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Top-Rated Stocks to Consider Buying as Earnings Approach

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Tech stocks will continue to highlight this week’s earnings lineup with some industrial products companies standing out as well.  

Here are a few top-rated stocks among both respective sectors that investors may want to consider going into their second-quarter reports on Tuesday, August 1.  

Computer & Technology Sector

Chip stocks are eating up most of the headlines, but Paycom Software (PAYC) and Rockwell Automation (ROK) are appealing among the Zacks Computer & Technology sector as well. Both stocks sport a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) ahead of their Q2 reports tomorrow and are expecting robust quarterly growth.  

Paycom Software: As a provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software, Paycom’s growth remains intriguing. Paycom offers its software as a service solution for both employee records and talent management processes.

Second-quarter earnings are expected to climb 27% year over year at $1.60 per share with sales forecasted to jump 25% to $398.20 million. Notably, Paycom stock has an “A” Zacks Style Scores grade for Growth and offers a modest 0.41% dividend yield at $1.50 a share in a space where most companies don’t offer a payout to shareholders.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Rockwell Automation: In addition to its growth potential as a worldwide provider of industrial automation and information, Rockwell also offers a 1.42% dividend yield with most of its peers focused on expansion rather than a payout.

Furthermore, Rockwell is benefitting from the strengthening outlook of many of its end markets which include automotive, semiconductor, warehousing, and logistics.

To that point, Rockwell's second-quarter earnings are projected to jump 20% YoY at $3.19 per share compared to EPS of $2.66 in Q2 2022. Sales for Q2 are projected to be up 16% to $2.30 billion.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Industrial Products Sector

Among the Industrial Products sector, Caterpillar (CAT) and Dublin-based Eaton Corporation (ETN) are very attractive with their stocks sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Both companies also belong to very highly rated Zacks industries ahead of their Q2 reports.

Caterpillar: It's very notable that Caterpillar’s Manufacturing-Construction and Mining Industry is currently in the top 1% of over 250 Zacks industries. Of course, Caterpillar stands to benefit as the largest global construction and mining equipment company.  

Now looks like a good time to buy Caterpillar stock with Q2 earnings expected to soar 42% YoY at $4.51 per share compared to EPS of $3.18 in the prior-year quarter. On the top line, Q2 sales are anticipated to rise 16% to $16.50 billion.