Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012

As mentioned last month, we’ve achieved some stability in regards to which stocks remain the crème de la crème. This month, we are keeping three of our previous month’s Top 5 stocks, swapping out two, and adding five new names to our Top Stocks list.
First, our swap-out names:
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALXN), and Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD). Both of these stocks are still A-rated buys, and they are  held in high regard, but I’m substituting in two other consumer-driven stocks that have even better top- and bottom-line prospects. With consumer confidence and spending on the rise, you’ll want to get a piece of these companies that have stunning track records of accelerating sales growth.
Now let’s move to our additions:
As the leading auto parts chain in the U.S., AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is known for helping its customers “Get in the Zone.” And lately, more and more people have been going to AutoZone to keep their cars running longer. This trend is most clearly shown in AutoZone’s quarterly same-store sales results, which have been steadily increasing over the past few quarters.
In the most recent quarter, the company’s same-store sales grew 5.9%, which accelerated from the prior quarter’s 4.6% gain. Another thing I love about this stock is that it has a solid history of share repurchase programs. A few weeks ago, management announced that the company is buying back an additional $750 million in its stock. The company is clearly committed to returning value to its shareholders.
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #1 Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is another retailer that has benefited from the recent wave of frugality that has hit the U.S. With just under 10,000 stores nationwide, the company offers a wide range of discount goods for $10 or less. I’m keeping both Dollar General and Dollar Tree on the Top 5 because they both serve two complementary but different functions as bargain retailers.
As it stands, Dollar General boasts better earnings growth (the second-best in the industry, in fact), while Dollar Tree has a better track record with its sales growth. Dollar General is also larger and has a slightly lower Price/Earnings ratio.
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #2 Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) is slightly smaller than Dollar General, but with over 4,000 stores across the United States, it is the most successful single-price-point retailer in the nation. Towards the end of February, the company reported strong sales and earnings growth for the fourth quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, net income climbed 16% to $187.9 million, or $1.60 per share, which was largely in line with the $1.59 per-share Street estimate. Over the same period, net sales climbed 13% to $1.95 billion, slightly topping the consensus sales estimate of $1.93 billion.
Similar to AutoZone, this company’s same-store sales have been accelerating as well. In fact, in the third quarter, Dollar Tree grew same-store sales by 4.8%, and then pulled off an astounding 7.3% same-store sales growth in the fourth quarter!
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #3 Lorillard (NYSE:LO) is one of four tobacco stocks we liket, and it was added last issue because it is a smaller and more agile company than any of the Big 3. And, in keeping with the rest of the tobacco industry, the company recently upped its dividend payment by 19.2% to $1.55 per share! This means that LO’s dividend yield now weighs in at 4.8%. This is lower than Altria Group Inc.‘s (NYSE:MO) 5.5% yield, and Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #5 Reynolds American Inc.‘s (NYSE:RAI) 5.4% yield, but higher than Philip Morris International Inc.‘s (NYSE:PM) 3.6% yield.
With over 1,000 stores in the U.S., Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #4 Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) is the second-largest off-price apparel retailer in the country. The company recently released its same-store sales results for February, and the results were stunning. Last month, the fashion bargain chain grew same-store sales by 9%, which positively trounced the 4.6% consensus estimate and represents a significant uptick from its 5% growth in January.
Recently, thanks to a combination of higher merchandise gross margin and lower shortage costs, Ross Stores announced strong operating results for the fourth quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, sales climbed 12% to $2.4 billion, and net earnings jumped 19% to $192 million, or $0.85 per share. These are solid results, as the retailer was able to accelerate earnings despite difficult year-over-year comparisons. Ross Stores continues to be a top off-price apparel retailer due to its ability to offer unbeatable brand-name bargains while maintaining lower store inventories. And the great thing is that the best is still yet to come.
Historically, March and April represents a strong sales season for Ross Stores, and management is hopeful that the company will continue to improve in the coming months.

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now

I’m very excited about the five stocks at the top of my Emerging Growth Buy List this month — these are some of the most powerful small-cap companies on Wall Street right now, and they are experiencing tremendous growth. In the past month alone, these five stocks jumped an average of nearly 11%, while the major indices posted a 2% gain.
Let’s take a look at my Top 5 Emerging Growth Stocks for April:

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now #1 Monster Beverage Corporation

Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) is a play on the energy drink market; it is responsible for Monster, the second most popular energy drink in the nation. The company’s monster grip on the youth market makes it a fantastic takeover candidate by a larger beverage maker. Back in January, 100-year-old Hansen Natural Corp. revamped its brand by adopting the Monster Beverage name and ticker symbol. And, it looks like the company’s new look has piqued investor interest — the stock has gained 30% since then. Monster’s next earnings announcement is tentatively scheduled for early May, and it is already shaping up to have a strong showing.
Right now, analysts forecast 25% sales growth and 26.7% earnings growth — compared with the 20% earnings growth forecast for the rest of the Soft Drinks industry. Analysts have also been steadily increasing their earnings estimates, to the tune of 12% in the past two months. Typically, such aggressive earnings revisions precede future earnings surprises. This stock has been appreciating in a smooth, steady manner so I recommend that you add shares.

• Also from Louis Navellier: 6 Small Cap Stocks to Sell Now

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now #2 Susser Holdings Corporation

Susser Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SUSS) is a great stock to hold if you want to profit from summer road trips. This company operates a system of 540 Stripes convenience stores and also supplies motor fuels to 560 dealers across the country. So, U.S. travelers are Sussers’ bread and butter. Higher diesel and gasoline prices continue to help to boost the company’s overall sales growth, so the summer months should be very good to this company. This company also has a history of blowout earnings surprises, trouncing estimates by 100%, 135%, 86% and 61% in the past four quarters.
And the way things are shaping up, Susser’s’ next earnings announcement (due in late May) should be equally stunning. Currently analysts are looking for 16% sales growth and 100% earnings growth — that’s compared with the 18.4% forecast for the rest of the Grocery Stores industry. And, in the past two months, analysts have upwardly revised their estimates by 200%. There is still plenty of time until Susser’s earnings announcement, so now is a great time to plan ahead and pick up shares.

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now #3

Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOR) has been a Top 5 veteran for some time now. It specializes in prescription drugs for central nervous system disorders, and its primary product, H.P. Acthar Gel, is used to treat multiple sclerosis. Lately, I have been getting questions on why I’ve kept Questcor on the Top 5 despite the fact that it has been sitting still recently. Well, one thing that you should know about Questcor is that it is what I like to call a “bunny” stock. This means it tends to “sit” during the quiet times and then suddenly “hop” on good earnings news. So, just because a stock has been sitting for a little while doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have explosive profit potential. In the case of Questcor, this company is headed towards a stunning earnings announcement, so I fully expect it to hop when it announces earnings in late May.
Currently, analysts expect the drugmaker to grow sales by 136.4% and earnings by 155%, while the rest of the biotechnology industry is headed towards just 16.9% earnings growth. This company has a strong history of earnings surprises — in the past four quarters it has trumped expectations by 17.6%, 15%, 42% and 11.9% respectively. Finally, in the past two months, analysts have upwardly revised their estimates by 21%, so it looks like the company will post another double-digit surprise this quarter. With this in mind, I recommend that you purchase shares of this stock.

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now #4

Plains All America Pipeline L.P.

Plains All America Pipeline L.P. (NYSE:PAA) is involved with the transportation and storage of crude oil, so it has been profiting from the latest boom in gasoline prices. Better yet, this company has been aggressively expanding its footprint through five strategic acquisitions totaling $2.3 billion dollars. Notably, the company is acquiring British Petroleum’s (BP) Canadian natural gas liquid business for $1.67 billion; this deal is expected to close by the end of the second quarter. To fund this acquisition, Plains recently completed a five million-share secondary offering at $80.03 per share in early March. Now, secondary offerings tend to depress stock share prices, but this presents the perfect opportunity to get in at a good level with this stock.

5 Best Emerging Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now #5

Tessco Technologies Inc.

TESSCO Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:TESS), provides a broad range of products that support mobility and data wireless systems to organizational clients in the U.S. And TESSCO’s business is booming. At the end of March, management announced that the company has been awarded a five-year contract by Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA). WSCA is a state purchasing cooperative association, and it needs TESSCO to provide mobile device accessories to state agencies nationwide. TESSCO will accomplish this through its extensive network with the best manufacturers in the industry. At this time, every state in the union, including their agencies and employees, is eligible to participate. No financial details have been released yet, but this will undoubtedly boost TESSCO’s top line.
Looking ahead, analysts forecast 40.6% sales growth and 95.2% earnings growth for this quarter. TESS remains a strong buy.