Investing

6 Top Contrarian Calls With Markets at Record Highs

Any way you slice it, investors that have been even remotely in the stock market since the bottom was put in back in March of 2009 should have done incredibly well. The S&P 500 posted an intraday low of 666 that year and closed yesterday at 2,495. The question for everybody now is easy: What do you buy when everything seems to be printing all-time highs?

In a new research report, the analysts at Baird are out with what they themselves call “The most interesting stock ideas that were derived from our Estimate Revision Model (ERM) during this month’s review.” They also noted that within the S&P 500, financials, health care and technology remain the sectors with the most favorable companies.

We screened those three sectors and found the Baird analysts’ top large cap contrarian picks. Six companies, two from each of their favored sectors, look like solid bets for investors seeking ideas to add to their portfolios for the balance of 2017 and into next year.

Financials

Capital One Financial

This top bank has used relentless advertising to get the firm’s brand well known among consumers. Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) is a diversified financial services company that offers a broad array of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients.

Capital One is one of the nation’s 10 largest banks based on deposits. It provides bank lending, treasury management and depository services, as well as credit and debit card products, auto loans and mortgage banking across the United States.

The company reported solid second-quarter results on increased fee income, and credit performance was also better than anticipated. Shares are way down from highs printed back in February.

Shareholders receive a 2.03% dividend. The Wall Street consensus price target is $94.56. Shares closed Thursday at $78.70.

Discover Financial Services

This top financial stock has very wide brand recognition. Discover Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its direct banking business.

The company also operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories.

Shareholders receive a 2.4% dividend. The consensus price objective is $72.95. Shares closed most recently at $58.65.

Health Care

Cerner

This solid health care stock has good upside potential, and many on Wall Street think the growth potential is not appreciated. Cerner Corp. (NASDAQ: CERN) offers hospitals and other health care providers a fully integrated scope of over 50 software applications, including its flagship Cerner Millennium solution. Software applications include traditional electronic medical record and computerized physician order entry solutions, along with other clinical information software for lab, radiology, pharmacy, emergency department and ambulatory care. The company also develops software for financial and administrative applications such as patient accounting, registration and scheduling.

Cerner posted a major bookings beat with $1,636 million in bookings when it reported in the summer, well ahead of guidance, setting the stage for future growth. Despite performance issues in for-profit hospitals, Cerner is seeing changes in buying discussions.

The consensus price target is $69.35, but shares closed above that level on Thursday at $71.94.

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