To choose the best momentum stocks, the Driehaus strategy can be applied. This “buy high and sell higher” theory, is undoubtedly a fruitful investment tactic, which helped Richard Driehaus earn a place in Barron’s All-Century Team.
To that end, stocks like Fomento Economico Mexicano FMX, Central Garden & Pet CENT, Toll Brothers TOL, and Nvidia NVDA have been selected as the momentum picks for the day using the Driehaus strategy.
A Detailed Look Into the Driehaus Strategy
Regarding the strategy, Driehaus once said: “I would much rather invest in a stock that’s increasing in price and take the risk that it may begin to decline than invest in a stock that’s already in decline and try to guess when it will turn around.” In line with this insight, the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) considered the percentage 50-day moving average as one of the key criteria before creating a portfolio following Driehaus’ philosophy.
It is calculated by dividing the numerator (month-end price minus 50-day moving average of month-end price) by the 50-day moving average of the month-end price. Another momentum indicator — positive relative strength — has also been included in this strategy. A positive percentage 50-day moving average indicates that the stock is trading at a price higher than its 50-day moving average level, indicating an uptrend.
Moreover, AAII found that Driehaus primarily focuses on strong earnings growth rates and impressive earnings projections to pick potential outperformers. Companies with a strong history of beating estimates are also given importance in this strategy, which was made to provide better returns over the long term.
Screening Parameters
To make the strategy more profitable, we have considered only those stocks that have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Score of A or B. Our research shows that stocks with a Style Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.
• Zacks Rank equal to #1
No matter whether the market is good or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 have a proven history of outperformance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
• Last 5-year average EPS growth rates above 2%
Strong EPS growth history ensures improving business
• Trailing 12-month EPS growth greater than 0 and industry median
Higher EPS growth compared to the industry average indicates superior earnings performance
• Last four-quarter average EPS surprise greater than 5%
Solid EPS surprise history indicates better price performance
• Positive percentage change in 50-day moving average and relative strength over 4 weeks
Positive percentage change in 50-day moving average and relative strength signal uptrend
• Momentum Score equal to or less than B
A favorable momentum score indicates that it is ideal for taking advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.
These few parameters have narrowed down the universe of over 7,743 stocks to only 18.
Here are four of the 18 stocks:
Fomento Economico Mexicano operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise for FMX is 46.3%, on average.
Central Garden & Pet is looking forward to strengthening its position as one of the leading companies in the U.S. pet supplies and lawn and garden supplies space. Central Garden & Pet has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise for CENT is 37.8%, on average.
Toll Brothers builds single-family detached and attached home communities. Toll Brothers has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise for TOL is 30.2%, on average.
Nvidia is the worldwide leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor of the graphic processing unit. Nvidia has a Momentum Score of A. The trailing four-quarter earnings surprise for NVDA is 20.2%, on average.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
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Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.
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