Analyst’s 4 Stocks to Buy With Imminent Catalysts
A new report from Jefferies focuses on four stocks to buy that have impending events that could make a difference for investors.
While extraordinary binary events can push stock prices up fast, that is not the only kind of catalyst that many Wall Street analysts look for. There are many other potential game-changing events that can push a stock higher, or which can change the prevailing mind-set on a particular company. A new report from Jefferies focuses on four stocks to buy that have impending events that could make a difference for investors.
The Jefferies team is looking for stock ideas that make sense in a pricey market. All of the stocks in the report offer just that for investors. In addition, all four are rated as Buy at Jefferies.
Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is a top holiday stock pick at Jefferies, and although its website when dark on Friday, the analysts expect overall positive holiday sales at the electronic retailing giant. Huge website traffic was blamed for the technical issues, which carried over into Saturday. The analysts also cited very conservative forward guidance following third-quarter numbers that could bode very well for the holiday shopping season. Best Buy has perfected within-store formats for makers of popular mobile devices and computers that have drawn interest from major manufacturers, letting Best Buy take advantage of its large retail space to give it competitive advantages that online retailers cannot match.
Best Buy investors are paid a 2% dividend. Jefferies has a $44 price target for the stock. The Thomson/First call consensus price target is $40.83. Shares closed Friday at $39.41.
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Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) is a top supplier to both Samsung and Apple, and the new year could bring even more earnings growth for the chip giant. The Jefferies analysts feel that the company, which is hosting an analyst day on December 9, will discuss in greater detail how the new equity compensation program for management will be driven in large part by total shareholder return. They think this is one reason to believe the upcoming analyst day will be particularly shareholder friendly.
Broadcom shareholders are paid a 1.1% dividend. The Jefferies price objective is $52, and the consensus estimate is $44.97. The stock closed on Friday at $43.13.
Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) is another of the Jefferies top picks for the holiday shopping season. The analysts point to very easy comparisons for the critical fourth quarter versus last year. They also cite last year’s bad weather as a factor holding down sales and do not expect it to affect nearly as much this year. The company offers accessories, such as novelty socks, sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, gloves, hair accessories, and T-shirts, as well as beauty products, including nail polish, lip gloss, fragrance and branded cosmetics.
The Jefferies price target is $52, and the consensus figure is set at $47.29. The stock closed trading on Friday at $46.66.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is a company that the Jefferies team thinks is on the prowl to look for a merger partner or an accretive acquisition to help grow sales. With two companies that were suspected to be key targets off the table, the analysts feel that the pharmaceutical giant may turn the attention to a deal with foreign companies, with generic giant Mylan and GlaxoSmithKline as leading contenders. With a possible split-up within the company coming by 2017, a large, move-the-needle deal becomes more likely.
Pfizer investors are paid a solid 3.3% dividend. The Jefferies price target is $40, and the consensus target is $34.19. Pfizer closed Friday at $31.15.
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While all the catalysts are not huge binary events that could double the stocks, they are all solid leading indicators for the near term. With investors having a harder time finding reasonably priced stocks, all would easily fit into that category.
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Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad, diverse career, including a stint as creative services director at an NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry.
Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans more than 30 years, including nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career spanned pivotal sell-side Wall Street events, from the dot-com rise and bubble to the Long-Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This reflects his resilience and adaptability amid market volatility.
Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, gained through a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing across various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies of Wall Street in a way only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.
Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.
