UBS New Stocks to Buy for Growth at a Reasonable Price

June 17, 2014 by Trey Thoelcke

166097674If there was ever a time to get an update on one of the top lists of stocks to buy on Wall Street that we cover here at 24/7 Wall Street, now may be it. The UBS quality growth at a reasonable price, or Q-GARP, list focuses on solid growth stocks that are inexpensive by the UBS standards and metrics, and with a pricey market, it is timely.

The list is constructed using an initial quantitative screen of stocks based on: 1) quality metrics — high and stable profitability, 2) growth — high expected earnings growth, and 3) valuation — low valuation relative to peers. The final list is a compilation of quality growth stocks that they believe are trading at attractive valuations.

Here are the new stocks added to the list, and an update on some of the other quality names the firm is recommending.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: CTSH) makes its debut on the Q-GARP list, and it is a favorite name at many Wall Street firms. The company provides information technology (IT), consulting and business process outsourcing services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Financial Services; Healthcare; Manufacturing, Retail, and Logistics; and Other. It offers consulting and technology services, such as IT strategy, program management, operations improvement, strategy, and business consulting services. The Thomson/First Call price target for this top tech name is at $56.20. Cognizant closed Monday at $47.77 a share.

ICON PLC (NASDAQ: ICLR) also is added to the UBS list. The company is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The company specializes in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development, from compound selection to Phase 1 to 4 clinical studies. It literally is the support research and development team for many top biotech and biopharma companies. The consensus price target for the stock is $50.50. ICON closed Monday at $45.39.

ALSO READ: Analyst Stock Picks Under $10 With Huge Implied Upside

Here are updates on other Q-GARP stocks to buy that have made recent headlines.

Allergan Inc. (NYSE: AGN) is a top name in the health care sector and remains a source of controversy as activist investor Bill Ackman and Valeant Pharmaceuticals takeover bid continues the hot pursuit of the company. The company reported solid earnings, and a host of Wall Street firms lifted their ratings on the stock before the takeover bid. The company benefits from one of the strongest balance sheets among its peers and a stable revenue base from established drugs.

Many Wall Street analysts, including UBS, think Allergan investors should see double-digit annual growth through 2018 from a couple of key products: Botox injections and the eye treatment Restasis. Investors are paid a small 0.1% dividend. The consensus price target is $187.60. The stock closed Monday at $159.37.
Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is growing earnings substantially with extremely strong content revenue growth. Increased revenue at NBC Universal is also giving the company some earnings tailwinds as the Winter Olympics performed better than many expected, and a growing sports lineup is adding to revenues.

This is all in addition to Comcast’s effort to purchase Time Warner Cable in a massive $45 billion deal that is drawing intense scrutiny from some who believe it is extremely anti-competitive. Many analysts feel that the acquisition helps Comcast directly challenge the major carriers and satellite for bundled service supremacy, and it will ultimately be completed. Investors are paid a 1.7% dividend. The consensus is posted at $60.77.Comcast closed trading Monday at $52.35.

eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) is continuing improvements in the user experience. eBay’s marketplaces keep attracting new users, evidenced by double-digit growth in active users and items sold. Sales growth in eBay’s Fixed-Price format have accelerated nicely to +22% year-over-year in March from a +16% number posted in February. The numbers continued to trend up in April and May. CBT, or cross-border-transactions, are an important driver of eBay’s sales as CBT transactions represented close to 20% of eBay gross merchandise volume and 25% of PayPal’s third-party verification in 2013 (although they estimate 25% of eBay’s CBT and just 6% to 8% of eBay’s total revenue is China related).

And eBay just announced Paypal expansion to 10 new countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The expansion brings the total amount of territories PayPal serves to 203. Customers that have Web access and a bank card authorized for Internet transactions in the new regions will now be able to sign up for accounts. PayPal reported revenue of $1.8 billion for the first quarter of 2014, and 148 million active accounts worldwide. The consensus price target for eBay is $61.56, and the stock closed Monday at $49.

ALSO READ: 10 Large Cap Stocks to Hold Forever

Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) made a huge splash with its recent purchase of Covidien and its announcement that the company would move its headquarters to Ireland. The company operates in two segments” Cardiac and Vascular Group and Restorative Therapies Group. The UBS team thinks the company has the appropriate strategic focus, especially with the newly announced acquisition, a number of new products in the pipeline that along with continued emerging market performance should lead to acceleration in growth. Longer term, they also believe Medtronic should benefit from its size and scale. Investors are paid a 1.8% dividend. The consensus price target is $66.93. Medtronic ended trading Monday at $60.03.

Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) dominates the retail coffee business in the United States, and the international growth is helping to boost earnings. In fact, the brand has become so ubiquitous that consumers often just say “Let’s grab a Starbucks.” Despite a pricing point that is higher than competitors, the company continues to add new items at its stores, which have been received well. Investors are paid a 1.4% dividend.

The company announced last week it was inking a technology licensing agreement with WiTricity to pave the way for a wire-free charging future, a big plus for the customers who like to lounge in the shops, and consume the multitude of coffee’s and products now offered. The consensus price target is $87.83. Starbucks closed Monday at $75.09.

Needless to say, with new additions, and stocks on their list on the front page of many business sections, the UBS Q-GARP stocks to buy are not without a degree of controversy now. With that in mind, they are also all leaders in their sectors and solid buys for long-term growth investors looking to add to their portfolios now.

ALSO READ: The 15 Highest-Paying Companies in America

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)

Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Take the retirement quiz right here.