For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 21, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are Wayfair W, United Natural Foods UNFI, WD40 WDFC, Natural Gas Services Group NGS and GormanRupp GRC.
5 High Efficient Stocks Backed by Strong Financial Metrics
The efficiency ratio is an important measure of a company's overall financial health. It shows how well the company manages its day-to-day operations by measuring how efficiently it controls costs while generating revenues. Specifically, it quantifies how optimally the business deploys its assets and handles its liabilities to maximize revenues and minimize unnecessary expenses.
However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider the popular efficiency ratios listed below while selecting stocks.
Wayfair, United Natural Foods,WD40, Natural Gas Services Group andGormanRupp have made it through the screen process:
Efficiency Ratios – to be Considered
Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company's potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio, or the "accounts receivable turnover ratio" or "debtor's turnover ratio," is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivables or that it has quality customers.
Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company's capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.
Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company's ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low level of inventory compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.
Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company's ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.
Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:
Wayfair
Wayfairis one of the world's leading online sellers of home goods products, consisting of furniture and home decor. W has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 56.7%.
United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products in the United States and Canada. UNFI has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%.
WD40
WD40 Financial engages in the provision of maintenance products and home care and cleaning products in North America, Central and South America and internationally. WDFC has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.3%.
Natural Gas Services Group
Natural Gas Services Group manufactures, fabricates, sells, rents and services natural gas compressors that enhance the production of natural gas wells. NGS has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 18%.
GormanRupp
GormanRupp designs, manufactures and sells pumps and related equipment (pump and motor controls) for use in water, wastewater, construction, industrial, petroleum, original equipment, agricultural, fire protection, military and other liquid-handling applications. GRC has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.6%.
For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2956256/5-high-efficient-stocks-backed-by-strong-financial-metrics
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.
About Screen of the Week
Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Contact: Jim Giaquinto
Company: Zacks.com
Phone: 312-265-9268
Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: https://www.zacks.com/
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI): Free Stock Analysis Report
Gorman-Rupp Company (The) (GRC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS): Free Stock Analysis Report
WD-40 Company (WDFC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Wayfair Inc. (W): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).