Oakmont: "It's time to pull the trigger" These three stocks are worth targeting.

date
22/02/2024
avatar
GMT Eight
Understood, Oppenheimer's chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus believes that the main factors to consider in investing this year may be continued economic resilience and the Federal Reserve's rate-cut policy. In addition, there may be up to four rate cuts this year, but the likelihood of three is higher. Furthermore, Oppenheimer points out that in the current environment of bullish sentiment and market uncertainty, diversification of investment portfolios is the best way to profit in the market. As Stoltzfus put it, "The recent market turnaround has shown the value of 'staying the course.' The rebound in bonds and the rise in stock indices occurred in a short period from late October to November, highlighting the necessity of maintaining investments. The prospect of fundamental improvement this year shows the potential for profit, so we remain optimistic about the future of stocks." Following this line of thought, Oppenheimer stock analysts recommended a few stocks for investors to consider. Based on TipRank's database, a comprehensive analysis of industry experts' views on the stocks selected by the bank recently was also included here. Albemarle (ALB.US) Chemical industry giant Albemarle is worth keeping an eye on. Based in North Carolina, the company operates primarily through three divisions: lithium refining, bromine refining, and chemical catalysts. In recent years, Albemarle has become a major player in the US lithium industry and a key supplier of battery-grade lithium for the electric vehicle industry. The company actively participates in the global lithium industry chain, sourcing lithium from various locations, including mines in Nevada, Australia, and Chile. Albemarle holds a 49% stake in Talison, a company engaged in lithium production and refining in Western Australia. Talison has been operating its mining operations in Greenbushes for over 20 years and recently started a $320 million expansion project to build a second chemical-grade lithium refining facility. This is part of Albemarle's ongoing efforts to maintain its global leadership position in the reliable supply of high-quality lithium. The company's primary focus is to establish a reliable mining and supply network for the lithium industry. Over the past year, the lithium industry has faced challenges, including declining raw material prices and lithium market prices, putting pressure on Albemarle. During the 2023 period, the company saw declines in revenue and profits, with its stock price falling by over 52% in the past 12 months. However, there was a potential turnaround in the last quarter of 2023, as the company reported quarterly revenue of $2.36 billion, nearly 10% lower year-on-year but exceeding expectations by $180 million. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings per share were $1.85, 74 cents higher than expected. The company also announced a series of positive measures aimed at "unlocking" over $7.5 billion in cash flow, including reducing capital expenditures and costs. Oppenheimer's five-star analyst Colin Rusch believes that the company's recent financial performance has improved and it is working towards creating cash flow, making it a reason to buy Albemarle stock now. He wrote, "With Albemarle resetting its expectations around financial performance and adjusting the EBITDA reporting associated with the Talison joint venture, we believe the company is setting a bottom line for cash flow and the return on investment for new capital expenditures, demonstrating its ability to effectively navigate the bottom of the lithium cycle." "We are pleased to see that Albemarle has selective capital expenditures, allowing it to adjust timing and continue to comply with debt covenants flexibly. We believe that battery and automotive inventory are rebalancing, and with improving weather conditions, channel health may improve as normal seasonal growth in car sales is seen. We expect the next 4-8 weeks to be a key period for the recovery of lithium prices. We still hold a bullish view." Quantifying this view, Rusch continues to give the stock an "outperform" rating, with a target price of $188, meaning a 64% increase in the stock's price over the next 12 months. In terms of the US securities market view on the stock, Oppenheimer's attitude is generally positive. Of the recent 18 analyst comments, 9 were buys, 8 were holds, and 1 was sell, with a unanimous rating of "moderate buy". The trading price of $114.82 and the average target price of $144.11 together suggest that the stock will rise by 25.5% by the end of the year. DraftKings (DKNG.US) Leading in the online sports betting and fantasy sports league industry, DraftKings is also worth watching. Known for its online sports betting and fantasy leagues, the former allows customers to bet on a variety of professional sports leagues, while the latter allows customers to create their own "dream teams" and bet on team performances. DraftKings offers online sports betting and other products in 23 states in the US, covering most domestic and international professional sports projects, including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and international soccer. The company also covers college basketball, which, although not a professional sport, is very popular. In addition, the company has entered the online casino gambling market. DraftKings' success is based on a simple formula: stirring up sports fans' excitement about the game by getting them to bet. The company summarizes that when fans have some knowledge about the game, the matches are usually more lively. Earlier this month, DraftKings announced a significant acquisition that is expected to further expand the company's online gambling business. On February 15, DraftKings announced an agreement to acquire Jackpocket, the leader in online lottery applications in the US, for $750 million, with 55% to be paid in cash and 45% in stock.Payment. DraftKings expects that the acquisition of Jackpocket will bring in adjusted EBITDA of $60-100 million by the 2026 fiscal year. Pending shareholder approval, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.This month, DraftKings also released its financial performance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023. The company achieved revenue of $1.231 billion in the fourth quarter, a 44% increase compared to $855 million in the same period last year. Calculated on a Non-GAAP basis, the company's adjusted earnings per share were $0.29, compared to a loss of $0.14 per share in the fourth quarter of 2022. Compared to expectations, fourth-quarter revenue was only $10 million lower than expected, while earnings per share were 11 cents higher. DraftKings ended 2023 with a strong financial position, with $1.27 billion in cash and other current assets. Hannam analyst Jed Kelly is responsible for researching DraftKings, and he is impressed by the company's ability to navigate a challenging regulatory environment, noting that regulatory rules in various states may change, but the company manages to make them work in its favor. Furthermore, he is optimistic about the acquisition of Jackpocket. Kelly concludes by writing, "Investor conversations suggest unprecedented optimism, and barring any unforeseen regulatory factors, we believe the company's operating environment will be conducive to achieving mid-term profitability goals." "We believe that the acquisition of Jackpocket (which is 5.5 times revenue in 2024 and growth of 70%) will increase cross-selling opportunities and also provide valuable databases in states like Texas. In addition, DraftKings' regulatory relationships may expedite the adoption of digital lottery functions in various states. We expect North Carolina to have similar launch dynamics to Ohio or Maryland (both of which have contributed profits within two months) in 2024. We predict a 55% estimated incremental profit margin for the company in 2024, with revenue growing 28% faster than operating expenses." These comments support Kelly's "outperform" rating, with the analyst raising the target price from $55 to $60, indicating a potential 45% increase within a year. Based on the recent 27 articles, which include 23 "buy," 3 "hold," and 1 "sell," Wall Street's consensus rating for DraftKings is "strong buy." The stock is currently priced at $41.32, with an average target price of $47.62, implying a potential 15% return in 12 months. Hannon Armstrong (HASI.US) Hannam also recommended investment firm Hannon Armstrong, which specializes in capital investment with a "positive climate" stance. Hannon Armstrong manages assets exceeding $12 billion, mainly invested in assets that promote a transition to a cleaner energy future. The company requires all potential investments to remain carbon emission neutral or negative, or provide other tangible benefits for the long-term climate future. Hannon Armstrong has adhered to this principle for over 40 years and has built a corresponding asset portfolio, primarily divided into three categories: the largest segment is "behind the meter," involving energy efficiency and distributed CECEP Solar Energy storage; followed by "grid-connected," which includes direct assets in wind and CECEP Solar Energy generation and power storage; and the smallest part of the asset portfolio is "fuel, transportation, and natural ecologies," involving a range of assets in renewable natural gas, fleet decarbonization, and ecological restoration. The company follows four main arguments when choosing investments to ensure high-quality returns from climate-friendly capital deployment, including: adopting more efficient technologies for higher economic returns; reducing portfolio risk through smaller-scale investments; aligning assets with scientific consensus and societal beliefs to lower regulatory costs; and finally, selecting assets related to reducing carbon emissions. Following these principles, Hannon Armstrong achieved total revenue of $86.58 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 48.5% year-over-year increase despite being $7.5 million lower than expected. The company's earnings per share were $0.53, 5 cents lower than expected. For dividend investors, the company announced a dividend of $0.415 for the first quarter of 2024, a 5% increase from the previous quarter. Looking ahead, the dividend is expected to reach $1.66 per share on an annualized basis, with a yield of 6.4%. Despite recent performance, another five-star analyst at Hannam, Noah Kaye, remains optimistic about Hannon Armstrong's stock, noting the company's commitment to sustainable climate investments and providing robust returns. He said, "We believe that Hannon Armstrong is a company that finances sustainable energy efficiency and renewable energy growth, with a strong management team, differentiated investment strategies, growing transaction volumes, and a solid track record of profitability and dividend growth. We believe the company's business model will enable it to navigate interest rate risks and identify high-yielding niche market investment projects." Kaye maintains his "outperform" rating with a target price of $48, showing his confidence in a potential 85% return in the next year. The stock also has a consensus rating of "strong buy." Among the recent eight articles, six are buy, two are hold, and the average target price of $37.14 suggests a 43% increase from the current price of $25.93.

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