Despite challenges, three promising stocks offer attractive possibilities for long-term gains: Grab, inTest, and Himax Technologies.
Results for: Growth Stocks
Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA) has a strong position in the Identity Access Management (IAM) market and continues to benefit from the long-term growth trend in digitalization. Despite a recent security incident, the company’s performance and forward-looking comments indicate that this is now a past event. New products like Spera and a focus on SMBs are expected to drive near-term growth. Okta’s leading position, competitive advantages, and strong revenue growth prospects support the buy rating.
Futures contracts for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained traction on Wednesday, buoyed by a resurgence in growth stocks. Investors cheered upbeat earnings from Tesla and eagerly anticipated economic data later this week that could provide insights into the Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory.
Tesla emerged as a standout, with a remarkable 9.9% pre-market jump in share prices following the electric vehicle manufacturer’s plans to introduce affordable models. Other electric vehicle stocks joined the rally, with Lucid Group, Nikola, and Nio witnessing gains ranging from 1.2% to 3.7%.
Other growth stocks experienced upward momentum, including Amazon.com, Microsoft, and Nvidia, which rose by 0.3% to 1.6%. Meta Platforms and Snap also made notable gains of 1.7% and 2.1%, respectively, following the US Senate’s approval of a bill that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to divest the short video platform.
US equities appear to have rebounded from last week’s decline, which was attributed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and revised expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
The corporate earnings season is gaining momentum, with analysts projecting a 6% annual growth in adjusted blended earnings for the quarter, according to LSEG data. Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighted the significance of the substantial volume of company results this week, stating that it provides investors with a wider focus beyond macroeconomic events and contributes to the increased market activity.
Market participants are keenly awaiting the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index for March, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, on Friday, to gauge the likelihood of interest rate cuts this year. Money markets currently anticipate approximately 41 basis points of cuts in 2022, a downward revision from the 150 bps projected earlier this year, based on LSEG data.
The economic calendar for the day includes the release of durable goods data for March at 8:30 a.m. ET. Pre-market trading witnessed Visa soaring by 2.8% after the payment processing giant surpassed Wall Street estimates in its second-quarter results, indicating that consumers remain resilient despite concerns about economic slowdown. Texas Instruments also climbed 7.3% after the chipmaker’s positive second-quarter revenue forecast, suggesting growing demand for its analog semiconductors. Arm Holdings, Micron Technology, and Advanced Micro Devices also experienced gains, ranging from 1.4% to 3.6%, reflecting the positive sentiment surrounding chip stocks.
Based on the Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts regularly in Yellowstone National Park, this stock screening method identifies companies with strong financial performance and growth potential. Five selected stocks for the coming year include Lennar (homebuilding), Agco (agricultural equipment), Hibbett (sporting goods), Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (community banking), and Arrow Electronics (electronic parts distribution). Over the past 21 years, this screening method has yielded an average 12-month return of 20.5%, outperforming the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
While Shopify’s recent financial performance has been impressive, its current valuation may not fully reflect the company’s growth trajectory. The stock’s premium valuation and decelerating revenue growth raise concerns about its long-term prospects. Investors may consider waiting for a price correction before buying into the stock’s current dip.
MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) is a rapidly growing e-commerce and fintech company in Latin America, often compared to Amazon and PayPal. The stock has recently experienced a sell-off due to a misunderstanding of last quarter’s results, providing an attractive entry point for investors. MercadoLibre has a strong track record over the past five years and a unique platform that captures escalating Gross Merchandise Value, emerging user base, expansion into new countries, and a logistics network growing in leaps and bounds. The company has a proven ability to expand margins and earnings, and its current stock price is trading at a discount from its all-time high. Despite risks associated with the Latin American market, MercadoLibre remains a compelling long-term investment due to its growth potential and strong management team.