It’s the best of times and the worst of times for investors in 2017. In other words, we’re in a Dickensian tale of two markets right now.
It’s been easy to fixate on the positive lately. The big S&P 500 index hit new all-time highs last month, and it’s been holding up just below those record levels without missing a beat. Meanwhile, a full third of the index’s constituents are up 10% or more so far this year. That’s a breakneck pace this early in the calendar year.
But, what many investors don’t realize is that there’s been a bearish flip side to those positive market stats.
For instance, while a big chunk of this market is “working” right now, an equally big chunk isn’t. As I write, more than a third of the S&P’s components are actually down since the start of the year. Of those, more than half are underperforming the big market average by 10% or worse.
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now: iShares MSCI Japan (EWJ)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Stephen Leeb, Founder and Research Chairman, Leeb Group]
Despite the 30% plus gains they’ve enjoyed this year, the stocks that comprise the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) still trade at 14 times depressed earnings.
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dynavax Technologies Corporation(DVAX)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.KIPLINGER.COM]
Add Dynavax Technologies Corp. (DVAX) to the list of biotech stocks to watch on or a little before Dec. 15. Thats when the company is going to get a yay or nay from the Food & Drug Administration about Heplisav-B as a treatment for hepatitis B in people with type 2 diabetes
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Loxo Oncology Inc (NASDAQ: LOXO) rose 32.7 percent to $65.00 in pre-market trading after the company reported that larotrectinib trial demonstrated 76 percent confirmed objective response rate.
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) shares rose 22 percent to $7.20 in the pre-market trading session after the company on Friday presented updated data for SD-101 in combination with KEYTRUDA.
Puma Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ: PBYI) rose 21.7 percent to $99.75 in pre-market trading as the company disclosed positive PB272 Phase 2 data from TBCRC 022 trial at ASCO17.
Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc (NASDAQ: HMNY) shares rose 20.7 percent to $3.21 in pre-market trading after the company reported that RedZone has acquired all the assets of Trendit including three technology patents.
Forestar Group Inc. (NYSE: FOR) rose 13.1 percent to $16.05 in pre-market trading after D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI) proposed to buy 75 percent of Forestar Group for $16.25 per share in cash.
TG Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: TGTX) shares rose 12 percent to $15.50 in pre-market trading after the company said Phase 3 GENUINE trial met primary endpoint with TG-1101 + ibrutinib increasing overall response rate by >70 percent versuss ibrutinib alone.
Gigamon Inc (NYSE: GIMO) gained 10.8 percent to $43.55. Reuters reported that Gigamon is exploring a potential sale.
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCRX) rose 8.7 percent to $6.00 in pre-market trading after the company announced Rapivab pediatric sNDA acceptance by the FDA.
Array Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ: ARRY) rose 7.2 percent to $8.77 in pre-market trading after gaining 5.68 percent on Friday.
Ehi Car Services Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: EHIC) shares rose 6.4 percent to $10.76 in pre-market trading. eHi Car Services posted Q1 earnings of $0.06 on sales of $89.43 million.
Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ: SWKS) rose 5.9 percent to $114.79 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.69 percent on Friday.
Sorl Auto - [By Lisa Levin]
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) shares shot up 73 percent to $15.99 as the company announced that the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 12-1 in support of the company’s Hepatitis B vaccine, HEPLISAV-B. RBC Capital upgraded Dynavax from Sector Perform to Outperform.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) shares were also up, gaining 17 percent to $6.88 after the company on Friday presented updated data for SD-101 in combination with KEYTRUDA.
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nuance Communications Inc.(NUAN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Craig Jones]
On CNBC's Fast Money Halftime Report, Jon Najarian spoke about high options activity in Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN). Traders were buying the June 19 calls for $1. The trade breaks even at $20 or 2.20 percent above the closing price on Wednesday. Najarian followed the trade and he is going to hold the position for two weeks.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Shares of Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) got a boost, shooting up 10 percent to $17.05 after the company posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings. Raymond James upgraded Nuance Communications from Outperform to Strong Buy.
- [By Craig Jones]
On CNBC's "Fast Money Halftime Report", Pete Najarian spoke about unusually high options activity in Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN).
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Marathon Patent Group Inc (NASDAQ: MARA) shares surged 30.2 percent to $5.01 after dropping 40.86 percent on Tuesday. Marathon Patent Group filed for sale of 1.85 million shares of common stock by selling stockholders.
Capricor Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CAPR) shares jumped 17.2 percent to $2.25 after the company reported the FDA clearance of Investigational New Drug application for CAP-1002.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) gained 13.2 percent to $2.15 following 16.5 percent rally on Tuesday.
Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLAB) shares climbed 11.8 percent to $10.45 after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter.
China Distance Education Hldgs Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: DL) shares surged 11.3 percent to $8.67. China Distance Education reported Q4 profit of $5.9 million on revenue of $41.7 million.
Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTK) shares gained 11 percent to $8.05 after falling 7.05 percent on Tuesday.
Ooma Inc (NYSE: OOMA) shares surged 8.5 percent to $10.85 as the company posted strong Q3 results.
Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) climbed 8 percent to $17.12 after the company reported stronger-than-expected results for its fourth quarter on Tuesday.
American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC) surged 7.8 percent to $3.59 after the company reported $8 million in D-VAR system orders.
Thermon Group Holdings Inc (NYSE: THR) rose 6.3 percent to $24.17. William Blair upgraded Thermon Group from Market Perform to Outperform.
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) surged 6.1 percent to $182.88. Nomura upgraded Domino's from Neutral to Buy.
Xencor Inc (NASDAQ: XNCR) rose 5.9 percent to $21.17. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Xencor with an Overweight rating.
Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IDRA) gained 5.1 percent to $2.28 after the company disclosed that it has been granted FDA Fast Track designation for IMO-2125.
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) gained 5.1 percent to
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now: Bank of the Ozarks(OZRK)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Bank Of The Ozarks Inc (NASDAQ: OZRK) reported better-than-expected earnings for its second quarter on Monday.
Bank of the Ozarks disclosed net income of $54.5 million for the second quarter compared to $44.8 million representing an increase of 21.7 percent. On a per share basis, earnings grew 17.6 percent to $0.60 from $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. This was higher by a penny from the Street analysts' expectations.
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now: National Oilwell Varco, Inc.(NOV)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Shauna O’Brien]
Jefferies reported on Monday that it has lifted its price target on National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV).
The firm has reaffirmed a “Buy” rating on NOV, and has raised the company’s price target from $84 to $91. This price target suggests a 14% increase from the stock’s current price of $78.24.
Analyst Brad Handler noted that NOV’s weak margin will likely rebound in 2014 and the chances of a dividend increase are high.
Looking forward, the firm has lifted its order estimates for FY2013 from $10.8 billion to $11.3 billion. FY2014 earnings estimates have been raised from $6.40 to $6.50 per share and FY2015 estimates have been increased from $7.65 to $7.95 per share.
National-Oilwell Varco shares were up 76 cents, or 0.97% during pre-market trading Monday. The stock is up 14% YTD.
- [By Tony Daltorio]
But the best investment in this sector, according to Moors, is National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NYSE: NOV).
He calls it the “one company that stands to benefit most directly from what is happening in the equipment sector.”
- [By Jim Robertson]
On Tuesday, our Elite Opportunity Pronewsletter suggestedgoing long on large cap oilfield equipment manufacturer and technology stock National-Oilwell Varco, Inc (NYSE: NOV):
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Applied Materials Inc.(AMAT), Red Hat Inc.(RHT) and National Oilwell Varco Inc.(NOV)