Advertisement
Canada markets close in 3 hours 28 minutes

  • S&P/TSX

    21,833.66
    -40.06 (-0.18%)
     

  • S&P 500

    5,026.45
    -45.18 (-0.89%)
     

  • DOW

    37,970.26
    -490.66 (-1.28%)
     

  • CAD/USD

    0.7305
    +0.0007 (+0.09%)
     

  • CRUDE OIL

    82.60
    -0.21 (-0.25%)
     

  • Bitcoin CAD

    87,814.59
    -324.57 (-0.37%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,385.09
    +2.52 (+0.18%)
     

  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,337.40
    -1.00 (-0.04%)
     

  • RUSSELL 2000

    1,970.06
    -25.37 (-1.27%)
     

  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.7080
    +0.0560 (+1.20%)
     

  • NASDAQ

    15,509.91
    -202.84 (-1.29%)
     

  • VOLATILITY

    16.47
    +0.50 (+3.13%)
     

  • FTSE

    8,078.86
    +38.48 (+0.48%)
     

  • NIKKEI 225

    37,628.48
    -831.60 (-2.16%)
     

  • CAD/EUR

    0.6810
    -0.0009 (-0.13%)
     
MARKETS LIVE BLOG:

STOCKS SLIDE AFTER META'S REALITY CHECK, WITH GDP ON DECK

Owner of Facebook and Instagram plans to spend up to US$10B on AI infrastructure investments

5 Most-Loved S&P 500 Stocks on Wall Street

Sweta Killa

The S&P 500 has gained solid momentum to start the fourth quarter with the index hitting new all-time highs. In fact, the benchmark crossed the 3,100 level for the first time in intraday trading on Nov 12 thanks to renewed trade deal optimism, better-than-expected earnings and monetary easing policy that whet the risk appetite of investors.

The United States is expected to sign a phase one trade deal with China later this month. On the Q3 earnings front, of the 447 S&P members that have reported results, 72.5% companies beat EPS estimates and 57.9% beat on revenues. The proportion of these companies beating EPS and revenue estimates is in the historical range.

Major central banks across the globe are taking steps to prop up slowing economic growth that have eased global recession concerns and in turn lifted investors’ confidence. The Fed has slashed interest rates three times so far this year and the European Central Bank also cut interest rates in a package of easing measures.

Given the bullishness and record-high market, we have screened for five S&P 500 stocks that are most loved by the brokerage firms with the help of the Zacks Stock Screener. The parameters include a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), VGM Score of A or B, highest percentage of buy ratings, estimated double-digit earnings growth for this year and a top-ranked Zacks industry. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

AMETEK Inc. AME

Based in Berwyn, PA, AMETEK is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic appliances and electromechanical devices.

Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: B
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 10%
Fiscal 2019 Estimated earnings Growth: 25.5%
% of analysts with Strong Buy or Buy: 91.7%
YTD Return: 42.3%

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO

Based in Waltham, MA, Thermo Fisher Scientific is a scientific instrument maker and a world leader in serving science.

Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: B
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 33%
Fiscal 2019 Estimated earnings Growth: 10.8%
% of analysts with Strong Buy or Buy: 90%
YTD Return: 31.2%

IQVIA Holdings Inc. IQV

Based in Durham, NC, IQVIA Holdings provides advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry.

Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: B
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 30%
Fiscal 2019 Estimated earnings Growth: 14.9%
% of analysts with Strong Buy or Buy: 84.6%
YTD Return: 21%

Lowe's Companies Inc. LOW

Based in Mooresville, NC, Lowe’s Companies is one of the leading home improvement retailers, which has its operations primarily in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: B
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 22%
Fiscal 2019 Estimated earnings Growth: 10.3%
% of analysts with Strong Buy or Buy: 82.6%
YTD Return: 23.9%

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. ALXN

Based in New Haven, CT, Alexion Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of life-transforming drugs, for the treatment of patients with ultra-rare disorders.

Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: A
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 22%
Fiscal 2019 Estimated earnings Growth: 30.4%
% of analysts with Strong Buy or Buy: 82.3%
YTD Return: 12%

Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential

The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases. Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better.

See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>


Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
AMETEK, Inc. (AME) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research