10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024

 Technology stocks have led the stock market to new all-time highs in 2024. In fact, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (ticker: XLK) has significantly outperformed the S&P 500's total return in the past 12 months. For more than a decade, brief periods of tech sector underperformance have consistently been long-term buying opportunities, and that trend seems likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Inflation and elevated interest rates remain headwinds for tech earnings in the near term, however, making stock selection critical. Here are 10 of the best tech stocks to buy today, according to CFRA analysts: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)

Microsoft is the world's largest software company that is best known for Windows, Office and Azure cloud services. Analyst Angelo Zino says Microsoft's artificial intelligence technology creates huge opportunities for the company in the next decade, and AI is his biggest reason for investors to own the stock. In addition, he says Microsoft's cloud versions of Office, Dynamics and Teams are gaining traction, and its Azure infrastructure cloud services business is booming. Zino says Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition will also unlock new opportunities in its gaming business. CFRA has a "strong buy" rating and $455 price target for MSFT stock, which closed at $425.52 on April 5.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024:Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Apple produces the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac computers and other personal computing devices. In addition, its services segment includes its App Store, Apple Music, iCloud and licensing businesses. Zino says Apple has an impressive ecosystem, improving profitability, high customer retention rates and a growing global addressable market. He says Apple deserves a premium valuation thanks to its stable free cash flow, its aggressive capital return strategy and its management team's long-term track record of stellar execution. He anticipates further upside in average selling prices for Apple devices. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $210 price target for AAPL stock, which closed at $169.58 on April 5.

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

Nvidia designs and sells high-end graphics and video processing chips used for desktop and gaming personal computers, workstations, and other advanced computing servers and AI engines. Not only is Nvidia the best-performing stock on this list in 2024, its 12-month gain of 227.4% makes it the second-best performer in the entire S&P 500 after Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI). Zino says Nvidia's cutting-edge pipeline coupled with unprecedented cloud infrastructure investment suggests the stock price still has significant upside even after its incredible run. He says Nvidia is a must-own AI technology investment. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $1,000 price target for NVDA stock, which closed at $880.08 on April 5.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024:Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)

Broadcom is a diversified global analog semiconductor supplier. Zino says Broadcom is well positioned to capitalize on the AI infrastructure investment boom thanks to its networking and switcher business, its application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) products and its potential for cost synergies following its acquisition of VMware. He says extensions of Broadcom's Apple chip supply deals and additional opportunities tied to the AI investment cycle give Broadcom better financial visibility and demand potential today than at any other time in its history. Zino projects 40% revenue growth in fiscal 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $1,600 price target for AVGO stock, which closed at $1,339.43 on April 5.

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

Salesforce is the world's largest provider of cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software. While Salesforce's impressive revenue growth may finally be starting to slow, Zino says the company's profitability is improving, its valuation is attractive and it continues to gain CRM market share. He says Salesforce's product portfolio is by far the most comprehensive in the industry following years of strategic acquisitions. Zino says Salesforce is successfully balancing cost growth and revenue growth, and AI initiatives could help propel the stock to the next level. CFRA has a "strong buy" rating and $330 price target for CRM stock, which closed at $301.91 on April 5.

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

Shares of microprocessor and graphics semiconductor stock Advanced Micro Devices are up a whopping 4,030% over the past decade, but Zino says there's more upside ahead as the introduction of AMD's next-generation EPYC processors improves its central processing unit data center server business. In addition, he is optimistic about AMD's graphics processing unit products and anticipates the company will continue to improve its balance sheet. Zino says the personal computer market will rebound and high-margin product launches will likely boost AMD's overall margins in 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $200 price target for AMD stock, which closed at $170.42 on April 5.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024:Adobe Inc. (ADBE)

Adobe produces creative content software and other applications used for marketing and e-commerce. Adobe shares are down 18.7% this year through April 5, but Zino says the weakness is a buying opportunity for long-term investors. He says Adobe shares trade at an attractive valuation relative to its growth prospectus, and the company has significant opportunities to use AI technology to further monetize its products and customers. He says integrating AI Assistant into Acrobat and Reader and ramping the company's Firefly generative machine learning model could help boost Adobe's stock. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $630 price target for ADBE stock, which closed at $485.12 on April 5.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024:Accenture PLC (ACN)

Accenture is a global information technology services firm that specializes in consulting and outsourcing. Analyst Brooks Idlet says long-term investors should overlook Accenture's expensive valuation and focus on its growth profile and strong business fundamentals. Idlet says Accenture's diverse client relationships, peer-leading earnings growth and impressive balance sheet will help the stock outperform even in a difficult macroeconomic environment. He says the company's exposure to secular growth trends, strong relationships with software vendors and ability to attract top-tier talent demonstrate its underlying business momentum. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $387 price target for ACN stock, which closed at $333 on April 5.

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

Intuit produces accounting and management, tax preparation and personal finance software. Analyst Janice Quek says Intuit has executed well in a difficult macroeconomic environment, and she sees several ways the company could maintain double-digit revenue growth in the medium term. Quek says Intuit has already embedded its Intuit Assist generative AI technology into its products, and the new offerings are compelling to users and could help support both customer retention rates and premium product upgrades in the long term. Quek projects 11.8% revenue growth in fiscal 2024. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $715 price target for INTU stock, which closed at $635.74 on April 5.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024:International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)

IBM is a global technology company that provides enterprise software, infrastructure and services. IBM has a 3.5% dividend yield, the highest on this list and a rarity among tech stocks. Idlet says IBM's consulting business and its impressive portfolio of tech offerings that address key secular growth trends such as cloud migration and AI technology make the stock an excellent investment. While IBM has a lackluster and inconsistent history of execution, Idlet says he is optimistic the company can reestablish a reputation for reliable fundamentals moving forward. CFRA has a "buy" rating and $216 price target for IBM stock, which closed at $189.14 on April 5.

Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that Increasing Dividends

Volatility in the equity markets is back, as stocks continue their quick reactions to the myriad news events and developments coming out of Europe. Sharp selloffs and big price spikes occurred throughout the week, much to the delight of swing traders.
For investors, and particularly for income investors, the week also saw some very big names boosting their payouts to shareholders, including several large retail and industrial firms. Eight companies made it onto our Companies Increasing Dividends list this week. Here they are:

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks

As the largest owner of life science real estate, Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE) collects big rents from its tenants. This week, the REIT returned some of that rent to shareholders in the form of a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to 51 cents per share. The new payout will be made on July 16 to shareholders of record as of June 29. The new dividend yield, based on the June 12 closing price of $69.36 (the day the dividend was announced), is 2.94%.
Convenience market operator Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) stocked shareholder shelves with a 10% higher quarterly payout to 16.5 cents per share. The dividend increase came despite quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street estimates. The new dividend is payable Aug. 15 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 1. The new dividend yield, based on the June 12 closing price of $59.91, is 1.1%.
Iconic construction and mining equipment maker Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) dug into its fiscal mountain and unearthed a 13% higher dividend to 52 cents per share. The pumped up payload will be delivered on Aug. 20 to shareholders of record as of July 20. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $85.29, is 2.44%.
Medical device maker and Dependable Dividend Stock Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - C.R. Bard Inc. (NYSE:BCR) sells products for vascular, urology and oncology applications. This week, the company fashioned a fiscal device for shareholders that boosted its payout 5% to 20 cents per share. The new dividend is payable Aug. 3 to shareholders of record as of July 23. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $99.44, is 0.8%. C.R. Bard has been paying dividends every year since 1960.
Diversified energy provider Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) serves clients in the state of Michigan, and this week the Great Lakes-based company moved to add more fiscal water to shareholders’ ponds. The new dividend of 62 cents per share represents a 5.5% boost from the prior quarterly dividend. The new payout will be made Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 17. The new dividend yield, based on the June 14 closing price of $59.47, is 4.17%.
Industrial controls manufacturing giant Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) turned up the dial on its quarterly dividend, lifting its payout 11% to 47 cents per share. The newly increased dividend is payable Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 13. The new dividend yield, based on the June 8 closing price of $69.87, is 2.69%. Separately, the company’s board approved the addition of $1 billion to its share repurchase program. This is in addition to the previous buyback authorization of $1 billion.
Cheap-chic retail behemoth Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - Target (NYSE:TGT) increased the price it pays to shareholders by 20% to 36 cents per share. The new dividend price tag will be marked up on Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 15. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $58.05, is 2.48%. This payout represents the 180th consecutive quarter the company has paid dividends since it went public in 1967, putting it squarely on our list of Dependable Dividend Stocks.
Industrial conglomerate Top 8 Companies to Invest in 2012 that  Increasing Dividends - United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) is the parent company of jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, Otis elevator, Sikorsky Aircraft and several other companies. This week, the diversified firm declared a new quarterly dividend of 53.5 cents per share, which represents an 11.5% increase over the prior payout. The new dividend will be delivered Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 17. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $73.54, is 2.91%.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012

Back in December,  launched a feature in called 10 Best Stocks for 2012,in which experts picked a buy-and-hold investment they thought would deliver market-beating returns over the next 12 months.
After three months, things are looking pretty good. Eight of the picks ended the first quarter in the black, six topped the Dow Jones’ 8% returns and half were able to trump the 12% gains enjoyed by the S&P’s 500 — the index’s best performance since 1998!
Still, while most of the list is coming up roses, one stock that enjoyed modest gains midway through the first quarter has slipped to last place with double-digit losses.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how these 10 stocks have held up at the quarter-way point. Here’s a recap of  10 Best Stocks for 2012:

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 10: Arcos Dorados

Return as of 3/30: -11.9%
Investor: Josh Brown
Arcos Dorados (NYSE:ARCO) — as its Spanish-translated “Golden Arches” name would suggest — is the largest McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) franchisee in the world and operates primarily in Latin America.
As Josh Brown wrote in his original ARCO stock recommendation, Arcos Dorados is a play on four key themes:

1. Expanding consumer spending in Latin America
2. The ferocity of McDonald’s as a global brand
3. Growth within a defensive sector
4. The comeback potential for emerging-market equities in 2012

Arcos Dorados has completely missed the bus on emerging-markets stocks, as seen by the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF‘s (NYSE:EEM) 15% year-to-date gains. The company was hurt by a disappointing earnings report in late February. Arcos Dorados’s fourth-quarter earnings of 22 cents per share and full-year earnings of 54 cents per share fell shy of analyst expectations of 26 cents and 58 cents, respectively, though both were improvements year-over-year.
At the March 30 closing of $18.09, ARCO is trading about 15% below its 2011 IPO.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 -  No. 9: Hershey

Return as of 3/30: -0.7%
Investor: Jon Markman
Hershey (NYSE:HSY) managed to climb out of the doghouse but still is slightly down on the year. However, Jon Markman remains confident about the company’s prospects for the rest of the year, especially considering Hershey’s stability.
Ironically, stability was far from the norm for HSY shares during the first quarter, with a great deal of volatility coming in late February and early March.
And Hershey’s perceived stability proved less boon and more blight, as investors actually shunned defensive stocks like utilities and other dividend-payers in search for growth during the quarter.
Still, fourth-quarter earnings were a bright spot, which Markman pointed out early last month:

“The firm went 4-for-4, increasing earnings and revenues, and lifting both the dividend and 2012 guidance. Plus, Hershey’s focus on expanding international sales paid off, as it reported 25% growth in its top targeted markets: Mexico, China, Brazil and India.”

Markman also points out that while Hershey might look like a steady Eddie, it has some growth to brag about: namely, average earnings growth of 26.4% over the past three years!
All in all, Hershey could look plenty attractive to investors should the charging bull market finally lose its legs.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 8: Banco Santander

Return as of 3/30: +2%
Investor: Jim Jubak
After running the stock up to double-digit gains in the first couple months of 2012, European bank Banco Santander (NYSE:STD) finally slowed down and finished Q1 with just 2% gains.
While the Greek debt debacle reached at least some sort of resolution, and while European stocks have enjoyed a bit of a rally this year, Spanish stocks of late have taken a drubbing amid that country’s own fiscal difficulties.
Banco Santander in particular could have difficulties this year as the bank continues to shore up property assets and sets aside provisional money to meet regulators’ capital ratio requirements. Still, it has proven able to unload some of its bad assets, reporting recently that it had sold about 1.5 billion euros’ worth of bad loans to a number of American investment companies.
Banco Santander at least could see some interest as a bargain play, with its sub-$8 pricing around three-year lows. And while on a shaky precipice, it has a banner dividend yield of about 11%. But again, if trouble continues to shake Spain or the rest of Europe, STD could have more tough goings ahead.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 7: Turkcell

Return as of 3/30: +7%
Investor: Charles Sizemore
Charles Sizemore, editor of the Sizemore Investment Letter, has watched his investment slip to No. 6 since the mid-quarter update, though his Best Stock for 2012 — Turkish telecom company Turkcell (NYSE:TKC) — still is up a respectable 7%.
Sizemore continues to tout Turkcell’s strong positioning to profit from the growth of emerging markets, as well as TKC’s reasonable valuation.
Turkcell had a mixed bag in its most recent earnings report:

“Revenues grew 4% in what was a very difficult year for Turkey and emerging markets in general, and Turkcell’s subscriber base grew by 1.1 million to 34.5 million. The company expects 2012 revenues to grow by more than double 2011’s rate, driven by the increased popularity of data and mobile Internet plans.
Earnings took a hit, however, falling 33% due to a currency crisis in Belarus, where Turkcell has significant assets.”

Another interesting piece of potential for Turkcell is a return to a dividend. The company is embroiled in a power struggle, and through the ordeal, never made its expected payout. However, a settling of this dispute likely would result in the dividend going back to normal — which could feed a renewed gush of investor interest.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 5: FedEx

Return as of 3/30: +10%
Investor: Paul R. La Monica
Paul R. La Monica, who writes CNNMoney’s daily “The Buzz” column, isn’t letting go of the patient tack he took in picking shipping giant FedEx (NYSE:FDX).
The title of his latest article, “FedEx: Slow and Steady Will Win the Race” says it all. The company’s 10%-plus returns year-to-date have been better than La Monica expected — and that’s despite a quick decline following poor earnings guidance.
His reasons to select FedEx (NYSE:FDX) for our little contest: A low-risk investment with the ability to profit from organic growth if and when a recovery takes shape in 2012. And while things so far have looked good for the economy, La Monica is being a realist.

“… anyone holding onto the naïve hope that we are in for one of those V-shaped, hockey-stick or whatever other kind of shape recovery that involves GDP growing at — to quote Dark Helmet in Spaceballs — ‘ludicrous speed’ is deluding themselves.”

He still holds that the company is a bargain, and that the UPS‘s (NYSE:UPS) acquisition of European carrier TNT Express might actually be good for FedEx by helping boost the industry’s pricing power.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 5: Alcoa

Return as of 3/30: +15.8%
Investor: Jeff Reeves
InvestorPlace Editor Jeff Reeves’ pick for the Best Stocks for 2012 contest is Alcoa (NYSE:AA), and it hasn’t disappointed during the first quarter, outpacing the S&P 500 with 18% returns year-to-date.
His original argument for Alcoa was a good valuation — the company already had flopped dramatically from pre-recession levels and streamlined its way back to profitability — and that because aluminum has a certain baseline demand built in, there was no room to go but up.
And up it went. Alcoa’s quarterly earnings report was a bit of a mixed bag, but revenues of $5.99 billion were up from the year-ago period and beat analyst expectations. However, since its breakneck gains in January, Alcoa stock has mostly listed while the markets continued climbing higher.
Fears of a Chinese economic slowdown have at least had some investors slow to fully embrace an Alcoa comeback. Still, Alcoa projects 7% growth in aluminum demand, thanks to cutbacks in production, which should help prices — and ultimately, AA stock.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 4: Caterpillar

Return as of 3/30: +17.6%
Investor: Dan Burrows
If you’re looking for a broad-based recovery play, it’s hard to get better than Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT). The world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment has its fingers in a lot of pies, and will benefit nicely from any sustained economic growth.
Caterpillar’s earnings earlier in the quarter were favorable, with increased global demand bolstering profit up 60% on record sales. The 2011 increases in both sales and revenues were the largest percentage increase in any year since 1947.
The good news continued. In March, Caterpillar said its order backlog hit record levels during the quarter, which bodes well for future performance. It also affirmed its fiscal 2012 outlook for earnings of about $9.25 a share on revenue of $68 billion to $72 billion.
Burrows also sees promise in a note by Zacks Equity Research, which looks for continued expansion of Caterpillar’s mining acquisitions.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 3: Microsoft

Return as of 3/30: +24.3%
Investor: James Altucher
Two times might the charm for James Altucher’s pick of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), which he picked for our 2011 contest, then felt just as confident in 52 weeks later.
If the first quarter is any indication, he’ll have plenty more to celebrate than 2011′s 7% losses for MFST. Microsoft, up 25%, was the third-best-performing Dow Jones stock this year, behind JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC).
One of James’ original reasons for liking Microsoft — its valuation — is a bit plumper, thanks to the run-up. But the company’s stock buybacks remain in play, and MSFT still is sitting on a big pile of cash.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is seeing continued success with its Xbox 360 console and the expanding possibilities of its Kinect motion sensor. The company also has plenty of potential in the video conferencing and VoIP company Skype — and it’s now testing Skype Beta on smartphones using the Windows 7.5 operating system, also known as “Mango.”
Microsoft might have difficulties should it and the rest of the tech sector cool off after its red-hot first quarter, but the long-term attractiveness of its 2.5% dividend yield should help keep at least a few investors interested.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 2: Capital One

Current Return: +32%
Investor: Philip van Doorn
In his initial article, “Capital One: Top Bank Stock Pick for 2012,” TheStreet.com contributor Philip van Doorn makes the case that financials in general aren’t as bad as you think — and certain smaller banks like Capital One (NYSE:COF) are, in fact, ready to soar.
As we all know, financials did in fact soar. Indeed, they represented the top-performing sector in Q1 2012, up more than 20% — partially helped along by the results of the Fed’s financial “stress tests,” which led a host of banks and other firms to boost their dividends. As mentioned before, JPMorgan and Bank of America led the Dow Jones with 38% and 72% gains. Capital One was no slouch, either, notching 32% gains in the quarter!
Also in past months, Capital One finished its acquisition of ING Groep‘s (NYSE:ING) ING Direct business in the U.S., and it also announced it would make a public offering of $1.25 billion in common stock to help fund its purchase of HSBC’s American credit card business.
The risks to financials remain the same — the sector is beginning to look somewhat overbought, and the crises in Europe and foreclosure issues at home are far from solved. But so far, COF has provided plenty of padding.

The 10 Best Stocks for 2012 - No. 1: MAKO Surgical

Current Return: +46%
Investor: David Gardner
Little-known MAKO Surgical (NASDAQ:MAKO) continues to be the darling for our Best Stocks for 2012 buy list. The last time we checked in, in mid-February, MAKO had gained 46%. A few weeks later, and those returns have jumped to an astounding 67.2% — in just three months!
MAKO — a niche medical company banking on a narrow product line — is unlike most of the other stocks in the buy list, which are broad-based plays on an economic recovery. Still, Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner is looking the genius, with his belief in the company’s MAKOplasty procedure which resurfaces joints using custom implants and a surgical robot called the RIO.
Yes, a small-cap medical device company usually makes for a highly speculative play. But MAKO could have a game-changing product in its arsenal — and best of all, it’s playing into the growing group of baby boomers needing increased medical care as they age.
With the stock on pace to more than double, MAKO looks like the right place to be.

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.

3 Oil Stocks Worth To Invest in 2012

What can we say, other than:  It’s about time!  After defying gravity for weeks, and ignoring numerous warning signs I’ve pointed out on this page, stocks have gotten rapped on the knuckles over the past few sessions.  The Dow plunged 214 points on Tuesday, wiping out all its gains dating back to February 3.
There’s a lesson in that, too.  As a little gem of Wall Street wisdom puts it, “Stocks take the stairs up, but the elevator down.”  The market chewed through 41 sessions to win the ground it has just given back over the past five.  Far better to sell a few days—even a few weeks—early, than a few days too late.
But we’re not doing any selling now.  That would be slamming the barn door shut after the horse had already bolted.
As of this afternoon’s close, stocks are deeply oversold on a short-term basis.  Trading volume in declining NYSE stocks has swamped that in advancers by a 2:1 margin over the past 10 days.
Yes, it’s possible for the ratio to go to even greater extremes.  (We saw 3:1 during the panic last August.)   Chances are, though, we’re close to a tradable bottom.  I look for the market to bounce back to the area of its April 2 highs by late this month.
Still, I advise you to buy judiciously and selectively at this point.  While a few market sectors offer excellent value at current levels, many others are still overpriced.  It will probably take another summer thunderstorm (similar to those of 2010 and 2011) to wash out the excess and give us a strong market-wide buy signal.
What should you be accumulating now?  Oils.  Oils.  Oils.  Did I make myself clear?  Oils.
The emerging economies of the world are devouring more and more oil each year. More automobiles are now sold in China than in the United States.  Hundreds of millions of people in China, India and Brazil are never going to ride bicycles to work again.
In other words, while there may be violent short-term swings in the price of crude, the long-term trend, in “real” (inflation-adjusted) dollars, points in only one direction: up.  Well-managed oil producers that keep a handle on their operating costs will continue to reap enormous profits.
I’ve been loading up on 3 Oil Stocks Worth To Invest in 2012 Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.B) in recent days.  Starting with the June payment, Shell will increase its dividend to 86 cents per share quarterly.  That works out to a yield of just over 5% at today’s closing price.
In this risky, scary world, it’s almost impossible to nail down a 5% yield on a business as safe (pretty much inflation-proof and recession-proof) as Shell.  I plan to make RDS.B one of my “monster” stock positions, eventually rivaling 3 Oil Stocks Worth To Invest in 2012 McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) in size.
I’m also building a large stake in France’s 3 Oil Stocks Worth To Invest in 2012 Total (NYSE:TOT).  News from the company’s Elgin platform in the North Sea is mildly encouraging; the gas flare has gone out, substantially reducing the risk of an explosion.  Current yield: 6.2%.
By the way, I understand that if you own TOT in a (taxable) individual or joint account, the French government imposes only a 15% withholding tax on your dividends.  Unfortunately, I own the stock in a trust account, so—for some reason known only to lawyers—I have to pay 25% tax.  In the end, though, I expect that the capital gains I earn from TOT will dwarf any dividend slippage from the withholding tax.
Besides Royal Dutch and Total, I’m bulking up on 3 Oil Stocks Worth To Invest in 2012 Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), too—the third oil stock in our model portfolio.  OXY features a more modest dividend yield (only 2.4% at last glance).
However, this outfit is one of the world’s most efficient finders and producers of crude, with an astounding 27.7% net profit margin (after taxes) in 2011.  If it’s long-term growth you’re after, very few large-cap oils are likely to match OXY.
From here, I think the stock can generate a total return (dividends plus capital appreciation) of 30% in the next 12 months, and a double over the next three to four years.

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 Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013

Railroads evoke different images or memories for each of us. For some, it is the whistle in the middle of the night. For others, travel to exotic places on the Orient Express. In the United States, the business of railroads is to haul goods across our fair land. The money losing enterprise of people moving is left to the government.
In 2009, the railroad freight industry generated $49 billion in revenue, down due to the recession from $63 billion in 2008. Seven Class I railroad systems account for 90 percent of the industry’s total. In 2009, in addition to the seven Class I freight railroad systems – systems with annual operating revenue of $378.8 million or more – operating in the United States, there were 23 regional railroads and over 500 local railroads.
In 2009, the major rail-carried commodities (in terms of ton-miles) included coal (42%), intermodal traffic (trailers and containers on flatcars) (14%), farm products (predominantly grain and soybeans) (11%), and chemical products (10%).
Railroad stocks are closely tied to the overall economy. During the recession they suffered considerable drops in revenue and income. It was during this time that Warren Buffet famously bought Burlington Northern Santa Fe. As the economy gains strength, these companies will prosper.

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013: WMS Industries Inc. (WMS)

WMS Industries Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of gaming machines, and video lottery terminals (VLTs) for customers in gaming jurisdictions worldwide. The company offers video gaming machines, mechanical reel gaming machines, and video poker gaming machines under Bluebird, Bluebird2, and Twinstar brand names. It also sells replacement parts, conversion kits, amusement-with-prize gaming machines, and used gaming machines, as well as equipment manufactured under original equipment manufacturing agreements to casinos and other licensed gaming machine operators. In addition, the company involves in licensing its gaming themes and other intellectual property to third parties; and leasing of gaming machines and VLTs to casinos and other licensed gaming machine operators. Further, it engages in gaming operations business that include providing participation games, such as wide-area progressive participation games under the brand names, such as MONOPOLY GRAND HOTEL, BIG EVENT, CLINT EASTWOOD, POWERBALL, TOP GUN, THE WIZARD OF OZ, TIME MACHINE, Reel em In Compete To Win, and JOHN WAYNE; local-area progressive participation games under the Jackpot Party Progressive, Life of Luxury, GREEN ACRES, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, and HAPPY DAYS brands; stand-alone participation games under the MONOPOLY and PRESS YOUR LUCK brands; casino-owned daily fee games; leased for-sale games; and centrally determined systems. The company was formerly known as Williams Electronics, Inc. WMS Industries Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois.Advisors’ Opinion:

• By Beacon Equity At 2011-9-22WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE: WMS) is down 17.17% to $30.00 on volume of 5.92 million shares. It set a new 52-week low of $29.85 early in the session. The slot-machine manufacturer late Monday warned of lower-than-expected results for the third quarter. (NYSE:WMS), (WMS)

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013:Enbridge Inc (ENB)

Enbridge Inc. engages in the transportation and distribution of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada and the United States. Its Liquids Pipelines segment operates common carrier and contract crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and refined products pipelines and terminals. The company?s Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers primarily in central and eastern Ontario, northern New York State, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Enbridge?s Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services segment invests in natural gas pipelines, processing and green energy projects, and commodity marketing businesses, as well as performs commodity storage, transport, and supply management services. Its Sponsored Investments segment transports crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons through common carrier and feeder pipelines, as well as transports, gathers, processes, and markets natural gas and NGLs; operates a crude oil and liquids pipeline and gathering system; and owns a 50% interest in the Canadian portion of Alliance Pipeline and partial interests in various green energy investments. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.Advisors’ Opinion:

• By Louis Navellier At 2011-11-17Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) is an energy transportation and distribution company separated into six segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Distribution, Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services, Sponsored Investments and Corporate. Enbridge stock has gained 13% in 2011.

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013: Middlesex Water Company (MSEX)

Middlesex Water Company, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. It engages in collecting, treating, distributing, and selling water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial, and fire protection purposes. The company also operates water and wastewater systems under contract on behalf of municipal and private clients, as well as provides water, water treatment, pumping services, and wastewater services. In addition, it provides a water service line, as well as various maintenance programs that cover parts, material, and labor required to repair or replace specific elements of the customer?s water service lines, and customer shut-off valve and/or sewer lateral in the event of a failure. The company provides water services to approximately 60,000 retail customers primarily in central New Jersey; 34,000 retail customers in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Delaware; 6,000 customers in Kent and Sussex Counties; and 120 retail customers in the Township of Shohola, Pike County, Pennsylvania, as well as offers wastewater services to approximately 1,900 residential retail customers in Delaware. Middlesex Water Company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey.
Advisors’ Opinion:

• By Sherry Jim At 2011-10-21Hero Honda Motors Ltd is a successful joint venture between India’s Hero Group and Japanese Honda Motors Company. This progressive company is not only the world’s single largest two wheeler company but also a model joint venture company worldwide. Hero Honda in India has managed to achieve indigenization of over 95 percent, a Honda record worldwide.
  Over the years, the Company has received its share of accolades, including the National Productivity Council’s Award (1990-91), and the Economic Times – Harvard Business School Association of India Award, overtaking 200 contenders. If an investor wants his money to be safe and at the same time grow, it is wise to buy Hero Honda shares.

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013: Hitachi Ltd. (HIT)

Hitachi, Ltd. manufactures and sells electronic and electrical products primarily in Asia, North America, and Europe. Its Information & Telecommunication Systems segment provides systems integration, outsourcing services, software, disk array subsystems, servers, mainframes, telecommunications equipment, and ATMs. The company?s Power Systems segment offers thermal, nuclear, hydroelectric, and wind power generation systems. Its Social Infrastructure & Industrial Systems segment provides industrial machinery and plants, elevators, escalators, and railway vehicles and systems. The company?s Electronic Systems & Equipment segment offers semiconductor and LCD manufacturing equipment, test and measurement equipment, medical electronics equipment, power tools, and electronic parts manufacturing systems. Its Construction Machinery segment provides hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, and mining dump trucks. The company?s High Functional Materials & Components segment offers wires and cables, copper products, semiconductor and display-related materials, circuit boards and materials, specialty steels, magnetic materials and components, and casting components and materials. Its Automotive Systems segment provides engine management systems, electric power train systems, drive control systems, and car information systems. Hitachi?s Components & Devices segment offers HDDs, LCDs, information storage media, and batteries. Its Digital Media & Consumer Products segment provides optical disk drives, flat-panel TVs, LCD projectors, mobile phones, room air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and air-conditioning equipment. The company?s Financial Services segment offers leasing services and loan guarantees. Its Others segment provides logistics and property management services. The company serves industrial companies, financial institutions, utilities, governments, and individual customers. Hitachi was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013: China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited (CNR)

China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the development and operation of agricultural logistics and trade centers in northeast China. It also involves in purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising, and distributing pearls and jewelry products. The company markets its pearls and jewelry products to wholesale distributors and mass merchandisers in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia. In addition, it develops, sells, and leases residential and commercial properties in Hong Kong and the People?s Republic of China. The company is based in Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong.Advisors’ Opinion:

• By Wyatt Research Staff At 2011-8-30The stock moved significantly higher in mid-January and traded in a fairly tight range ever since. However, that could change soon. China’s agricultural exports to Japan will grow if radiation continues to seep into the food chain.
  China exported $593 million worth of agricultural goods to Japan last year.

Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2013: Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. (FORTY)

Formula Systems (1985) Ltd., through its subsidiaries, operates as an information technology (IT) solutions and services company worldwide. Its Software Services segment provides software solutions and services, including the development of customer software systems; customization of software developed to provide a response to customers’ requirements; systems assimilation; offshore and domestic services primarily for software developments and quality assurance, and software testing; and integration of various components. It also supplies infrastructure solutions for computer and communication systems, as well as sells hardware products; and operates technological training and qualification centers, which provide professional courses for hi-tech personnel, training and assimilation of computer systems, applications courses, professional training, soft-skills training, and training for capital market operations. The company?s Proprietary Software Products segment develops, markets, sells, and supports application platform, and business and process integration solutions, including uniPaas Application Platform, an application platform that supports various deployment models; and iBOLT Business and Process Integration Suite that provides business integration and process management solutions with a focus on enterprise applications. It also provides consulting and software development project management, maintenance, technical support, and training services; and telecom infrastructure technologies, cargo handling, and installation service. In addition, this segment offers software solutions for the insurance industry comprising Sapiens INSIGH, a suite of business software solutions that helps insurance carriers adapt to the insurance marketplace; IT services; and outsourcing services. Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Or Yehuda, Israel. As of November 25, 2010, Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Asseco Poland SA.Advisors’ Opinion:

• By Vita At 2011-8-26FORTY is an Israel-based software and IT company. Recently, they have been on a tear with first quarter profits soaring 42%. This past year the stock has soared, but don’t expect this trend to stop anytime soon. With a P/E ratio of 12, this stock has become a clear “BUY.” The 10% dividend it pays out is not bad either.