GOLDMAN SACHS: These 13 stocks will see profits explode higher in 2018

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• Earnings growth has been the single biggest driver of stock market gains since the start of the 8 1/2-year equity bull market.
• Goldman Sachs has identified the 13 S&P 500 companies set to expand profits the most in 2018.

Earnings growth has been the undeniable backbone of the 8 1/2-year bull market. But it's not always easy to pick out the companies that are going to be the biggest contributors.

That rings especially true as we enter 2018, as analysts forecast that GOP tax reform will boost a wide range of sectors, making it even more difficult to identify the elite crust of stocks.

That's where Goldman Sachs comes in.

The firm has ranked stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 index by expected 2018 earnings-per-share (EPS) growth, providing a handy guide to the companies they see best supporting more profit-driven gains.

Of course, earnings growth is just one component. There are many other factors that are crucially important to the selection of single stocks. For example, a stretched valuation can be a major deterrent to traders seeking bargains, or stocks with huge upside. It's all part of the grand puzzle, and Goldman's analysis simply helps make it easier for investors to make the right decision.

Without further ado, here are the 13 stocks Goldman says will offer the biggest earnings growth this year:

Get the latest Goldman Sachs stock price here.