If I Could Only Buy 3 Stocks in the Last Half of 2024, I’d Pick These @themotleyfool #stocks $HWKN $GRMN $SYM

Sep 29, 2024 at 10:37 AM

Unlock Your Portfolio's Potential: 3 Stocks to Elevate Your Investments

Successful investing requires a deep dive into a company's financials and a thorough assessment of its prospects. While this process may seem tedious, it allows you to identify growth stocks with the potential to deliver long-term capital appreciation. By shortlisting a pool of solid stock ideas, you can then select the most compelling buys that align with your investment goals. In this article, we'll explore three stocks that stand out for their promising outlooks and robust business fundamentals.

Elevate Your Portfolio with These Exceptional Stocks

Hawkins: A Diversified Specialty Chemicals Powerhouse

Hawkins (HWKN 1.16%) is a specialty chemicals and ingredients company that has demonstrated consistent growth in revenue and net income over the years. The company's diverse product portfolio caters to the industrial, water treatment, and health and nutrition sectors, positioning it for continued success.Hawkins' financial performance has been impressive, with sales rising from $774.5 million in fiscal 2022 to $919.2 million in fiscal 2024. Net income has also climbed significantly, from $51.5 million to $75.4 million during this period. The company's free cash flow generation has been particularly noteworthy, leaping more than eightfold from $14.3 million in fiscal 2022 to $119.3 million in fiscal 2024.The company's strong momentum has carried over into the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with sales inching up nearly 2% year over year to $255.9 million and operating income jumping 22.5% to $39.8 million. Net income improved by 23.3% to $28.9 million, and Hawkins continued to generate positive free cash flow of $6.9 million. In recognition of its solid performance, the company has also increased its quarterly cash dividend from $0.16 to $0.18.Hawkins' growth strategy includes a focus on accretive acquisitions, with an average of two acquisitions per calendar year since 2020. The recent acquisitions of Wofford Water Service and Intercoastal Trading have strengthened the company's water treatment division, expanding its customer base and geographic reach. Additionally, Hawkins is committed to new product development in its industrial and health and nutrition segments, aiming to grow its specialty branded products through its research and development efforts.

Garmin: A Diversified Technology Leader Driving Innovation

Garmin (GRMN -0.48%) is a technology and engineering company that has established a strong presence in five key sectors: fitness, outdoor, aviation, marine, and auto OEM. The company is renowned for its expertise in global positioning satellite (GPS) technology, which it seamlessly integrates into a wide range of products, from multi-sports watches to smartwatch devices and golf accessories.Garmin's financial performance has been impressive, with revenue increasing from $5 billion to $5.2 billion from 2021 to 2023, and net income growing from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion during the same period. The company has also generated an average positive free cash flow of $810 million over this timeframe.The company's robust results have continued into the first half of 2024, with sales increasing by 17% year over year to $2.9 billion and operating income climbing 33% to $640.4 million. Net income grew by 17.6% to $576.6 million, and Garmin generated a positive free cash flow of $620.3 million. Reflecting its strong financial position, the company has steadily increased its quarterly dividend, raising it from $0.40 per share in 2011 to the current $0.75 per share.Looking ahead, Garmin has raised its full-year revenue guidance, expecting a 13.8% year-over-year increase to $5.95 billion for 2024. The company continues to introduce innovative new products across its five divisions, including the Garmin Pay contactless payment solution, which further enhances its product ecosystem and customer appeal.

Symbotic: Revolutionizing Supply Chain Automation with AI

Symbotic (SYM 1.55%) is an automation technology company that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) into its platform to address distribution challenges and supply chain issues. The company's solutions help its clients improve their product delivery efficiency and accuracy, leading to cost savings and enhanced workflow.Symbotic's financial performance has been remarkable, with revenue rising nearly fivefold from $251.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2023. Gross profit has also shot up sharply, from $10.4 million to $189.7 million over the same period. The company's free cash flow has more than doubled, from $97.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $209.5 million in fiscal 2023.The strong momentum has continued into the first nine months of fiscal 2024, with revenue surging 63.6% year over year to $1.3 billion and gross profit increasing by nearly 39% to $181.7 million. Symbotic has also generated a positive free cash flow of $18.3 million during this period. The company's revenue hit a record high in the current quarter, driven by the deployment of 39 systems.Symbotic's growth strategy includes strategic acquisitions, such as the recent $8.7 million acquisition of Veo Robotics. Veo's FreeMove 3D depth-sensing computer vision system will be integrated into Symbotic's robotic warehouse automation system, enhancing productivity through improved human-machine collaboration.Management sees a large serviceable addressable market for in-house supply chains, estimated at $432 billion, presenting significant opportunities for Symbotic to expand its reach and continue its impressive growth trajectory. With its innovative AI-powered solutions and a strong focus on addressing supply chain challenges, Symbotic is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for automation and efficiency in the logistics industry.