Columbia Sportswear Company COLM looks quite impressive, given its superb past record and robust strategies. These upsides have helped this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock increase almost 7% in the past year against the industry’s decline of 1.8%.Let’s delve deeper into the factors that are most likely to help this textile-apparel biggie maintain its sheen.Prospects From Project ConnectThe company is progressing well with its Project CONNECT program, which is aimed at driving sales and earnings alongside strengthening the company’s financial position. This program focuses on connecting consumers, wholesale customers and international distributors with the company’s manufacturing partners and employees around the globe. Markedly, the program is helping boost net income, increase revenues, capture cost of sales efficiencies, improve gross margins, enhance marketing efforts and lower SG&A costs. The company is optimistic about generating substantial financial value from this project in 2019 and beyond. In fact, management expects gains from this program to lead to an 80-bp increase in gross margin in 2019.Robust International PresenceColumbia Sportswear has a solid international presence and sells its products in more than 100 countries. The widespread global reach provides the company a solid business foundation and enables it to seek new opportunities to enhance profitability. Sales from the international markets improved 3% in the first quarter. Results were backed by strength in Europe-direct, Japan and Korea businesses.Strength in DTC Business & Brand Enhancement EffortsColumbia Sportswear is committed toward expanding and enhancing its global direct-to-consumer (DTC) business through accelerated investments. During the first quarter of 2019, DTC channels depicted sales growth of nearly 12%. Management expects this channel to continue performing well in the forthcoming periods. Also, the company undertakes brand-enhancing and unique marketing initiatives that further strengthen its presence in the apparel industry. We note that the Global Columbia brand is steadily gaining market share and the company expects continued growth from its SOREL brand through constant upgrades and effective management strategies.Columbia Sportswear Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Columbia Sportswear Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Columbia Sportswear Company QuoteQ1 Retains Stellar Record, Outlook RaisedThe first quarter of 2019 marked Columbia Sportswear’s 25th consecutive period of earnings beat and ninth straight time of positive sales surprise. During the quarter, both metrics advanced year over year. Sales were backed by strength in the Columbia and Sorel brands. Moreover, the direct-to-consumer and wholesale businesses depicted steady growth. Management expects to continue with strategic investments related to demand creation, driving brand awareness and enhancing digital capabilities.The company expects consistent growth in 2019 on the back of strong brands and sales channels. That said, management hiked the view for 2019, when it announced first-quarter 2019 results. Net sales are expected to be $2.98-$3.04 billion compared with the earlier prediction of $2.97-$3.03 billion. Further, earnings per share for 2019 is estimated at $4.40-$4.55, up from the previous view of $4.30-$4.45.We expect Columbia Sportswear to continue with its growth story.Looking for More? Check These Lucrative PicksCrocs CROX, with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 15%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Under Armour UAA, with a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 24.4%, carries a Zacks Rank #2.lululemon athletica LULU, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 18.4%, also carries a Zacks Rank #2.Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit PotentialThe biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better. See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>Want 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 lululemon athletica inc. (LULU): Free Stock Analysis Report Under Armour, Inc. (UAA): Free Stock Analysis Report Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM): Free Stock Analysis Report Crocs, Inc. (CROX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research