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Zacks.com featured highlights include Post Holdings, BuildABear Workshop, Equity Bancshares, Ardmore Shipping and Sally Beauty

By Zacks Equity Research | September 16, 2025, 3:53 AM

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 16, 2022 – Stocks in this week’s article are Post Holdings POST, BuildABear Workshop BBW, Equity Bancshares EQBK, Ardmore Shipping ASC and Sally Beauty SBH.

5 Must-Buy Efficient Stocks for Solid Gains Amid Volatility

The efficiency ratio is an indication of a company’s financial health. It analyzes how efficiently a company uses its assets and liabilities internally.

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.

To that end, Post Holdings, BuildABear Workshop, Equity Bancshares, Ardmore Shipping and Sally Beauty 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:

Post Holdings

Post Holdings is a consumer-packaged goods holding company, which is involved in the production of center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice, food ingredient and convenient nutrition product categories. POST has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 21.4%.

BuildABear Workshop

BuildABear Workshop is the leading and only national company that provides a make-your-own stuffed animal interactive retail-entertainment experience. BBW has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 21.3%.

Equity Bancshares

Equity Bancshares provides financial services primarily to businesses, business owners and individuals. EQBK has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 17.9%.

Ardmore Shipping

Ardmore Shipping engages in the ownership and operation of product and chemical tankers. ASC has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 9.6%.

Sally Beauty

Sally Beauty is an international specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies. SBH has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 8.3%.

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For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2751529/5-must-buy-efficient-stocks-for-solid-gains-amid-volatility

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

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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/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (SBH): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (BBW): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Post Holdings, Inc. (POST): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Ardmore Shipping Corporation (ASC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Equity Bancshares, Inc. (EQBK): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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