-and-see approach [2] - Companies with high return on equity (ROE) are highlighted as potential investment opportunities, as high ROE indicates effective reinvestment of cash [2][3] - Notable companies with high ROE include Arista Networks Inc. (ANET), TE Connectivity plc (TEL), Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI), Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA), and AppLovin Corporation (APP) [2] Company Profiles - **Arista Networks Inc. (ANET)**: Engaged in cloud networking solutions, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 16.6% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.8% [7][8][9] - **TE Connectivity plc (TEL)**: A global technology company focusing on connectivity and sensor solutions, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.8% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9% [10][11] - **Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI)**: A leading communications equipment manufacturer with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.1% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.8% [12][13] - **Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA)**: Provides retail and wholesale banking services, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.9% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.4% [13][14] - **AppLovin Corporation (APP)**: Offers a software platform for advertisers, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.4% [14][15] Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on criteria including cash flow greater than $1 billion, ROE greater than the industry average, price/cash flow lower than the industry average, and return on assets (ROA) greater than the industry average [5][6] - Additional criteria include a 5-year EPS historical growth greater than the industry average and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [7]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 returned to positive territory in 2025, erasing all its losses, primarily driven by technology stocks, marking the fastest recovery since 1982 [1] - The market's recovery followed a significant drop due to President Trump's tariff plans, with the S&P 500 recovering a 15% year-to-date loss in less than six weeks [1] Economic Factors - A 90-day U.S.-China trade truce and strong earnings from tech giants have renewed market optimism [2] - April inflation data showed a decrease to 2.3% year-over-year, the lowest since February 2021, supporting the case for easing by the Federal Reserve [5] - The U.S. labor market added 177,000 jobs in April, with the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%, indicating economic resilience [6] SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) Insights - SPY holds 503 stocks, with no single stock exceeding 6.7% of its assets, ensuring a balanced portfolio [7] - The ETF has an AUM of $576.1 billion and charges 9 basis points in fees per year, with an average daily trading volume of 66 million shares [8] Leading Technology Stocks - Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP) saw a stock increase of nearly 60% in a month, with a Zacks Rank of 3 [9] - Seagate Technology (STX) experienced a 44% stock jump, with a solid earnings estimate revision of 30 cents for the fiscal year ending June 2025, and a growth rate of 510% [10] - Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) rose about 40% in a month, with an estimated growth of 43.9% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [11] - Micron Technology (MU) increased over 37% in a month, with an estimated earnings growth of 433.1% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [12] - Arista Networks Inc. (ANET) gained about 37% in a month, with an estimated growth rate of 12.78% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [13] Market Outlook - Wall Street strategists are becoming increasingly bullish on the S&P 500, with Goldman Sachs raising its year-end target to 6,100 and Yardeni Research lifting its forecast to 6,500, indicating an additional 11% potential gain [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the contrasting outlooks for two prominent stock-split companies: O'Reilly Automotive, which is seen as a strong buy, and Arista Networks, which is viewed as potentially overvalued and risky. Group 1: Stock-Split Overview - Stock splits allow companies to adjust their share price and outstanding share count without affecting market capitalization or operating performance [3] - Historically, companies conducting forward splits have averaged a 25.4% return in the 12 months following the announcement, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [5] Group 2: O'Reilly Automotive - O'Reilly Automotive is the first high-profile company to announce a forward split in 2025, with a planned 15-for-1 split reducing its share price from nearly $1,400 to around $90 [7][8] - The average age of vehicles in the U.S. has reached an all-time high of 12.6 years, increasing demand for O'Reilly's auto parts [9] - O'Reilly's business model is recession-resistant, as consumers are likely to keep their vehicles longer during economic downturns [10] - The company has an effective hub-and-spoke distribution model, allowing for quick delivery of a wide range of products [11] - O'Reilly has repurchased $25.94 billion worth of its common stock since 2011, retiring 59.4% of its outstanding shares, which boosts earnings per share [12] Group 3: Arista Networks - Arista Networks announced a 4-for-1 forward split, reducing its share price from nearly $422 to around $105 [16] - The company has experienced sustained sales growth, with service revenue increasing by 35% in 2024 to $1.12 billion [18] - Concerns exist regarding the potential bursting of the AI bubble, as many businesses have not yet optimized their AI solutions [19] - Macro factors, including a projected 2.4% decline in U.S. GDP, could negatively impact demand for Arista's products [20] - Despite a decline from its peak, Arista's price-to-sales multiple remains high at over 14, indicating potential for further downside [21]