Tony Gutierrez
The S&P 500 has rebounded 5.4 per cent so far in September, following a 4.7 per cent drop last month. Those individuals who are underinvested in equities and hoping to catch the next wave of upside should consider the following 10 stocks, which receive top ratings from analysts and are expected to gain at least 50 per cent in the months ahead. Warning: These stocks are risky. They are ordered by analysts' median projected return.
10. Visa is a credit-card company, operating an electronic payment network. Fiscal third-quarter net income declined 1.8 per cent to $716 million, or 73 cents a share, as revenue grew 23 per cent. The operating margin rose from 50 per cent to 56 per cent. Visa's stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 14 and a book value multiple of 2 -- 12 per cent and 72 per cent discounts to IT services peer averages. It is expensive based on sales and cash flow per share. Of analysts covering Visa, 34, or 89 per cent, advise purchasing its shares, three recommend holding and two suggest selling them.
9. CommScope makes coaxial and fiber-optic cable for communications companies. Second-quarter profit nearly tripled to $44 million, or 43 cents a share, as revenue ascended 6.9 per cent to $838 million. The operating margin narrowed from 13 per cent to 9.1 per cent. CommScope's stock sells for a forward earnings multiple of 9.4, a book value multiple of 1.3, a sales multiple of 0.7 and a cash flow multiple of 5.7 -- 46 per cent, 54 per cent, 79 per cent and 60 per cent discounts to communications equipment peer averages. Roughly 92 per cent of analysts rate the stock "buy" and 8 per cent rate it "hold."
8. Delta Air Lines provides air transportation to passengers and cargo. Delta swung to a second-quarter profit of $467 million, or 55 cents a share, as revenue advanced 17 per cent to $8.2 billion. The operating margin jumped from 0.8 per cent to 11 per cent. Delta's stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 5.3 and a sales multiple of 0.3 -- 78 per cent and 72 per cent discounts to airline industry averages. It's expensive based on book value per share. Of researchers following Delta, 13, or 93 per cent, advocate purchasing its shares and one advises holding them. None suggest selling Delta.
7 . Gannett publishes newspapers, including USA Today, operates broadcasting stations and manages Web sites. Second-quarter profit nearly tripled to $195 million, or 73 cents a share, as revenue declined 1.6 per cent to $1.4 billion. The operating margin rose from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. Gannett's stock sells for a trailing earnings multiple of 6.3, a forward earnings multiple of 5.6, a book value multiple of 1.7 and a cash flow multiple of 3.5 -- 71 per cent, 78 per cent, 52 per cent and 77 per cent discounts to media peer averages. Around 86 per cent of analysts rate it "buy" and 14 per cent rank it "hold."
6. Standard Microsystems designs and sells silicon-based integrated circuits. Standard swung to a fiscal first-quarter profit of $630,000, or 3 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss. Revenue increased 56 per cent to $97 million. The operating margin turned positive. Standard's stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 9.8, a book value multiple of 1.2, a sales multiple of 1.3 and a cash flow multiple of 8.8 -- 19 per cent, 78 per cent, 59 per cent and 34 per cent discounts to semiconductor industry averages. All eight researchers following Standard Microsystems rate its stock "buy."
5. Orbital Sciences develops small and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial and military customers. Second-quarter profit contracted 27 per cent to $6.4 million, or 11 cents a share, as revenue expanded 25 per cent to $338 million. The operating margin narrowed from 4.8 per cent to 4.1 per cent. Orbital's stock sells for a forward earnings multiple of 12, a book value multiple of 1.5 and a sales multiple of 0.7 -- 14 per cent, 70 per cent and 40 per cent discounts to aerospace and defense industry averages. All eight analysts covering Orbital Sciences advise purchasing its shares.
4. Entegris sells products to semiconductor, fuel-cell and life-sciences companies. It swung to a second-quarter profit of $18 million, or 14 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss. Revenue more than doubled. The operating margin climbed from the negatives to positive 16 per cent. Entegris shares trade at a forward earnings multiple of 5.6, a book value multiple of 1.5 and a cash flow multiple of 8.4 -- 53 per cent, 73 per cent and 37 per cent discounts to peer averages. Around 88 per cent of analysts rate the stock "buy" and 12 per cent rate it "hold."
3. Clinical Data is a biotechnology company. It has several late-stage compounds, including Vilazodone for depression and Stedivaze for cardiac stress. It also sells genetic tests to determine drug response. Its fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed to $14 million, or 51 cents a share, from a loss of $15 million, or 88 cents, a year earlier. Revenue grew 48 per cent. Clinical Data's stock is expensive based on all relative valuation metrics since the company is consistently unprofitable. Still, all six analysts following Clinical Data recommend purchasing its shares.
2. AMR owns American Airlines. The company's second-quarter loss narrowed 97 per cent to $11 million, or 3 cents a share, as revenue gained 16 per cent to $5.7 billion. The operating margin climbed from negative territory to positive 3.5 per cent. AMR's stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 7.3, a sales multiple of 0.1 and a cash flow multiple of 2 -- 70 per cent, 90 per cent and 57 per cent discounts to airline peer averages. Of analysts following AMR, eight, or 57 per cent, rate its stock "buy", five rate it "hold" and one ranks it "sell."
1. Micron Technology makes semiconductors. Micron swung to a fiscal third-quarter profit of $939 million, or 92 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss. Revenue more than doubled to $2.3 billion. The operating margin climbed from negative territory to positive 12 per cent. Micron's stock sells for a trailing earnings multiple of 4.7, a forward earnings multiple of 3.7, a book value multiple of 0.9 and a cash flow multiple of 2.8 -- 77 per cent, 70 per cent, 84 per cent and 79 per cent discounts to peer averages. Around 74 per cent of analysts rate it "buy", 22 per cent rate it "hold" and 4 per cent rank it "sell."