Best Stocks For 2018

If the Dow was meant to have hit 20,000 by now, wouldnt it have happened?

Its a fair question to ask, as investors watch the index back off what seemed a sure thing only a few days ago. Some, like FXTMs Hussein Sayed, say breaking that psychological level could open the door to more buyers, as it suggests bulls are still in control.

But the index
DJIA, -0.16%
has run up 14% year-to-date, which opens up another investor dilemma.

Best Stocks For 2018: Black Diamond, Inc.(BDE)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Jim Robertson]

  At the beginning of the week, our Under the Radar Moversnewsletter suggested small cap sporting & outdoor goods stock Black Diamond Inc (NASDAQ: BDE) as a short/bearish trade:

Best Stocks For 2018: WGL Holdings Inc(WGL)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Shauna O’Brien]

  Brean Capital reported on Friday that it has upgraded natural gas utility company WGL Holdings Inc (WGL).

  
  

  The firm has raised its rating on WGL from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has given the company a $46 price target. This price target suggests a 12% increase from the stock’s current price of $40.62. The upgrade was primarily based on valuation and future investment opportunities.

  “Like many utilities in the gas LDC space, the shares of WGL Holdings have come off recent highs and are now trading at a level we consider attractive,” analyst Michael Gaugler comments. “Beyond valuation, we consider the recent announcement of conditional approval of Dominion’s Cove Point facility for LNG export as a positive development in terms of future investment opportunities, given the company’s one-third interest in the Commonwealth Pipeline project, which we believe will be revisited due to future increased demand.”

  
  

  WGL Holdings shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

Best Stocks For 2018: LinkedIn Corporation(LNKD)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Andres Cardenal]

  The most powerful investment ideas are the ones that can be easily explained and understood. LinkedIn(LNKD) is an undisputed market leader in remarkably promising areas such as professional networking and online employment opportunities, and this makes the company a top name to buy in 2016 and hold for years to come.

  As of the third quarter of 2015, LinkedIn(LNKD) had 396 million registered members around the world, a big increase of 20% versus the same quarter the previous year, and 39,726 corporate solutions customers on the platform, a year-over-year increase of 31%. Individuals and corporations attract each other to LinkedIn in search of opportunities, and this creates a virtuous cycle driving sustainable growth over the long term.

  
  

  Management is also translating the company’s massive opportunities into rapid revenue growth. Total sales grew 37% to $780 million last quarter, with the acquisition of online learning platform lynda.com representing $41 million of that. LinkedIn’s three growth engines are firing on all cylinders: Talent solutions for corporations grew 46%, while premium subscription sales increased 21%, and online advertising revenue jumped 28%.

  LinkedIn(LNKD) is actively investing for growth, so profit margins are hard to predict in the short term. However, the company should be able to combine solid revenue growth and expanding profit margins in the years ahead.

• [By Alex McGuire]

  For example, LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD) fell 16.1% to $79.03 from its IPO date on May 19, 2011, to Aug. 19, 2011. But LNKD stock has since recovered 148% to today’s share price of $195.96.

• [By Benzinga News Desk]

  Microsoft has offered concessions to EU antitrust regulators over its $26.2 billion, $196 per share offer for LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD), according to the European Commission. The EU regulator had expressed concerns to Microsoft executives about the deal, which was announced in June.