4 Top Jefferies Value Stock Picks to Buy to Fight Volatility

Investing

Published: January 27, 2016 9:35 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 2:32 pm

Volatility in the stock markets is not necessarily inherently bad. In fact, often when volatility falls too low for an extended period, investors get lulled into a false sense of security and big market drops can hit. That is hardly the case now as the volatility index, or VIX, has remained elevated since the beginning of the year, and many on Wall Street believe it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

In the weekly report from Jefferies that highlights their top value picks, we found four companies that also should be somewhat resistant to spikes in volatility and make good sense for investors to consider now. All are rated Buy at Jefferies.

Ingersoll-Rand

This is one of the many top companies that restructured and are based in Ireland. Ingersoll-Rand PLC (NYSE: IR) is a top industrial stock pick at Jefferies, and with the housing market continuing to grow, the company’s wide range of portfolio products should continue to sell well.

Many on Wall Street also see the stock as a good play on the replacement, upgrade and ultimately growth in the commercial and residential air conditioning markets. Trends in these markets have been highly correlated with overall commercial construction and are thus earlier in the cycle.

Ingersoll Rand has an outstanding portfolio of global brands and holds leading market share in all major product lines. The geographic and industrial diversity coupled with a large installed product base provides solid growth opportunities for the company within service, spare parts and replacement revenue streams.

Ingersoll-Rand investors are paid a 2.38% dividend. The Jefferies price target for the stock is $65, and the Thomson/First Call consensus target is $64.24. Shares closed on Tuesday at $50.59 apiece.