Credit Suisse Maintains Apple Stock At ‘Outperform’ Citing Strong iPhone Sales
Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) could be heading for a solid finish to the year. This will be in stark contrast to the first 9 months of 2016, which included Apple’s three consecutive quarters of revenue and top line decline. The muted performance of Cupertino has taken a toll on AAPL stock, which is up 4.5% for the year, underperforming both the Nasdaq Composite (INDX:COMPX), which has gained 6.5%, as well as the S&P 500 (INDX:SPAL) which is up 8.2% in the same period.However, Apple now seems to be on track to return to growth in the holiday quarter with its iPhone segment leading the charge.
iPhone Builds To Hit All-Time Record In December Quarter
Credit Suisse analyst Kulbinder Garcha, in a recent investor note, stated that the demand for the iPhones is good and Apple is heading for record shipments. The analyst maintained an ‘Outperform rating’ on the stock while also holding his $150 price target. As reported by Barron’s this is what he had to say:
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: MFRI Inc.(MFRI)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Jim Robertson]
On Wednesday, our Under the Radar Moversnewsletter suggestedsmall cap piping systems stock MFRI, Inc (NASDAQ: MFRI) as a short-term long/bullish trade:
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Beasley Broadcast Group Inc.(BBGI)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Benzinga News Desk]
Beasley Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: BBGI) and Greater Media have entered into a definitive agreement under which Beasley will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Greater Media for approximately $240 million.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Tuesday afternoon, the cyclical consumer goods & services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Beasley Broadcast Group Inc (NASDAQ: BBGI) and Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE).
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF(VCSH)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]
For the details of SWISS RE LTD’s stock buys and sells, go to www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=SWISS+RE+LTD
These are the top 5 holdings of SWISS RE LTDiShares Core S&P 500 (IVV) – 1,641,300 shares, 34.54% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 6.79%SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) – 1,003,200 shares, 20.97% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 34.15%iShares MSCI EAFE (EFA) – 2,800,100 shares, 15.78% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 170.34%iShares 1-3 Year Credit Bond ETF (CSJ) – 1,659,000 shares, 15.1% of the total portfolio. New PositionVanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) – 937,000 shares, 6.48% of the total po
- [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]
and the Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ: VCSH).
Three of Vanguard's mega-cap equity ETFs now sport annual expense ratios of 0.07 percent, down from 0.09 percent. Those ETFs are the Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (NYSE: MGC), Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Growth Index ETF (NYSE: MGK) and the Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index ETF (NYSE: MGV).
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.(MXWL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Jim Robertson]
On Tuesday, our Under the Radar Moversnewsletter suggestedgoing long on small cap energy storage and power delivery stock Maxwell Technologies (NASDAQ: MXWL):
- [By Lisa Levin]
Shares of Maxwell Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MXWL) were down 15 percent to $5.34. Maxwell reported amended terms for deal with Viex Capital and announced a proposed offering of $50 million convertible senior notes due 2022.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Maxwell Technologies (NASDAQ: MXWL) surged 9.20% to $10.21. The volume of Maxwell Technologies shares traded was 325% higher than normal. Maxwell’s trailing-twelve-month revenue is $190.57 million.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Nucor Corporation(NUE)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Steel Dynamics outperforming peers large cap Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) and mid cap United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) along with Market Vectors Steel ETF (NYSEARCA: SLX):
- [By Lee Jackson]
This top steel company could do very well if the economy sees a solid pickup this year and the administration’s infrastructure push remainsin place. Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE) and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada. The company alsois North America’s largest recycler.
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of United States Steel Corporation performing better than Market Vectors Steel ETF (NYSEARCA: SLX); but now underperforming large cap Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) andmid cap Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD):
- [By Ben Levisohn]
There’s been a lot of talk that the revival of the Keystone XL pipeline–and the possibility of other pipelines as well–could boost the shares of steel makers like U.S. Steel (X), AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Axiom Capital’s Gordon Johnson disagrees:
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(SRPT)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
After surveying 30 neurologists, Baird’s Brian Skorney and Neena Bitritto-Garg contend that the Street might be underestimating sales of Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) Exondys 51 treatment for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They explain why:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Skorney’s namesVertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX),Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT), and Curis (CRIS) his top biotech picks for 2017, while Ulz chosesBioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN) andParatek Pharmaceuticals (PRTK).
- [By Johanna Bennett]
Will healthinsurers pay for Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) Exondys 51?
Thats a question that several analysts have weighed on today. It appears that payors are still actively evaluating and reevaluating coverage of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug Exondys 51.
Approved by the FDA in September, the drug has met with widespread pushback from insurers like Anthem (ANTM), Humana (HUM) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) amid concerns about its efficacy. So while Sareptas share price has more than doubled over the past 12 months, it has made a sharp retreat, falling 50% to just under $32 a share since hitting a record high $63.73 a share in late September.
But Cowen analyst Ritu Baral says the tide maybe turning, arguing that coverage denials wont be permanent.
As SRPT management and our Neuromuscular Disease panelist indicated to us at our recent Healthcare Conference, payor discussions are continuing regarding Exondys 51 with manageable, increasingly positive feedback. Of the major plans we have seen coverage policies released for, only Anthem (including Blue Cross Blue Shield) had previously denied coverage of Exondys, though patients could petition for coverage via a standard appeal process (see further below). Based on their February Specialty Pharmacy Medical Management Prior Authorization Drug List, it appears Anthem will add Exondys 51 to its prior auth list as of 5/1. We think this is encouraging and indicative of the evolving payor landscape surrounding Exondys 51 and more broadly, DMD. Anthem’s pick-up, together with those such as United, which started coverage on 2/1, support the idea of accelerating new patient starts, suggested by SRPT last week at our Healthcare Conference.
…But Coverage Denials Persist (For Now), Especially Among Non-Ambulatory Patients. While we think the overwhelming majority of amenable patients will eventually be covered for Exondys 51, we do note several social media anecdote
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Yet some stocks didn’t participate in the rally, instead contending with negative news of their own. Zoe’s Kitchen (NYSE:ZOES), GOL Lineas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE:GOL), and Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SRPT) were among the worst performers on the day. Below, we’ll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so poorly.
- [By Chris Lange]
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRPT) saw its shares make a handy gain on Tuesday following its presentation at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. The companys Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug, Exondys 51, generated better than expected sales clocking in at $5.4 million in the fourth quarter. Previously, this DMD treatment was approved by the FDA just as recently as September 2016.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Statoil ASA(STO)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Cameron Swinehart]
Going forward I will be looking to add investments on my watchlist and trim other positions. It will be interesting to see how an overweight commodity portfolio will perform relative to the rest of the market.
Cost Basis# SharesCurrent Price% of PortfolioCurrent ValueReturnMetal/Miners Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS)$12.4985$11.043.75%$938.40-13.13%Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)$7.95125$8.744.37%$1,092.509.04%FreePort-McMoran (FCX)$31.6731$33.874.20%$1,049.976.50%Ishares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)$13.0695$10.644.04%$1,010.80-22.74%Energy Statoil ASA(STO)$21.7940$22.683.63%$907.203.92%Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (VNR)$27.5636$27.874.01%$1,003.321.11%ConocoPhillips (COP)$63.6822.43$71.006.37%$1,592.5310.31%Agriculture CVR Partner LP (UAN)$26.3630.9$18.932.34%$584.94-39.25%Adecoagro$6.78125$7.443.72%$930.008.87%Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM)$34.8030$37.244.47%$1,117.206.55%Mixed Commodity Powershares DB Commodity Index (DBC)$26.3540$25.954.15%$1,038.00-1.54%Sprott Resource Corp$3.34400$2.714.34%$1,084.00-23.25% Total % of portfolio49.40% Cost Basis12,666.00 Current Value12,348.86 Return-2.50% Source: Investing For The Future Surge In Commodity Prices
Disclosure: I am long ADM, FCX, UAN, AGRO, RING, VNR, SCPZF.PK, COP, DBC, PHYS, PSLV. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More…)
- [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]
NORW reflects Norway's oil exposure. The ETF allocates nearly 28.8 percent of its weight to the energy, 870 basis points more than it devotes to its second-largest sector exposure, financial services. State-run Statoil ASA(ADR) (NYSE: STO) is NORW's largest individual holding at a weight of 15.3 percent, or 560 basis points more than NORW allocates to its second-largest holding.
- [By Jayson Derrick]
BP plc (ADR) (NYSE: BP), Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE: RDS-A) (NYSE: RDS-B) and Statoil ASA(ADR) (NYSE: STO) are expected to outperform their peers by offering: 1) the greatest rate of change in cost reduction through technology and innovation, 2) upstream portfolios with an attractive risk to reward profile and 3) sufficient liquidity to invest in future growth.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Should oil prices recover, we believe that deepwater drilling activity growth should lag growth in US shale activity, as project economics is generally better in US shales, and E&Ps involved in US shales are generally quicker to react. Deepwater activity is largely comprises a handful of companies (Petrobras (PBR), Statoil (STO), Total (TOT), Shell (RDS.A), BP (BP), ONGC, ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX)) and it is unlikely that these companies can meaningfully increase their rig demand in a short period of time to absorb the current oversupply. Thus, should oil prices rise in 2018, rig demand may increase, but likely not enough to tighten the market, given that supply equaling 43% of current working rig count is stacked and new supply equaling 25% of working rig count is under-construction and should be entering the market in the coming years. As a result, while we expect some improvement in rig utilization owing to rig retirements, it will unlikely be strong enough to meaningfully improve rates in 2018 above spot levels. Any demand increase in the interim could slow rig retirements materially, and be self-defeating. We thus are Sell rated on Transocean, Atwood and Noble.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
We believe that the equity market has neutralised much of its underweight energy positioning in 4Q/1Q, but was caught by the sharp rally in crude from end-January. Our base-case sees oil prices still higher by end-2016 (we see >$50/bbl), albeit with a choppy 2Q likely ahead. In this scenario a modest, rather than fully-fledged price-recovery we continue to place a lot of importance on self-help in driving ROE expansion (as opposed to relying simply on oil-leverage). Value-adjusted, we like the self-help stories around Total, Chevron, Statoil (STO), Royal Dutch Shell and Eni (E) in the group. Total is on the Citi European Focus list.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Silver Wheaton Corp(SLW)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Rich Duprey]
Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), of course, is a streamer like Sandstorm and Franco, but it is the largest in the precious-metals industry, and arguably the best-known, because its business model came to define what streaming is. Although it is known primarily for its silver contracts, Silver Wheaton also has sizable gold production that makes it worth your attention.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGMF)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By SEEKINGALPHA.COM]
SA: You recently published a thesis on Great Canadian Gaming (OTCPK:GCGMF), a Canadian company do you see the Canadian (or another) market as having greater opportunity to uncover hidden value than the U.S.?
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2018: Paylocity Holding Corporation(PCTY)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Box Inc underperforming potential small cap peers such asPaycom Software Inc (NYSE: PAYC), Paylocity Holding Corp (NASDAQ: PCTY) and TriNet Group Inc (NYSE: TNET)which also debuted around the same time:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Box Inc underperforming potential mid cap peer Paycom Software Inc (NYSE: PAYC)and small cap peers Paylocity Holding Corp (NASDAQ: PCTY) and TriNet Group Inc (NYSE: TNET)whichall had IPOs around the same time:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Box Inc underperforming potential mid cap peer Paycom Software Inc (NYSE: PAYC)and small cap peers Paylocity Holding Corp (NASDAQ: PCTY) and TriNet Group Inc (NYSE: TNET)whichall had their IPOs around the same time:
