Wall Street on Monday didn’t just cash in on one winner, or a daily double, or even a trifecta. It notched astock market-style superfecta, with all four major U.S. stock indexes — representing blue chip names, technology stocks, small caps and large-company stocks — all closing at record highs on the same day for the first time in 17years.
The post-election rallybegan two weeks ago with so-called “Red Stocks” ripping higher after Republican Donald Trump’s surprise win on Nov. 8. The rally, which has been fueled by hopes that the president-elect’s growth-friendly policies will finallyjolt the U.S. economy out of its multi-year doldrums, has spreadto virtually every corner of the stock market.
All-time highs were in abundance tostart the week: Blue chips in the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 89 points to a record 18,956.69, extending its 2016 gain to nearly 9%.The benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 finished 0.8% higher at 2198.18, its highest close ever. The tech-packed Nasdaq composite rallied 0.9% to a record 5368.86. And the Russell 2000, a stock index filled with the market’s smallest companies, extendedits winning streak to 12 sessions on its way to an all time record close of 1322.23 and a 16.4% gain for the year. That is the Russell 2000’s longest winning streak since June 2003.
Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2018: Aaron's, Inc.(AAN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
The Q4 2016 earnings report for small cap consumer electronics retailer Aaron’s, Inc (NYSE: AAN) is scheduled for before the market opens onFriday (February 17). Last time around, shares spiked in the high single digits after better-than-expected third quarterearnings.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Friday afternoon, the non-cyclical consumer goods & services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN) and Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN).
- [By Peter Graham]
Just this morning, small cap consumer electronics retailer Aaron’s, Inc (NYSE: AAN) reported first quarter earnings that have beat expectations. First quarter revenues were$844.6 million compared with $854.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 whilenet earnings increased to $53.3 million compared with $49.7 million in the prior year period. The CEO commented:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Best Buy Co now outperforming potential peersactive in electronics retailing such asmid capAaron’s, Inc (NYSE: AAN)and small cap CONN’S, Inc (NASDAQ: CONN):
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Best Buy Co outperforming potential peersactive in electronics retailing such asmid capAaron’s, Inc (NYSE: AAN)and small cap CONN’S, Inc (NASDAQ: CONN):
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap consumer electronics retailer Aaron’s, Inc (NYSE: AAN) reportedQ2 2017 earnings before the market opened on Friday. Revenues were $815.6 million versus $789.4 million. Progressive Leasing’s revenue in the second quarter of 2017 increased 25.1% to $373.5 million, revenue for DAMI was $8.5 million versus$5.3 million and overall revenues for the Aaron’s Business decreased 10.7% to $433.6 million. Same store revenues decreased 8.1% during the second quarter of 2017 and customer count on a same store basis was down 4.8%. Company-operated Aaron’s stores had 932,000 customersas ofJune 30, 2017, a 7.2% decrease from the second quarter of 2016. Net earnings were $36.3 million versus $38.5 million. The CEO commented:
Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 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 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.
- [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.
Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2018: Sonic Automotive Inc.(SAH)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lee Jackson]
These companies also reported insider buying last week: Armour Residential REIT Inc. (NYSE: ARR), Ducommun Inc. (NYSE: DCO), PJT Partners Inc. (NYSE; PJT), Sonic Automotive Inc. (NYSE: SAH)and Tandy Leather Factory Inc. (NASDAQ: TLF).
Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2018: Genie Energy Ltd.(GNE)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Tuesday, utilities shares fell by 0.58 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX), down 2 percent, and Genie Energy Ltd (NYSE: GNE), down 4 percent.
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Monday, utilities shares fell 0.48 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Genie Energy Ltd (NYSE: GNE), down 3 percent, and Southwest Gas Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: SWX), down 2.5 percent.
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Thursday, utilities shares fell by 0.75 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Genie Energy Ltd (NYSE: GNE), down 5 percent, and Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: CWCO), down 2 percent.
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Friday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.32 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Genie Energy Ltd (NYSE: GNE), down 3 percent, and SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG), down 3 percent.
Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2018: Beasley Broadcast Group Inc.(BBGI)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [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).
- [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.
