Key points
- Stocks trend lower at the end of the week as inflation concerns dampen enthusiasm for a June rate cut.
- The combination of higher inflation and higher interest rates for a longer period is likely not fully factored into corporate earnings, and analysts may lower their forecasts.
- However, the MarketBeat team can help you find the stocks that stand out in this market; here are some of our most popular stories this week.
- 5 stocks we like best about Target
Stocks trended lower at the end of the week. The latest inflation data was a stark reminder that inflation will remain above the Federal Reserve’s preferred 2% target for longer than expected. This means interest rates are also likely to stay higher for longer as expectations for a rate cut in June are fading fast.
This combination of higher inflation and higher interest rates is not currently priced into corporate earnings. But analysts may be starting to sharpen their pencils. This means investors should pay attention to downgrades and reductions in price targets before the start of the next earnings season in April.
The wall of worry is getting higher and higher, but all the major indexes are still up for the year as this is still a stock picking market. And MarketBeat is here to help. Our team of analysts lets you focus on the headlines and stories that are moving the market. Here are some of our most popular stories this week.
Articles by Jea Yu
This week, Jea Yu wrote about discrete semiconductors, a specific sector within the broader chip market that is refreshingly undervalued. But maybe not for long. Read his article to learn more about what these chips do and for two stocks that appear to be preparing to make a bullish move.
Target Co. New York Stock Exchange: TGT shares have been under pressure for nearly a year as the company has disappointed with profits. But Yu writes that TGT shares rallied sharply after another outsized earnings surge that reminded investors there may still be value to unlock in the retail sector.
Yu also wrote about the double pace and bullish forward guidance issued by Medtronic PLC New York Stock Exchange: MDT. It’s been a choppy ride for the medical device maker since 2020. However, as Yu points out, that hasn’t stopped this dividend aristocrat from increasing its dividend, which increases the value of owning MDT stock.
Articles by Thomas Hughes
This week, investors heard Broadcom Inc. NASDAQ: AVGO as the company reported first-quarter earnings for 2024. Thomas Hughes explains why the stock could fall after the bullish report and why it could be a buyable dip.
Adobe Inc. NASDAQ: ADBE is another stock that corrects after earnings. But in this case it’s because the company’s forward guidance was only in line with analysts’ expectations. As Hughes explains, the company has lived up to expectations. However, the in-line guidance at a time of elevated valuations is perceived as cautious, prompting analysts to move their price targets lower.
As concerns grow about a significant correction in the S&P 500, many investors may be looking for stocks that offer value and yield. Hughes suggests investors look at small- and mid-cap stocks and offers five mid-cap stocks that are well positioned for a turnaround.
Articles by Sam Quirke
Bitcoin’s resurgence has been a tide that has lifted many bitcoin-related stocks. As Sam Quirke writes this week, this includes shares of Coinbase Global Inc. NASDAQ: MONEY. Shares of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange rose by triple digits on the back of Bitcoin. But Quirke advises caution as stocks that go up in the cryptocurrency market also often make sharp downside moves.
When selling news, shares of Southwest Airlines Co. NYSE:LUV are down more than 17% after the company made a downward revision to its forward guidance for several key metrics, including the expectation of fewer deliveries from THE Boeing Company NYSE: BA. However, Quirke writes about technical signals that suggest the selling of LUV stock may be overkill.
Quirke was also looking for a potential tasty setup for Jack in the Box Inc. NASDAQ: JACK. The stock has been selling off since January, and a weak earnings report hasn’t helped. However, Quirke explains why recent analyst updates point to a growth opportunity of up to 30%.
Articles by Kate Stalter
So far, large-cap stocks have led the market higher in 2024 as they did in 2023. However, Kate Stalter points out that many analysts believe the time has come for small-cap stocks to emerge from their prolonged slump. This week, Stalter offered investors three top small-cap stocks poised for significant growth.
Another opportunity for growth-oriented investors may come from examining three stocks that are not part of the S&P 500. In the article, Stalter explains how the components of the S&P 500 are selected and why investors may want to look outside of the S&P 500 for growth. of the sector.
It won’t be long before several big tech stocks report profits. And Stalter writes why The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. NYSE:GS expects a 13% increase in stock buybacks as many of the biggest names report extraordinary profits.
Articles by Ryan Hasson
As investors know, many of the Magnificent Seven stocks have been less than stellar in 2024. However, Ryan Hasson breaks down why it may be time to consider these three Magnificent 7 stocks to be underperformers.
Hasson also wrote about the shift that growth-oriented investors are abandoning large, overvalued tech stocks into extremely oversold stocks. Hasson provides a list of five oversold stocks and explains why you may or may not want to buy them, but they should be on your watch list.
Hasson also selected some oversold stocks for dividend-minded investors. In an uncertain market, these stocks offer above-average dividend yields and positive analyst sentiment, making them a good choice in an uncertain economic environment.
Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli
The supercycle in the chip industry is fueled, in part, by the Chips and Science Act, which rewards companies that relocate their manufacturing facilities. However, Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli reminds investors that these companies still need components to fuel their expansions, and that’s why they should consider Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. New York Stock Exchange: TSMwhich is expected to receive $5 billion from the next round of financing.
Osorio-Mazilli also examined two of the best stocks selected by Goldman Sachs. In the industrial sector, Goldman appreciates the double-digit increase Mueller Water Products Inc. New York Stock Exchange: MWA. The “boring” society is expected to gain impetus from the need to continue spending on infrastructure.
Turning to the technology sector, Goldman is bullish on cybersecurity Sentinel One Inc. NYSE:S stands out because it has upside potential that isn’t already factored into the company’s valuation.
Before you consider Target, you’ll want to hear it out.
MarketBeat tracks Wall Street’s highest-rated and best-performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market takes hold… and Target wasn’t on the list.
While Target currently has a “Moderate Buy” rating among analysts, top analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View the five stocks here
MarketBeat analysts just released their top five short stocks for March 2024. Find out which stocks have the most short interest and how to trade them. Click the link below to see which companies are on the list.
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