Best Stocks to Invest 2024|webmasterworld-money: Best Stocks to Invest

Showing posts with label Best Stocks to Invest. Show all posts

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024

After strong performance in 2023, U.S. gross domestic product growth started to cool in the fourth quarter and only grew by 1.6% in the first quarter. Economists expect growth to stay flat in coming quarters, and while predictions for a U.S. recession have mellowed, a downturn isn't off the table yet. It may become difficult for investors to find reliable growth stocks to buy if interest rates remain at 23-year highs for an extended period. Nevertheless, growth stocks outperformed value stocks in 2023, and many investors expect that trend to continue in 2024 if the Federal Reserve pivots to rate cuts.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)

High-end semiconductor maker Nvidia has been one of the most spectacular growth stories in the entire stock market in the past 15 years. Nvidia's growth numbers have wowed Wall Street, especially for a company of Nvidia's size. Nvidia's revenue grew 265% year over year in the fourth quarter, while its net income skyrocketed by 768%. Analyst Angelo Zino says unprecedented artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand will continue to support strong growth numbers for Nvidia. He projects 80% revenue growth in fiscal 2025 and 20% growth in 2026. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $1,000 price target for NVDA stock, which closed at $826.32 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL)

Alphabet is one of the world's largest online search and advertising companies and is the parent company of Google and YouTube. In the first quarter, Alphabet reported 15% revenue growth, which included 28% Google Cloud revenue growth. Zino says Alphabet has tremendous free cash flow potential, and he is bullish on the company's AI technology potential. He projects 12% revenue growth in 2024 and 10% growth in 2025. He says the company will integrate additional AI tools into its enterprise products, cloud services, search and YouTube businesses. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $175 price target for GOOGL stock, which closed at $156 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Meta Platforms Inc. (META)

Meta Platforms is a market leader in social media and online advertising and is the owner of Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. Meta regained its growth groove in 2023, and reported 27% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2024. Zino says Meta's margin trajectory is improving and the stock is attractively valued given its many growth opportunities. He says the company's cost-cutting efforts coupled with an improving digital ad spending environment will continue to drive earnings growth. He projects 18% revenue growth in 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $540 price target for META stock, which closed at $441.38 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase is one of the world's largest banks and financial services companies with roughly $3.7 trillion in assets. In 2023, JPMorgan acquired First Republic Bank after it failed during the regional banking crisis and was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. JPMorgan reported double-digit revenue growth in each of the past five quarters. Analyst Kenneth Leon says JPMorgan is gaining market share in multiple core businesses, and he projects a rebound in investment banking in the second half of 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $215 price target for JPM stock, which closed at $193.37 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Tesla Inc. (TSLA)

Tesla is the leading U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer. Tesla's year-over-year revenue fell by 9% in the first quarter, and automotive segment revenue dropped 13%. Analyst Garrett Nelson says production from Tesla's factories in Texas and Germany and the first wave of Cybertruck deliveries have set the table for Tesla's growth to rebound in 2024 and beyond. In addition, Nelson says first production of the company's Next Gen platform in 2025 could be an additional growth driver. He projects 10% revenue growth in 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $210 price target for TSLA stock, which closed at $170.18 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Mastercard Inc. (MA)

Mastercard is one of the world's largest credit card and payments providers. In the fourth quarter, Mastercard reported 13% revenue growth, 11% net income growth and 10% gross dollar volume growth. Analyst Alexander Yokum says Mastercard will continue to gain market share in coming years as the global transition to a cashless economy continues. Yokum says payment volume growth will significantly outpace consumer spending growth in the coming years, which should help Mastercard outperform. He projects 13% revenue growth in 2024 and 12% growth in 2025. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $550 price target for MA stock, which closed at $462.11 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Salesforce Inc. (CRM)

Salesforce is the world's largest provider of cloud-based customer relationship management software. In addition to its organic growth, Salesforce has grown via a string of acquisitions in recent years, including its 2020 buyout of Slack. Salesforce reported 11% revenue growth and 1,575% net income growth in the fourth quarter. Zino says Salesforce shares are attractively valued given the company's comprehensive portfolio of products, market share gains and earnings growth opportunities. He projects about 9% annual revenue growth through at least fiscal 2027. CFRA has a "strong buy" rating and $330 price target for CRM stock, which closed at $273.14 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)

Shares of microprocessor and graphics semiconductor stock Advanced Micro Devices are up a whopping 3,445% over the past decade, and AMD reported 10% revenue growth and a 3,076% net income growth in the fourth quarter. Even after the stock's big run, Zino says the growth outlook for AMD's central processing unit data center servers and AMD's opportunities to further improve its balance sheet suggest the stock still may have significant upside remaining. He projects 16% revenue growth in 2024 and 20% growth in 2025. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $200 price target for AMD stock, which closed at $153.76 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Intuit Inc. (INTU)

Intuit produces accounting and management, tax preparation and personal finance software. In the fiscal second quarter, Intuit reported 11% revenue growth, 110% net income growth and 18% revenue growth in its small business and self-employed group business. Analyst Janice Quek says Intuit has executed well in a challenging macroeconomic environment. In addition, Quek says catalysts such as Live Full Service for Turbo Tax, Intuit Assist and other new AI features will help the company maintain double-digit sales growth. She projects 11.8% revenue growth in fiscal 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $715 price target for INTU stock, which closed at $626.39 on April 25.

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024:Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT)

Applied Materials is the world's largest wafer fabrication equipment supplier for the semiconductor industry. In the first quarter, Applied Materials reported flat revenue growth but 18% net income growth. Analyst Brooks Idlet says Applied Materials' leadership positions in multiple critical semiconductor production businesses position the company to generate solid growth numbers in coming years. Idlet says demand from foundry/logic technology transitions will support etch and deposition tools sales growth. He projects revenue growth will accelerate from 2% in fiscal 2024 to 7% in 2025. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $233 price target for AMAT stock, which closed at $197.50 on April 25.

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2014

With the grueling stock market fall, investors are certainly looking for defensive investments. The good news is that there are many high-quality companies — such as AT&T (NYSE:T), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) — that are paying juicy dividends. In many cases, the yields are higher than 30-year Treasury bonds.
And yes, one effective way to invest in dividend-paying stocks is to buy a mutual. So here’s a look at some top offerings:

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2014 - Hartford Dividend & Growth A Fund

The Hartford Dividend & Growth A Fund (MUTF:IHGIX), which has $6.2 billion in assets, is primarily focused on mega-companies. Top holdings include AT&T, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). What’s more, the overall yield is 1.29%.
Because of the focus on quality and stability, the fund’s portfolio manager, Edward Bousa, has been able to deal quite effectively with market volatility.

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2014 -

Franklin Rising Dividends A Fund

Founded in 1947, Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) has built a powerhouse in mutual funds. Then again, it has been able to post solid long-term returns for its investors.
One of the standouts is the Franklin Rising Dividends A Fund (MUTF:FRDPX), which got its start in 1987. In fact, the fund’s portfolio manager, William Lippman, still is at the helm.
Basically, the strategy is to focus on companies that have consistently increased their dividends. And yes, there must be a compelling case that the strength will continue for the long haul. In other words, the portfolio has many companies that generate large amounts of cash flows and have low debt levels.

Invesco Diversified Dividend Y Fund

Meggan Walsh, who manages the Invesco Diversified Dividend Y Fund (MUTF:LCEYX), looks for investments that have growth ramps yet are selling at discounted valuations. Actually, in light of the recent market plunge, these opportunities are certainly easier to find.
Keep in mind that dividends are not the only requirement. For example, Walsh looks for companies that also have aggressive share buyback programs. Some of the top holdings include SunTrust Banks (NYSE:STI), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) and Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI).
The fund also has a healthy dividend payout, coming to about 2.13%.

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2014 -

Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund

The Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund (MUTF:VDIGX) invests primarily in large companies that have strong track records of paying dividends. This certainly helps to provide downside protection.
As should be expected, the expense ratio is at a low 0.34%, which helps to boost returns. Consider that the overall dividend yield is 1.99%.
The fund also avoids aggressive trading. That is, the turnover is only 17% per year.
Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including “All About Commodities” and “All About Short Selling.” You can find him at Twitter account @ttaulli. He does not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
More about the best and top stocks in

Best Stocks to Buy

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2012

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2012 - Hartford Dividend & Growth A Fund

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2012 -

Franklin Rising Dividends A Fund

Invesco Diversified Dividend Y Fund

4 Top Dividend Funds to Invest in 2012 -

Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund

Best Stocks to Buy

3 Railroad Stocks To Invest That Keep Rolling in 2012

Freight railroads are at a crossing. While the volume of freight rail’s core staples — coking coal, grain and scrap metal — is down significantly compared to last year, volume of “intermodal” freight — shipments that travel in containers or trailers and can be handled by rail, ship or truck — is on the rise.
And that growth is likely to help some publicly traded freight rail companies deliver healthy returns to shareholders.

Microsoft’s Big Win in the Government Cloud

It’s no secret that railroads have had to contend with some adversity so far this year: Total carload volume is down more than 3% compared to the same period last year. Cheap natural gas, regulatory pressure and a warmer-than-usual winter drove down coal volume, which accounts for more than 35% of all rail shipments. Grain exports are sluggish due to the mild drought in the nation’s heartland and rising international production.
But intermodal volume is 4% higher today than it was a year ago. And if you remove coal and grain from the equation, freight rail volume rose by nearly 8% in the first quarter of this year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Intermodal is becoming an increasingly attractive option for shippers because of tight trucking capacity. Railroads can transport a ton of freight more than 480 miles on a single gallon of diesel, making them more efficient than other transport modes.
As a result, overall freight rail revenue rose by more than 15% in 2011, and rails also gained market share from truckers — especially in intermodal, according to a Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals report released this week.
For investors, the best railroad stocks are those that are well prepared to take advantage of growing intermodal traffic. Here are three freight railroads that are poised to keep on rolling:

3 Railroad Stocks To Invest That Keep Rolling in 2012 - CSX

CSX (NYSE:CSX) would have taken a huge hit on its first-quarter earnings released in April because coal volume dropped 14%. Instead, intermodal shipments soared, accounting for 37% of total volume in the first quarter. That made all the difference: CSX earnings beat analysts’ estimates as first-quarter profits rose 14%, to 43 cents a share, on revenue of nearly $3 billion versus expectations of 35 cents a share.
CSX is trading near $22, around 25% above its 52-week low last October. With a market cap of nearly $23 billion, CSX has a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.8, indicating the stock may be undervalued, and a fairly low forward P/E of around 11. It also has a current dividend yield of 2.6%.
Bottom Line: CSX has a lot going for it in intermodal. It has been cashing in on increased conversion of highway intermodal shipments to rail. Growth in its UMAX interline container program and new international volume bode well.
Buy CSX with a price target of $27.

3 Railroad Stocks To Invest That Keep Rolling in 2012 -

Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern’s (NYSE:NSC) domestic intermodal operations helped offset weakness in coal shipments. First-quarter intermodal revenue rose 9%, reflecting a volume increase of 5%. NSC beat the Street on both the top and bottom lines: Earnings rose 26% in the first quarter to $1.23 a share; revenue grew 6% to $2.8 billion.
NSC is trading around $68, about 18% above its 52-week low last October. With a market cap of about $22 billion, NSC has a PEG ratio of 0.8, indicating the stock could be undervalued, and a forward P/E a little over 10, which is at the low end of the freight rail sector. It also has a current dividend yield of nearly 2.8%.
Bottom Line: The company’s intermodal terminal in Franklin County, Pa., is scheduled to open later this year, and the intermodal facility in Birmingham, Ala., that began construction last year are big bets on that business.
I like NSC at a price target of $85.

3 Railroad Stocks To Invest That Keep Rolling in 2012 -

Union Pacific

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) expanded its intermodal revenue by 15% in the first quarter, reflecting a small increase in volume and higher revenue per container. It’s also using innovations in technology such as smartphone apps to make gate reservations at intermodal facilities. In April, Union Pacific reported a 35% increase in first-quarter earnings to $1.79 a share, on revenue that rose 14% to $5.1 billion, beating analysts’ estimates on the top and bottom lines.
UNP is trading around $113, nearly 46% above its 52-week low last October. With a market cap of nearly $54 billion, UNP is the largest freight railroad in the U.S. by that measure. It has a PEG ratio of 1, indicating the stock is fairly valued, and a forward P/E a little over 12, which is the midrange for the freight rail sector. It also has a current dividend yield of 2.1%.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

The eurozone debt crisisstill is in focus, investors remain jittery and the stock market has given up nearly all of its gains made this year.
That all adds up to a “risk-off” environment where many investors are turning to stable stocks with big brands, bulletproof balance sheets and reliable income generation via quarterly dividends. This is especially true for retirement investors who are equally concerned with capital preservation as they are with tapping into a rally — if and when one ever transpires.
When you are thinking in terms of retirement decades down the road, dividends can add up in a hurry. Consider this: If you buy a stock with a 4% dividend, you will double your money in about 18 years even if the stock goes nowhere. That’s peace of mind that many long-term investors thirst for right now.
So if you’re looking for the biggest brands with the biggest-yielding stocks, here’s a list of the top 10 dividend stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to help you out:

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012 #10: DuPont

Current Dividend Yield: 3.5%
Performance So Far in 2012: +8%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (NYSE:DD), or simply DuPont, is a chemicals giant made famous by products including Tyvek house wrap, Teflon non-stick coatings and stretchy Lycra synthetic fabric.
DuPont isn’t quite as sexy as a Silicon Valley tech shop but clearly is an innovator with a long history of great product creation. DD stock lagged the market in 2011 with an 8% decline, but has topped the Dow’s 3.5% gains considerably with its 8% returns so far in 2012.
Revenue is up year-over-year for the 10th consecutive quarter after strong earnings in April, and DuPont’s EPS have gone from $1.92 for fiscal 2009 to an impressive $3.68 in fiscal 2011 — almost double — and are forecast to jump another 15% in fiscal 2012.
Dividend investors in it for the long term know the staying power of DuPont. The company has paid dividends for more than 100 years and is a stable industrial giant that isn’t going anywhere. At the end of April after DuPont’s earnings, it added another 2 cents to its quarterly payday, too, proving this industrial company is not just preserving dividends — but improving them.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012 #9: General Electric

Current Dividend Yield: 3.5%
Performance So Far in 2012: +10%
General Electric (NYSE:GE) might forever be tarnished in the minds of some dividend investors after slashing its payout by two-thirds during the financial crisis. While the quarterly dividend remains about half of what it was — at just 17 cents vs. 31 before the market meltdown — the recent history is worth noting.
Consider that in April 2011, GE paid 14 cents each quarter. By the summer it was paying 15 cents, and by January 2012 it was up to 17 cents a quarter. Now we just received news that General Electric’s finance arm received the green light to share some of its wealth with shareholders, too. Specifically, regulators signed off on a special dividend from GE Capital along with permission for the group to resume paying regular dividends later this year.
GE admittedly has its troubles. We saw rather lackluster General Electric earnings in February, but a stronger showing in April as GE reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings. With 40% of its revenue coming from GE Aviation, it’s hard for the company to break out without big airplane orders or defense contracts.
But dividend investors should be encouraged by the GE Capital dividend news. With a current 3.5% yield, this stock is steadily climbing back into the ranks of Wall Street’s best income stocks. A nice market-beating gain since Jan. 1 also is a plus.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#8: JPMorgan Chase

Current Dividend Yield: 3.5%
Performance So Far in 2012: +4%
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) has been making a lot of headlines lately, and for all the wrong reasons. May’s disastrous $2 billion JPM trading loss has resulted in golden-child banker Jamie Dimon receiving a summons to Capitol Hill to take a whipping from Congress and supporters of the Volcker Rule.
But the stock still is hanging tough, boasts a great yield and is the largest American bank by assets.
On the dividend side, JPM was granted Federal Reserve permission to raise its dividend in March, even as competitors like Citigroup (NYSE:C) and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) have failed to improve their payouts beyond a nominal penny per quarter in dividends. You can bet that Ben Bernanke and others at the Fed wouldn’t have allowed JPM to boost its payout if it wasn’t sustainable. And on the profits side, JPM still is tracking earnings growth of over 20% this fiscal year even after the trading loss.
If you’re a long-term investor, you might want to take advantage of the recent turmoil in JPMorgan Chase to get into a nice dividend stock at a decent price.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#7: Procter & Gamble

Current Dividend Yield: 3.6%
Performance So Far in 2012: -5%
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) hasn’t been very pleasing to shareholders so far in 2012. Yes, the yield is nice — but the stock has been slumping, and at the end of April, P&G earnings showed a disappointing outlook for the rest of the year.
But Procter & Gamble CEO Bob McDonald is looking overseas to prop up the balance sheet amid rising commodity costs, frugal U.S. consumers and performance that lags rivals like Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL). And let’s face it: Even though the consumer products giant is slightly down, it is hardly out. P&G is going nowhere thanks to brands like Gillette, Pampers and Duracell that provide reliable revenue across rough economic times — and thus reliable dividend payments, too.
Yes, PG stock hasn’t seen much growth, and that is a concern. But you can’t get more defensive than consumer staples, so dividend investors wary of a summer downturn might want to turn to Procter & Gamble if they are planning on staying fully invested in the stock market right now.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#6 Chevron

Current Dividend Yield: 3.6%
Performance So Far in 2012: -4%
Worried about expensive gas? Don’t be. Crude oil has rolled back slightly from its 2012 high of around $111 a barrel — into the low $80s as of this writing — and is challenging lows not seen since October of last year.
So it’s no surprise that amid weaker prices and pretty flat demand, Chevron (NYSE:CVX) hasn’t done well lately. CVX stock actually is in the red in 2012 vs. gains for the broader market. Recent oil stock earnings show that refining continues to be a bit of a drag in the short term for Chevron and other oil majors.
But on the income side, Chevron has strength that is difficult to overlook. The company has paid dividends since 1912. It has increased its payouts twice in the last year, from 72 cents quarterly in March 2011 to 78 cents in June, then up again to 81 cents as of December 2011.
And while crude oil prices have rolled back, let’s not pretend we’re going to get back to $50 per barrel anytime soon, with geopolitical unrest in the Middle East and hungry emerging markets like China and Brazil increasing energy demand at an impressive clip despite risks of a broader economic slowdown. If you’re a dividend investor looking for a low-risk stock with a reliable revenue stream that ensures juicy payouts, Chevron certainly is worth looking into.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#5: Johnson & Johnson

Current Dividend Yield: 3.7%
Performance So Far in 2012: Flat
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has hit some headwinds in recent years over quality control, calling into question how well-run the company really is. But with a new Johnson & Johnson CEO at the helm, some are hoping that change is in the wind at JNJ. Product recalls have weighed heavily on the company, and consumers and investors alike need confidence for this health care giant to once again win their support.
One thing that never has been uncertain, however, is the dividend potential of Johnson & Johnson. JNJ has raised dividends for 49 years in a row. During the past decade, the company has managed to boost distributions by more than 12% per year — all while delivering a headline yield of about 3.7% right now.
And unlike some big pharma stocks that pay nice yields, the biggest dividend driver isn’t prescription drug offerings. While JNJ does offer some vaccines and medical products, consumer health offerings like Band-Aid and Tylenol provide its steadiest revenue stream.
Revenue admittedly has been a bit stagnant at J&J during the past few years; hence, the stock has seen some underperformance. But if you believe projections, Johnson & Johnson could see a stunning 48% jump in earnings per share for fiscal 2012 compared with fiscal 2011. Time will tell if management can hit those targets. But in the meantime, the dividend is a pretty nice hedge, even if the stock moves sideways.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#4: Pfizer

Current Dividend Yield: 3.9%
Performance So Far in 2012: +4%
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) outperformed the market nicely in 2011 with one of the best returns in the entire Dow Jones — 23% in gains, to be precise. While performance has cooled a bit and Pfizer was sitting on a loss earlier this year, the stock has come roaring back since February as defensive investments like health care return to favor. It’s now neck-and-neck with the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Yes, long-term challenges at Pfizer are the same as the risks that persist across all of Big Pharma — looming patent expirations, challenges from generic medications and the frantic race to lock up patients in emerging markets. But the goose still is laying golden eggs for shareholders in the form of 22-cent quarterly disbursements, with dividend payments dating back to 1901.
Looking forward, the company has a decent research pipeline with some up-and-coming drugs that could rotate in to prop up revenues. Most importantly for dividend investors, the company has $29 billion in cash on the books. Even if revenue hits a hiccup across 2012 — as it did in fiscal 2011 when it slid from $67.8 billion to $67.4 billion — the cash is there to preserve this juicy dividend.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#3: Merck

Current Dividend Yield: 4.3%
Performance So Far in 2012: +3%
Merck (NYSE:MRK) is very similar to Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) in many ways. It too faces patent expirations. It too is hoping its pipeline will step up to fill the void. And it too pays a huge dividend.
There obviously is no breakneck growth in pharmaceuticals, at least on a share appreciation basis. But the continued roll-in of the $41 billion Schering-Plough buyout from a few years ago surely will provide new opportunities for Merck. At the very least, it ensures the company won’t fade away.
And like its cohort Pfizer, MRK is sitting on a huge war chest. Some $13.5 billion in cash and $1.4 billion in short-term investments keeps this pick pretty safe when it comes to writing the checks.
Dividends have been paid at Merck since 1935, and last year the payout was increased about 10%, from 38 cents a quarter to 42 cents. You might not find massive share appreciation in this stock, but you certainly will find stability.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#2: Verizon

Current Dividend Yield: 4.6%
Performance So Far in 2012: +9%
Verizon (NYSE:VZ) remains the leading wireless telecom provider in the U.S. by subscriptions and gets 50% of its revenue from wireless subscribers. The company also is one of the top high-speed Internet providers in America via its FiOS fiber optic network. As the world becomes increasingly wired, it’s more important than ever for companies like Verizon to be involved with the operations of businesses and the lives of regular Americans.
This provides a very stable revenue stream that accounts for huge dividends. Like many low-risk dividend stocks, this is a double-edged sword because there might not be any huge growth opportunities for the entrenched telecom. But strong cash flow generation and the lack of any real competition from anyone other than AT&T (NYSE:T) means this telecom stock is a stalwart that’s here to stay.
The telecom giant recently made waves with a decision to kill almost all voice plans and move to a “Share Everything” data model that will allow users to get up to 10 gadgets wired — including laptops, tablets and smartphones — on the same plan. The goal is to get more folks hooked up with more gadgets and using more data (which VZ can charge more for, of course).
And if this mobile move doesn’t move the stock? Well, you could do worse than a 4.6% annual return via dividends.

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

#1: AT&T

Current Dividend Yield: 5%
Performance So Far in 2012: +18%
One of the biggest stories in 2011, as previously mentioned, was that AT&T (NYSE:T) tried to leapfrog rival Verizon (NYSE:VZ) in the wireless market via a buyout of T-Mobile. But regulators ran interference, and AT&T abandoned its bid. Don’t think that means the biggest dividend payer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average should be cut loose from your portfolio, though. With a dividend yield of about 5%, this is a heck of an income play.
The story is the same for AT&T as Verizon, where a strong balance sheet and its entrenched status are offset by the lack of growth and the highly regulated nature of the telecom sector (case in point: the squashed T-Mobile bid). AT&T delivered pretty strong first-quarter earnings, though, so it’s not like this company is completely stagnant.
Admittedly, these U.S. telecoms aren’t “growthy” and won’t deliver massive share appreciation. But if you’re looking for a big dividend payer that will keep throwing off cash for decades, AT&T might be your best bet in the whole Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Best Vanguard Mutual Funds for Your 401k

When it comes to 401k investing, investors have a lot of options for retirement. But with 20 new funds on the table in 2010 (most have already launched, but a few have been temporarily delayed), free trading in Vanguard ETFs, and drastically reduced minimums for its lower-cost Admiral shares, Vanguard’s in the business to win over investors. And they’re going to keep picking off the competition, one-by-one, using their heft and low costs.
Yet, while all this will help Vanguard gather assets and reduce costs for you and me, the longer the list of funds gets, the more confusing it can be to pick the winners from the losers.
To make matters worse, the major drawback of investing for retirement in a 401(k) is that your options are limited to the funds your plan administrators make available. Typically, they choose middle-of-the-road funds deemed safe enough to keep employees from losing their shirts — and the administrators from losing their jobs.

Related Article: 7 deadly sins of 401k investing

So unless you use your 401k plan’s brokerage option, you aren’t likely to be able to invest in any Vanguard fund you like (and even the brokerage service may not have access to all Vanguard funds). In the case of Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining Fund (VGPMX), that’s a good thing. The fund is incredibly volatile, with a maximum cumulative loss of 69.8% in the most recent bear market versus 50.9% for Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTSMX) and 51.0% for Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX). So much for gold funds being a safe haven.
On the other hand, you also aren’t likely to have access to some funds that you probably should have an allocation to, such as the Vanguard Emerging Markets Index Fund (VEIEX), which I highly recommend for 401(k) investors (not for all of your money, of course, but a 5% portion).

In fact, I believe that as the global economy continues healing, having an allocation to emerging markets will become a virtual requirement for investors with long-range objectives, like retirement. That’s why I’d suggest you ask your plan administrator to add this fund to the mix of choices your company includes in its 401k plan. (I’m also doubtful your 401(k) gives you access to Vanguard’s terrific Health Care fund, which in itself offers access to the growing demand for medical products and services in the emerging world.)
Here are several other Vanguard funds I’d like to see in your 401k portfolio. Use them if they’re available to you. But if they’re not, try requesting them. You might need to enlist your colleagues to convince your benefits department to add them. But remember, it’s your retirement that’s at stake. Your 401k plan should be serving you, not covering them.

Related Article: Top Market Villains of 2010

PRIMECAP is #1

As a retirement savings vehicle, a 401(k) is inherently geared toward the long term. But when planning for retirement, you don’t just want to save your money, you want it to grow. Consider that even at a retirement age of 60 to 65, you could live another 30 years or more. Invest too conservatively, and you could outlive your money. To prevent this, my first choice for your 401(k) is a trio of Vanguard funds run by the redoubtable team at PRIMECAP Management: PRIMECAP (VPMCX), PRIMECAP Core (VPCCX) and Capital Opportunity (VHCOX).
Unfortunately, there’s a hitch: All three funds are now closed to new investors outside of established 401(k) plans. However, they may be available to you. If so, consider yourself lucky, and don’t hesitate to give a big slug of money to this group of managers who take a value-oriented eye to buying growth stocks. Their funds are the largest single component of my retirement and nonretirement accounts, as well as those of my wife and kids.

Balancing risk and return since 1929

If the PRIMECAP funds are closed to you, Vanguard Wellington (VWELX) is an excellent choice for the core around which you build the rest of your 401(k) portfolio. Since its inception in July 1929, it has held out the promise of strong relative returns in good and bad markets by focusing on one very important investment discipline: Diversification.
As a balanced fund, approximately 60% to 70% of Wellington’s assets are in high-quality blue-chip stocks, and 30% to 40% are in top-notch investment-grade government and corporate bonds. You can easily get the entire bond exposure you need in your 401(k) portfolio from this fund. The fund also has the flexibility to invest as much as 20% of its equity assets in foreign securities, an important part of a diversified portfolio.

Related Article: Invest in Water With These 4 Mutual Funds

What I like most about Wellington is its excellent management team. Wellington manager Ed Bousa took the lead management position at Wellington in 2003 with nary a change in the fund’s strong and consistent gait, and very minor changes in the portfolio, which is precisely what I had expected, as he had worked with former manager Ernst Von Metzsch for so long.
Bonus: By investing through your 401(k), you can avoid the hefty $10,000 minimum initial investment required to get into Wellington on your own. If you decide to follow this strategy, I’d suggest putting about 40% of your money in Wellington.
More about the best and top stocks in

Growthing Small Caps Stocks For 2012

Early-stage companies spend many years planning for the day when everything clicks. For a number of them, 2012 could be the year when all their hard work pays off. So I decided to look at companies set to see sales rise more than 200% next year.
Most of the companies in the table below each already sport market values of more than $400 million, so they're no mere wallflowers. Clearly, they already hold great promise for some investors. If they can actually deliver on the strong growth expected of them, shares may surge.

Stay away from these stocks...
Of course, you should take some of these forecasts with a grain of salt. Alimera Sciences (Nasdaq: ALIM) has a promising device (an insertable tube that delivers steroids directly into the eye for those suffering from diabetes-related blindness), but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been dragging its feet on approval.

Some think the company's product, Illuvien, may never get the green light and those lofty sales forecasts will never come to fruition. Still others think Illuvien will be approved and see annual sales approach $300 million in coming years. If that happens, shares would likely double or triple from today's levels.
Growthing Small Caps Stocks For 2012: Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA)
In a similar vein, Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) will have to sell a lot of cars in 2012 to meet expectations of scorching sales growth. Yet competition in the electric car market is getting awfully crowded. Privately-held Fisker Automotive is aiming directly for Tesla at the high end of the market with a new model to be released this month, and firms such as Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are ramping up electric offerings in coming years as well. I'm in the camp that feels Tesla will be unable to sell enough cars to become profitable.
And legal wrangling may impede sales growth in 2011 for SIGA Technologies (Nasdaq: SIGA), which as I recently noted, may be forced to share a large government contract with Pharmathene (NYSE: PIP).
Consider these stocks instead...
Yet a pair of companies in the health field clearly have the makings of robust growth in 2012 -- and beyond.
Little-known Pacific Biosciences (Nasdaq: PACB) has developed a technology platform that can rapidly sequence strands of DNA at a lower cost than rivals. That was the promise held by rival Illumina (Nasdaq: ILMN), which is now worth more than $8 billion, more than eight times the value placed on Pacific Biosciences. To be sure, Illumina spent the first half of the past decade falling short of sales forecasts before sales finally took off in recent years. So there's still a chance Pacific Biosciences struggles to meet aggressive growth expectations in the near-term.
Pacific Biosciences has secured pre-orders for $24 million worth of equipment and has a decent shot of hitting 2011 sales forecasts of $38 million. But to meet the 2012 sales forecast of $139 million, the sales force needs to start moving at a more rapid clip. Longer-term, annual sales could exceed $500 million (rival Illumina had $666 million in sales last year), at which point, per-share profits could exceed $3 or $4 and shares would be twice as high as they are now. When that happens, though, is an open question.
Growthing Small Caps Stocks For 2012: Savient Pharma (Nasdaq: SVNT)
In a similar vein, Savient Pharma (Nasdaq: SVNT) may be looking at a very large market opportunity with its gout drug, Krystexxa, which helps alleviate gout-related pain and inflammation in patients who don't respond to other forms of treatment. Savient would have preferred to be acquired. When the company announced in late October that no takers were found, shares quickly plunged from $21 to $12 and now sit around $10.
Yet it's too soon to write Savient off. The company's team of 60 sales people just started selling Krystexxa at the end of February, and investors will start to more clearly see the drug's demand in coming quarters.
The real promise for Savient lays in the nature of gout. Cases of the arthritic condition have been rising quickly, particularly among U.S. males, likely due to a corresponding increase in the current spikes in diabetes and obesity in America. Once a patient starts suffering from gout, the disease can wield painful, but short-lived episodes. However, gout attacks have a tendency to become more frequent and painful with time and it is considered to be an irreversible condition once it reaches later stages.
Savient's Krystexxa has proven more effective in treating extreme gout pain than any other drug on the market, leading analysts at Global Hunter Securities to predict annual sales may eventually exceed $500 million. (As a note of caution, there are other promising gout treatments undergoing clinical testing, and if they reach the market, Krystexxa's potential opportunity would shrink.)
Savient is unlikely to be profitable before 2013, so patience will be required. Then again, the company still may end up in the hands of a suitor long before then and deliver big share price gains in the process.

Best Investments for 2012 - How Do you Pick 401k Mutual Funds

Mutual funds and 401k investing is the primary way that most folks experience the stock market and plan for retirement. Though I love buying and selling individual stocks, it’s clar that most people don’t have the time or the brainpower to look beyond mutual funds — to say nothing of the added risk you take on when trading a diversified mutual fund investment for an individual stock. So it’s no surprise that one of the most frequent questions I get is about picking the best mutual funds within your 401k. I’d like to tackle that topic today, but broaden the discussion to picking the best mutual funds overall – whether you have a limited menu from your employer’s 401k retirement plan or a broader IRA account with access to more options. When evaluating your 401k and mutual fund options, you should check out the following factors: Did the fund beat the S&P 500? This question matters on two fronts. First, did it beat in the last year? Secondly, did it outperform in the longer term, like across the last five or 10 years? (Surprisingly most managers DON’T … here’s the disturbing proof.) What’s the expense ratio? This is the amount of your returns that the fund shaves off. 1% sounds like a reasonable expense, but what if you only get 3% in annual returns? Well, your expenses shove that down to just 2%. Giving up 1% in returns every year adds up dramatically over a decade or two. If your fund has an expense ratio higher than .75% or 1% it better deliver impressive returns to be worth it. How long has the manager been there? If the guy moves around a lot or has only recently been put in charge of the fund, you really can’t credit him with any of its success. That would be like saying it doesn’t matter whether Steve Jobs is leading Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) or not – it matters a great deal. That’s not to say a different manager can’t prove himself over time, but don’t be his guinea pig. Less than a year or two is a warning sign. Another good rule of thumb is the Morningstar rating. This is a firm that specializes in ranking the best and worst funds. Anything that’s a four or five star is typically a solid fund overall. This mutual fund research firm is a great resource, though obviously you shouldn’t rely too heavily on their evaluation alone. So what if you want to check these three metrics on your own? My favorite one-stop shop is Fidelity … If your mutual funds aren’t in the Fidelity family, don’t worry – it offers info for ALL funds. Well, over 1,700 funds anyway. Just type in the name of your fund under the “search” functionality at the very top of the page in the green bar, and then click on the fund you want to research to get an in-depth summary of the investment.

2 Best Stocks to Invest for This Week in 2012

Volatility continued in the markets this week, with economic reports decidedly mixed.
While retail sales went through the roof, the housing market stats showed a slowdown in housing starts but a pickup in building permits and mortgage applications. Unemployment claims remained steady, and so did the leading indicators.
Earnings season continues to surprise on the positive side, yet Europe’s problems also impact our markets almost daily.
We are on the right side of the trend, so investors should remain optimistic but always cautious in their selections. This week, most of the companies that look interesting to me are a dividend payer and a technology player.
Here are my two favorites:

2 Best Stocks to Invest for This Week in 2012 - Silicon Motion Technology (NASDAQ:SIMO)

SIMO makes multimedia data processing, storage and transfer products, including flash memory, embedded graphics processors, mobile television tuners and LTE modem solutions.
Price: $22.09
Market cap: $685.94 million
Target: $$30
Why I Like It: While chip prices are down, improving economic conditions should strengthen technology, including the semiconductor market, in terms of volume. However, caution remains during this earnings period of volatility. There could be a short-term pullback in the shares, but expect long-term appreciation.

2 Best Stocks to Invest for This Week in 2012 - Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:HBAN)

HBAN is a regional bank in the Midwest, headquartered in Ohio.
Price: $6.45
Market cap: $5.7 billion
Dividend yield: 2.5%
Target: $9.50
Why I Like It: A well-run financial institution, Huntington should benefit from the resurgence of the banking industry. While banks are not traditionally barn-burners in terms of appreciation, HBAN looks interesting and pays a decent dividend while you await appreciation.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012

Although we are in a long-term secular bull market, it is approaching important resistance at the March highs. This level also coincides with a significant resistance zone that eventually resulted in the market highs in 2007.
Stocks have advanced for several weeks, and the S&P 500 has gained almost 12% this year. Most of the big-name stocks have reported Q1 earnings, and 65% of the S&P 500 stocks have exceeded earnings estimates — a creditable but not spectacular performance in that many of the earnings estimates had been lowered.
The euro-contagion mess is still with us, along with concerns over China’s economic outlook. But these concerns are of a short to intermediate time frame. Thus, good quality stocks should be bought on pullbacks, and stocks that have just begun what appear to be major moves should be bought in stages starting now.
Here are your top stocks to buy for May:

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #1 – AT&T (T)

AT&T (NYSE:T), one of the most recognized brand names in the world, is expected to see gains in consumer wireless and broadband services. Its strong balance sheet, long-term customer relationships, and expanding profit margins should result in an increase in the stock’s P/E multiple, along with an increase in earnings. Analysts estimate that AT&T will earn $2.41 in 2012. The stock has a dividend yield of over 5%.
Technically the stock reversed from its 50-day moving average early in April, flashed a buy signal from our internal Collins-Bollinger Reversal (CBR) indicator, and then broke through a quadruple-top at $32. The target for AT&T is $38.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #2 –EssexProperty Trust (ESS)

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS) is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that owns and operates multi-family properties in California and the Pacific Northwest. Forecasts are for an average occupancy level of 96% in 2012, and rents this year are expected to rise by 6%. This REIT is a proven performer in redeveloping older properties, which supply a predictable stream of income.
ESS has a dividend yield of almost 3% and is expected to raise its dividend by 3%-5% this year.
Technically the breakout at $148 is very significant in that it breaks from a resistance line that extends back to February 2007. The target for ESS is $175.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #3 – Kohl’s Corp. (KSS)

Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE:KSS) owns a chain of family-operated department stores that also provide online shopping. And it owns the Rock & Republic brand, which offers apparel and accessories.
The company’s earnings have steadily grown over the past five years. Earnings predictions are $4.30 in 2012 versus $3.65 in 2011, and $4.85 in 2013. Kohl’s has a dividend yield of 2.5%.
In addition to the long-term goals for the stock, it also appears to be a candidate for a quick trade — note the strong buy from the stochastic. The trading target is $56 and the longer-term target is $68.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #4 – Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD)

Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations mostly in the United States and South Africa. However, the South African holdings are expected to be sold this year.
Earnings for the company are on a tear due to its unique position in thePermianBasinand its focus on oil production and cost cutting. S&P says that a higher liquid mix could boost earnings to $6.15 in 2012 and $8.85 in 2013, up from $3.95 in 2011.
The breakout from the triangle late in 2011 was a long-term bullish signal, but the follow-through after holding at its bullish support line is more significant. By breaking over $115, the target of $150 appears attainable within six months. Buy PDX now.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #5 – PulteGroup (PHM)

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) is a U.S. homebuilder with a financial services division that consists principally of mortgage banking and title operations. It appears that first-time buyers are becoming more active, and U.S. households are increasing at a greater rate than homebuilding, so we may have seen a bottom in the building industry.
Pulte is cash rich, with over $1.1 billion in cash that can be used to build or acquire communities. The company has increased its earnings (though still at a loss) for the past four years and is likely to turn profitable this year.
Technically a golden cross followed by a break through the long-term resistance line at $8 are powerful signals. And the April 27 break to $10 on twice the normal volume is a signal that PHM has the potential to run to the high teens.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012 #6 – Velti (VELT)

Velti (NASDAQ:VELT) is a leading global provider of mobile marketing and advertising that enables companies to implement campaigns by communicating through their mobile devices. Recent acquisitions and the creation of the Open Device Identification Number (ODIN) Working Group have brought Velti to the forefront of mobile advertising.
The company’s Q4 2011 earnings were 59 cents, which beat analysts’ estimates of 48cents. Analysts expect 73 cents in FY 2012.
The stock broke from a consolidation rectangle in January and established a trendline with support on its 50-day moving average. A golden cross was flashed in April, as well as a buy from the stochastic. The trading target for VELT is $18.

Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012

Clothing, shoes and fashion accessories are hardly “necessities.” However, it’s indisputable that a certain segment of American consumers still has plenty of discretionary income and is looking to big brands more than ever before for comfort and, of course, a symbol of status.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I’ve uncovered five clothing stocks to buy.
Each one of these stocks gets an “A” or “B” according to my research, meaning it is a “strong buy” or “buy.”
Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012 - Coach (NYSE:COH) develops fine accessories including handbags for women. In the last 12 months, Coach stock is up 25%, compared to smaller gains by the broader markets. COH stock gets a “B” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for earnings growth, a “B” grade for earnings momentum, a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months and an “A” grade for return on equity. For more information, view my complete analysis of COH stock.
Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012 - Nike (NYSE:NKE) is one of the most famous athletic apparel developers in the world. In the last year, Nike stock is up 33%, compared to a gain of just 4% for the Dow Jones in the same time. NKE stock gets a “B” grade for sales growth and an “A” grade for return on equity. For more information, view my complete analysis of NKE stock.
Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012 - Lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU) designs and sells technical athletic apparel and has experienced stock growth of 50% since January 1. Lululemon stock gets an “A” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for earnings growth, a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months and an “A” grade for return on equity. For more information, view my complete analysis of LULU stock.
Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012 - Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) sells men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. Ralph Lauren stock has climbed 24% since this time last April. RL stock gets a “B” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for earnings momentum, a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months and an “A” grade for return on equity. For more information, view my complete analysis of RL stock.
Top 5 Apparel Stocks to invest in 2012 - VF (NYSE:VFC) is a global apparel company based in the United States. VFC stock has gained 42% in the past 12 months. VFC stock gets an “A” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for operating margin growth, an “A” grade for earnings growth, an “A” grade for earnings momentum and an “A” grade for return on equity. For more information, view my complete analysis of VFC stock.

8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now

Consumer stocks are doing OK in 2012 as the broader market has rallied and spending has seemed strong. But the risk of rising gasoline prices, food inflation and other higher input costs could be squeezing margins for many consumer products companies. What’s more, you can bet that if gas hits $5 that many Americans will start cutting back on discretionary spending. That means some consumer stocks may be in trouble.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, eight consumer stocks look ready to sell.
Each one of these stocks gets a “D” or “F” according to my research, meaning it is a “sell” or “strong sell.”
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Walgreen (NYSE:WAG) operates a drugstore chain in the United States. In the last year, WAG stock has dropped 20%, compared to a 3% gain by the Dow Jones in the same time. Walgreen stock gets a “D” grade for sales growth and a “D” grade for earnings momentum.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM) works with agricultural commodities and products. Since last April, Archer Daniels stock has dipped 13%. ADM stock gets a “D” grade for operating margin growth, an “F” grade for earnings momentum, an “F” grade for earnings growth, an “F” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, and an “F” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Avon (NYSE:AVP) manufactures and markets beauty and related products. In the last 12 months. Avon stock is down 19%. AVP stock gets a “D” grade for sales growth, a “D” grade for operating margin growth, an “F” grade for earnings momentum, an “F” grade for earnings growth, an “F” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, an “F” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, and a “D” grade for cash flow.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now General Motors (NYSE:GM) is one of the largest American automotive company and has experienced a stock loss of 22% in the last year. GM stock gets a “D” grade for sales growth, an “F” grade for earnings momentum, and a “D” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Carnival (NYSE:CCL) is a major cruise company based in Miami. In the last year, CCL stock is down 17%. Carnival stock gets a “D” grade for operating margin growth, an “F” grade for earnings growth, a “D” grade for earnings momentum, an “F” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, and a “D” grade for cash flow.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Panasonic (NYSE:PC) offers diversified financial services to a variety of customers and has experienced a stock loss of 26% in the last year. C stock gets an “F” grade for sales growth, a “D” grade for earnings growth, an “F” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, and a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Sony (NYSE:SNE) is a major Japanese electronics company. SNE stock is down 38% since last April. Sony stock gets a “D” grade for sales growth, an “F” grade for operating margin growth, an “F” grade for earnings momentum, an “F” grade for earnings growth, an “F” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, an “F” grade for cash flow, and an “F” grade for return on equity.
8 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest that Return Right Now Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV) is a Mexican media company that rounds out the list. TV stock has dipped 11% since this time last year. TV stock gets an “F” grade for sales growth, a “D” grade for earnings growth, a “D” grade for earnings momentum and a “D” grade for cash flow.

Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now

Energy stocks are doing well right now as crude oil continues to move higher. It’s not a great thing for motorists or American consumers to see gasoline or energy costs eating in to their budgets, but if you can’t beat ‘em … join ‘em! Buying energy stocks could be your best hedge against rising fuel costs.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I identify seven energy stocks to buy.
Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an “A” or “B” according to my research, meaning it is a “strong buy” or “buy.”
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE:SNP) – commonly referred to as Sinopec — is an energy and chemical company that operates in China, as its name suggests. In the last year, SNP stock has gained 1%. Sinopec stock gets an “A” grade for cash flow, and a “B” grade for return on equity.
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) is involved with the exploration, production, refining, transportation, storage, distribution and selling of hydrocarbons. Ecopetrol stock has gained 54% in the last 12 months. EC stock gets a “B” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for operating margin growth, an “A” grade for earnings momentum, an “A” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, and an “A” grade for return on equity.
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now Enbridge (NYSEL:ENB) transports and distributes energy across North America, and has watched its stock value jump 25% since this time last year. Enbridge stock gets an “A” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, and a “B” grade for return on equity.

Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) works with consumers of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products and certain petrochemicals. Since last April, Enterprise stock has gained 15%, compared to smaller gain by the broader markets. EPD stock gets a “B” grade for sales growth, an “A” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for earnings momentum, an “A” grade for earnings growth, an “A” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, an “A” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, and a “B” grade for return on equity.
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now Kinder Morgan Energy (NYSE:KMP) is involved with approximately 29,000 miles of pipelines and 180 pipeline terminals. KMP stock is up 10% in the last year. KMP stock gets a “B” grade for earnings growth, an “A” grade for earnings momentum, and a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months.
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) owns 11% of the limited partner interests of the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners but is a wholly different stock. This is also a buy. In the last 12 months, KMI stock is up 31%. KMI stock gets an “A” grade for return on equity.
Top 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now TransCanada (NYSE:TRP) works with natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines and energy. TransCanada rounds out the list with a 3% gain in the past year. TRP stock gets a “B” grade for operating margin growth, and a “B” grade for earnings growth.

3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012

Are you familiar with the “coffee-can portfolio”?
In short, it was a simple way to invest for the long term developed by Bob Kirby, the late chairman of the Capital Group. Investors would buy the stocks of excellent companies, putting the stock certificates of those companies in a coffee can, never to be touched again — eliminating transaction costs and taxes.
In other words, it was buy-and-hold taken to the extreme.
Well, Morningstar took that concept in June 2005 and created its own coffee-can portfolio of 10 stocks chosen based on the discount to estimated fair value. As of April 5, 2012 the coffee-can portfolio was up 39% versus 33% for the 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY). While it’s not a huge difference, it’s enough to demonstrate that buy-and-hold investing, when done properly, still is a good idea.
However, a few of the coffee-can stocks seem a little stale. Of the original 10 stocks, three seem questionable: 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Federated Investors (NYSE:FII), 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) and IAC/Interactive (NASDAQ:IACI). I suggest replacing them with three new stocks, creating a modified version of Morningstar’s coffee-can portfolio. And from time to time, we’ll keep up on both the modified portfolio’s performance and the original, using April 9 as the start date.
Let the games begin.
3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Franklin Resources
Barron’s published a favorable article March 31 extolling the virtues of Franklin Resources‘ (NYSE:BEN) asset diversity. With a good mix of equity (40%), fixed income (44%) and hybrid investments (15%) comprising the $670 billion in assets under management, clients are given asset allocation flexibility very few managers can match.
This flexibility has enabled it to attract clients from outside the U.S. About one-third of the $670 billion is held elsewhere, providing its business with geographic diversification as well.
With one of the strongest global retail-distribution networks anywhere, Goldman Sachs analyst Marc Irizarry believes BEN deserves more of a premium. Most importantly, its funds have a long-term track record second to none, finishing first in Barron’s most recent ranking of fund families. Considered smart allocators of capital, it paid a special dividend of $2 per share last December. While exchange-traded funds present a potential threat, it’s as solid an asset manager as there is, and long-term investors will be rewarded.
Morningstar currently gives Franklin Resources a fair value estimate of $145 — a 16% premium to its April 9 share price of $124.81. Its fair value estimate for Federated Investors, on the other hand, is $19 — a 15% discount to its April 9 stock price of $22.42.

U.S. Bancorp

3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B, BRK.A) owns 78 million shares (4.1% of the outstanding) in U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), the fifth-largest commercial bank in the U.S. It’s not Buffett’s biggest financial services investment — that distinction goes to Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) — but it does make a list of 14 stocks that Berkshire Hathaway owns with market values greater than $1 billion. That says a lot about the quality of U.S. Bancorp, in my opinion.
Buffett first acquired 23.3 million shares of the Minneapolis bank in the fourth quarter of 2006, adding 44.3 million shares the very next year and then small amounts thereafter. The fact that its book value investment at the end of 2011 was $300 million more than the market value tells me Buffett believes its intrinsic value is much higher than the average purchase price of $30.77 a share.

Liberty Interactive

Up until November, Liberty Media was comprised of three tracking stocks: Liberty Capital, Liberty Starz and Liberty Interactive. Liberty Capital and Liberty Starz were combined into 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Liberty Media (NASDAQ:LMCA) and it, along with Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ:LINTA), operate as two separate public companies, backed by their own assets. As a result, the tracking stocks no longer exist.
However, it seems Liberty founder John Malone couldn’t stay away from them, announcing in February that it would split Liberty Interactive into two tracking stocks; one for its interests in QVC and HSN Inc. (NASDAQ:HSNI) and the other, Liberty Ventures, for its interests in 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE), 3 Best Stocks to Invest for May in 2012 Time Warner (NYSE:TWX) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC).
At first, you have to question the wisdom of doing this after making such a big deal about getting rid of tracking stocks in the first place. However, if you consider that QVC represents a significant portion of Liberty Interactive’s revenues and profits, the separation should help investors value both pieces of the puzzle. In the end, I think QVCs international expansion will continue to drive Liberty Interactive upward, with Liberty Ventures providing some extra juice.

The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW

The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW Alcoa (NYSE:AA) stock is set to soar today after strong first-quarter earnings. But stock market investors should know that the surprise profit in the Alcoa earnings report bodes well not just for this pick, but for the whole of earnings season.
Specifically, Alcoa’s first-quarter net earnings hit $94 million, or 9 cents a share. Excluding special items, AA earnings hit 10 cents a share. No dramatic totals there, but the profit is noteworthy considering Wall Street was expecting Alcoa to actually post a loss of about 3 cents per share.
Why should you care? Well, for two reasons:

Alcoa is a proxy in many ways for the global manufacturing sector. After big losses, job cuts and a brutal slide in stock price, AA now appears to be on the mend.
Alcoa is a psychological torch bearer each earnings season, and this impressive showing will help shape a broader narrative of continued corporate earnings growth in the face of lingering uncertainties.

A distant third would be, of course, because success in AA stock proves I actually know what I am talking about. I did, after all, pick it as my single best buy-and-hold investment for all 2012 in the InvestorPlace.com “10 Best Stocks for 2012” contest. (Disclosure: I am long AA and have been since December. Read my original recommendation here.)

Alcoa Is a Proxy for Manufacturing

Good Alcoa earnings are a good thing for manufacturers, suppliers and a host of other companies. Base metals are not speculative like gold, but very much utilitarian and very much tied to general business and consumer activity.
It was no surprise that Alcoa flopped in dramatic fashion during the Great Recession, seeing its share price plummet from about $43 in 2008 to almost as $5 in early 2009. The losses were brutal, and the company slashed 13,500 jobs, or 13% of its workforce, in one fell swoop. Demand slumped, supply drove down prices and revenue lurched more than 30% lower from 2008 to 2009.
But now? Fundamentals have been improving, and Alcoa is soundly back on profitable ground. Fiscal 2012 revenue could top fiscal 2008 numbers if all goes well, and a restructuring has beaten back debts and made the company more agile. The surprise profits in this report are just more recent proof after Alcoa posted strong earnings on Jan. 9.
All in all, the company has seen nine straight quarters of year-over-year revenue growth.
The optimism Alcoa investors should feel after this report is obvious, but what’s almost as important is what these numbers mean for other supply-chain stocks — whether they be direct comparisons like base metal and materials stocks that include The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW Norsk Hydro (PINK:NHYDY), The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) and The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW U.S. Steel (NYSE:X) or a true end-product manufacturer.
Yes, times have been tough, and manufacturing-related stocks remain a fraction of their previous might, but wise restructuring is starting to pay off. Not only are companies like Alcoa profitable again, but they’re profitable in a period of weak demand and price pressure. Imagine what the next few years will hold if a recovery gains momentum.
It sure was painful to watch Alcoa suffer a sharp decline in 2011 amid sovereign debt fears and economic uncertainty gripping the globe in the summer months. But that sell-off wasn’t the final word. Earnings and revenue continue to mend despite the fact that Alcoa shares remain almost 50% off 52-week highs.
In short, Alcoa is signaling the opportunity in “unsexy” materials and manufacturing stocks. These stocks remain big values, especially ones that fell hard but are finally starting to get their feet back under them — like Alcoa.

The Best Stocks to Buy Right NOW Alcoa Is an Earnings Standard Bearer

Much fuss is made about how Alcoa “kicks off” earnings season every quarter. I mean honestly — can’t financial journalists come up with a different phrase, or do we have to have the same damn headline every 90 days?
Ninety percent of the correlation between Alcoa and a broader earnings season narrative is bunk. However, that’s not to say there isn’t a correlation to be made sometimes — as long as we admit the link is due to broader economic trends, not some magical “earnings mojo” exuded by Alcoa’s filing.
Here’s the gist of this quarter’s narrative, filtered through Alcoa: Investors, who have been fretting over very real macro concerns, will once again be reminded of the simple truth that corporate profits are marching upwards nicely once more.
This could very well be the 10th straight quarter of year-over-year earnings growth for the S&P 500.
Sure, things aren’t as happy as they were in the go-go 2000s — when funny money artificially created jobs, houses, consumer spending and a host of other imaginary economic engines. But unemployment is at a three-year low.
And from a pure investor-centric perspective, the IPO market has heated up again, and the markets were challenging levels not seen since 2007’s peak before the recent multi-day slide.
Of course, Alcoa could be an outlier, and other ugly earning reports could reshape the narrative in the days ahead. But judging by the past few earnings seasons that have seen big profit and sales increases despite lingering uncertainty, it’s more likely that Alcoa is an example than an exception.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for May in 2012

Stocks have been rising since the bottom made in October 2011, and this year the Dow has gained 8.14%, the S&P 500 is up 12%, the Nasdaq is up 18.67%, and the Russell 2000 has gained just under 5%. In a market where second-half gains in earnings are in question and volume and breadth suggest that a consolidation is due, where can you find reasonably valued stocks?
Stocks in the building sector, especially apartment construction, should grow, and health care companies should benefit with or without “Obama Care.” And, despite the current administration’s resistance to fossil-fuel programs, the assumption is that the Keystone XL pipeline will eventually be built.
The bull market is still in its infancy, and the public has mostly been absent, put off by a “wall of worry” that appears to be growing, and that is a positive for stocks. Plus, the Fed will continue to pump money into the market.
This month’s stock picks are generally focused on stocks that will benefit from the economic engines that drive the market.
Here are your top stocks to buy for April:

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #1 – AvalonBay Communities (AVB)

Real estate investment trust (REIT) AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB) specializes in upscale apartment communities. An improving U.S. economy with high apartment occupancy levels should result in higher rental rates for AVB, and new development activities will be an important driver of earnings in 2012. Funds from operations (FFO) per share in 2012 is forecast at $5.30, up from $4.57 in 2011. AVB has a dividend yield of 2.83%, and it is expected to increase.
On March 30, the stock broke from a multiple top with a trading objective of $150. But longer-term investors should consider AVB as a cornerstone REIT with an objective of $175.

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #2 – DENTSPLY International (XRAY)

DENTSPLY International (NASDAQ:XRAY), the world’s largest dental products maker, should benefit from demographic trends and a rising demand for dental services in underdeveloped nations. S&P forecasts earnings of $2.30 in 2012 and $2.60 in 2013.
The stock executed a golden cross early in February, and is very close to breaking out from a complex of tops at around $40. If successful, XRAY could run to $48. Buy now with a stop-loss at $37.50.

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #3 – Ford Motor Co. (F)

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F), the second largest producer of cars and trucks in the United States, also has automobile financing and insurance operations. Analysts expect Ford to increase revenues this year chiefly from operations in the United States, China, and most European countries.
After some weakness in the first half of the year, improved profits are expected in the second half of 2012, and 2013 revenues are expected to rise 9.7%. Earnings this year should fall to $1.46, but rise to $1.71 in 2013. The first-half decline should already be factored into the price of the stock. And these estimates may be very conservative in that the average life of cars “on the street” is currently over 10 years. Increased consumer appreciation of Ford’s product quality and confidence in its management should also raise demand for the stock.
Technically Ford broke its bear market resistance line in January, jumping from $10 in December to $13 in late January. It has been consolidating since then between $12 and $13, but just flashed a buy signal from its stochastic. A break from $13 should result in a quick run to $14 to $15. Longer-term investors should benefit from much higher prices and an increase in its dividend yield, now at 1.62%.

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #4 – Southwest Airlines (LUV)

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) is our “bottom fisher’s choice” for this month. The stock fell from over $14 in October 2010 to almost $7 in October 2011. But a turnaround appears to be occurring with the acquisition of AirTran, which resulted in an immediate 20% growth.
Earnings are estimated at 70 cents in 2012 versus 43 cents in 2011. The airline is known for the high quality of its management and enjoys an excellent reputation among customers.
Although technically still in a bear market, LUV has a solid base at $8 and recently flashed a buy signal from the stochastic and our internal indicator, the Collins-Bollinger Reversal (CBR). The trading target for LUV is $9 to $9.50, but long-term investors have an opportunity to buy this stock for a possible double or more.

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #5 – TransCanada Corporation (TRP)

TransCanada Corporation (NYSE:TRP) is an energy infrastructure company that focuses mainly on natural gas and oil pipelines. It is the primary developer and manager of the Keystone pipeline system, and it is the company that manages non-regulated facilities in Alberta, Canada.
In January, the U.S. State Department rejected TRP’s application to build Keystone XL, an extension that would carry heavy crude from the Alberta oil sands and Bakken Shale to Gulf of Mexico refiners. Earnings for 2012 and 2013 are expected to be $2.35 and $2.70, respectively, but could be higher if the overall Keystone XL project is approved. President Obama has already approved the southern half of the line from Cushing, Okla., to the Gulf, saving months of delays. If the entire line were to be approved, the company’s earnings would improve significantly.
Technically the stock is in a bull channel with prices hugging the 50-day moving average. TRP’s overall price objective is $50-plus, depending on the political swings in the fall. Buy under $42.

Top Stock to Buy in 2012 #6 – United Health Group (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified health and well-being company, provides health care programs, retirement plans, has a life sciences group, and provides health plans to physicians, clinical services, etc.
Credit Suisse analysts say, “We continue to view United as the best-positioned large-cap managed care plan for where we see the best growth prospects… especially in the shift to Bundled Payments under Medicare.”
They look for earnings of $4.85 this year compared to $4.73 in 2011, and an increase to $5.60 in 2013. UNH has a dividend yield of 1.17%.
Technically the stock consolidated in a broad nine-month cup, then broke from that cup in February at $54. From mid-February until recently, it consolidated between $54 and $55. Last week, it broke from $56 to $58.10. The trading target for UNH is $65. Longer term, Credit Suisse is predicting an annual target of $72.

Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012

As mentioned last month, we’ve achieved some stability in regards to which stocks remain the crème de la crème. This month, we are keeping three of our previous month’s Top 5 stocks, swapping out two, and adding five new names to our Top Stocks list.
First, our swap-out names:
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALXN), and Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD). Both of these stocks are still A-rated buys, and they are held in high regard, but I’m substituting in two other consumer-driven stocks that have even better top- and bottom-line prospects. With consumer confidence and spending on the rise, you’ll want to get a piece of these companies that have stunning track records of accelerating sales growth.
Now let’s move to our additions:
As the leading auto parts chain in the U.S., AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is known for helping its customers “Get in the Zone.” And lately, more and more people have been going to AutoZone to keep their cars running longer. This trend is most clearly shown in AutoZone’s quarterly same-store sales results, which have been steadily increasing over the past few quarters.
In the most recent quarter, the company’s same-store sales grew 5.9%, which accelerated from the prior quarter’s 4.6% gain. Another thing I love about this stock is that it has a solid history of share repurchase programs. A few weeks ago, management announced that the company is buying back an additional $750 million in its stock. The company is clearly committed to returning value to its shareholders.
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #1 Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is another retailer that has benefited from the recent wave of frugality that has hit the U.S. With just under 10,000 stores nationwide, the company offers a wide range of discount goods for $10 or less. I’m keeping both Dollar General and Dollar Tree on the Top 5 because they both serve two complementary but different functions as bargain retailers.
As it stands, Dollar General boasts better earnings growth (the second-best in the industry, in fact), while Dollar Tree has a better track record with its sales growth. Dollar General is also larger and has a slightly lower Price/Earnings ratio.
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #2 Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) is slightly smaller than Dollar General, but with over 4,000 stores across the United States, it is the most successful single-price-point retailer in the nation. Towards the end of February, the company reported strong sales and earnings growth for the fourth quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, net income climbed 16% to $187.9 million, or $1.60 per share, which was largely in line with the $1.59 per-share Street estimate. Over the same period, net sales climbed 13% to $1.95 billion, slightly topping the consensus sales estimate of $1.93 billion.
Similar to AutoZone, this company’s same-store sales have been accelerating as well. In fact, in the third quarter, Dollar Tree grew same-store sales by 4.8%, and then pulled off an astounding 7.3% same-store sales growth in the fourth quarter!
Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #3 Lorillard (NYSE:LO) is one of four tobacco stocks we liket, and it was added last issue because it is a smaller and more agile company than any of the Big 3. And, in keeping with the rest of the tobacco industry, the company recently upped its dividend payment by 19.2% to $1.55 per share! This means that LO’s dividend yield now weighs in at 4.8%. This is lower than Altria Group Inc.‘s (NYSE:MO) 5.5% yield, and Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #5 Reynolds American Inc.‘s (NYSE:RAI) 5.4% yield, but higher than Philip Morris International Inc.‘s (NYSE:PM) 3.6% yield.
With over 1,000 stores in the U.S., Top 5 Stock To Buys for May in 2012 #4 Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) is the second-largest off-price apparel retailer in the country. The company recently released its same-store sales results for February, and the results were stunning. Last month, the fashion bargain chain grew same-store sales by 9%, which positively trounced the 4.6% consensus estimate and represents a significant uptick from its 5% growth in January.
Recently, thanks to a combination of higher merchandise gross margin and lower shortage costs, Ross Stores announced strong operating results for the fourth quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, sales climbed 12% to $2.4 billion, and net earnings jumped 19% to $192 million, or $0.85 per share. These are solid results, as the retailer was able to accelerate earnings despite difficult year-over-year comparisons. Ross Stores continues to be a top off-price apparel retailer due to its ability to offer unbeatable brand-name bargains while maintaining lower store inventories. And the great thing is that the best is still yet to come.
Historically, March and April represents a strong sales season for Ross Stores, and management is hopeful that the company will continue to improve in the coming months.

Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012

Crude oil prices are on the rise and many investors are watching the energy sector. However all energy stocksare not created equally. The reality is that while some oil producers may be doing alright, increased competitiveness and the risk over higher taxation and regulation from Washington is separating the winners from the losers.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, seven oil service stocks to sell.
Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets a “D” or “F” according to my research, meaning it is a “sell” or “strong sell.”
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #1 Cameron International (NYSE:CAM) is a provider of flow equipment products, systems and services. In the last year, CAM stock has dropped 6%, compared to a gain of 7% for the Dow Jones in the same time. Cameron stock gets a “D” grade for operating margin growth, a “D” grade for earnings growth and a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of CAM stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #2 Diamond Offshore (NYSE:DO) is an offshore oil and gas drilling contractor, and has experienced a stock loss of 13% since last April. Diamond stock gets an “F” grade for sales growth, a “D” grade for earnings growth and a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of DO stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #3 Noble (NYSE:NE) is an offshore drilling contractor for oil and gas companies. In the last year, Noble stock has dropped 16%, compared to gains by the broader markets. NE stock gets an “F” grade for operating margin growth, a “D” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, an “F” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, an “F” grade for cash flow and a “D” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of NE stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #4 Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) provides oil and gas companies with products and services through every step of their exploration and production. Since last April, Schlumberger stock is down 25%. SLB stock gets a “D” grade for operating margin growth and a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SLB stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #5 Tenaris (NYSE:TS) is involved with the steel pipe manufacturing and distributing businesses. While the broader markets have posted gains in the last year, Tenaris stock has posted a loss of 23%. TS stock gets a quantitative grade of “F” in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of TS stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #6 Transocean (NYSE:RIG) provides offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells, and has experiences a loss of 30% in the last 12 months. Transocean stock gets an “F” grade for operating margin growth, an “F” grade for earnings momentum, an “F” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, an “F” grade for cash flow and an “F” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of RIG stock.
Top 7 Oil Service Stocks to Invest in 2012 #7 Weatherford International (NYSE:WFT) provides products used for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production and intervention of oil and natural gas wells. WFT stock is down 34% since last April. Weatherford stock gets an “F” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “D” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, a “D” grade for cash flow and a “D” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of WFT stock.

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now

Global Growth means just that: looking around the world for great companies with growth and solid earnings, improving business models, and the opportunities to profit from all of those factors.
Here are 5 solid global stock plays we recommend right now for your portfolio:

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now (1) Taro Pharmaceutical:

Israel’s Taro Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TARO) pulled back slightly for its first week on the Global Growth Buy List, and this is an exceptional buying opportunity for the stock if you haven’t already entered into a position. Taro Pharmaceutical focuses on topical skincare prescription products—like creams, ointments and gels—and was just recently listed on the New York Stock Exchange from the Pink Sheets, and as a result should be appearing on more and more analysts’ radars in the coming weeks and months.

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now (2) Altisource Portfolio:

Luxembourg’s Altisource Portfolio Solutions (NASDAQ:ASPS) consolidated a bit this week, dropping to No. 2 on our Global Growth Buy List. This company is a strong way to profit from the foreclosure mess that continues to derail major U.S. banks.

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now (3) Telecom of New Zealand:

Telecom Corporation of New Zealand (NYSE:NZT) will join forces with Paymark Ltd., which processes three-quarters of New Zealand’s electronic card payments, as well as several other telecom companies, in order to create a service that will allow customers to make secure payments, collect loyalty points and use public transport with their mobile phones as a “virtual wallet.”

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now (4) Elan Corporation:

Ireland’s Elan (NYSE:ELN) hasn’t had much news in recent weeks, but the stock continues to be a strong performer on the excitement that its drugs will soon have broader worldwide distribution, including its multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Tysabri. Elan’s pipeline of potential future releases includes drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

2012 5 Top Global Stocks to Buy Right Now (5) Top Image Systems:

Israel’s Top Image Systems (NASDAQ:TISA) has been a solid performer, and I continue to see additional upside ahead due to its robust revenue growth and notable return on equity.