The equity strategy team and the market analysts at Deutsche Bank are starting to feel pretty comfortable that the rest of this year and beyond could really start to show some positive earnings growth for S&P 500 companies. Despite some well-known headwinds that include quantitative easing (QE) tapering, the country hitting the debt ceiling, ongoing geopolitical issues in Syria and the Middle East, the Deutsche Bank team is encouraged that 5% earnings growth is starting to return.
With a sustained acceleration in capital expenditure (capex) spending, a very positive increase in U.S exports could be just around the corner. That combined with a well-managed slowdown in China and an overdue upgrade cycle in U.S. manufacturing, enterprise technology and infrastructure may turn the earnings tide. Deutsche Bank is focused on three areas: information technology (IT), financials and energy. Here are their top stocks to buy in those sectors.
Information Technology
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: CTSH) provides IT consulting and business process outsourcing services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Financial Services; Healthcare; Manufacturing, Retail and Logistics; and Other. Deutsche Bank has a $92 price target for the stock. The Thomson/First Call estimate is at $87.
EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) makes the list of top stocks to buy. Its majority stock position in cloud software leader VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW) combined with being the large-scale storage industry king makes the stock a very attractive tech holding. Deutsche Bank has a $32 price target, while the consensus is posted at $31. Investors are paid a 1.5% dividend.
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has become a services powerhouse since its exit from the personal computer business. The company operates in five segments: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing. This diverse array of business lines has generated huge profits and should continue to help the company grow long into the future. Deutsche Bank has a $225 price target, while the consensus price target for the iconic company is $217.50. Investors are paid a 2.1% dividend.
Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) surprised everyone when it declared its intent to enter the wearable gadgets market. It plans to launch the first iteration of its smartwatch, called Toq, in the fourth quarter. This would be designed to serve as a second display to your smartphone. The smartphone chip leader is seeking to expand its already thriving business. Deutsche Bank has a put a $80 price objective on the stock, and the consensus target is at $75. Shareholders are paid a 2.1% yield.
Financials
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is a top financial name to buy at Deutsche Bank. The bank has flexed its international muscle and is growing its business in a big way in Asia and elsewhere around the world. The company also recently acquired retailer Best Buy Co. Inc.’s (NYSE: BBY) U.S credit program. Deutsche Bank has put a $61 target on the stock, and the consensus target is $60.50. Investors are paid a miniscule 0.1% dividend.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is another mega bank to make the Deutsche Bank list of stocks to buy. We wrote yesterday about how the company wants to increase its dividend and share buybacks. Deutsche Bank has a $64 price target and the consensus target is at $63. Investors are paid a 2.9% dividend.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) blew out second-quarter earnings and continues to be a leader in the capital markets on Wall Street. The company also is completing its purchase of Smith Barney as its expands the size of its retail sales force. Deutsche Bank has a $31 target for the stock, while consensus is at $29. Investors are paid a small 0.7% dividend.
Energy
Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) has underperformed this year as investors have been concerned over its business in the Middle East. The company recently sold a large chunk of its Egyptian assets and the market’s response was positive. Insiders have been buying stock as well, a very positive sign. Deutsche Bank has put a $105 target on the stock, and the consensus target is $100. Investors receive a 0.9% dividend.
Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) is one of the top three picks at Deutsche Bank. They point to a long restructuring that is finally over and the integration of BJ Services into the company as key catalysts for future growth. The Deutsche Bank price target for the stock is $56. The consensus estimate is $54. Investors are paid a 1.3% dividend.
Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) is also one of the top three energy picks at Deutsche Bank. The analysts view the company as the top large cap play in the industry. They also see international margins improving dramatically, and high-margin work like deepwater drilling adding to earnings growth. Deutsche Bank has a $55 price target, and the consensus target is $55 as well. Investors are paid a 1.0% dividend.
Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) had an early mover advantage in the North American shale boom. Marathon’s exposure to the Eagle Ford and Bakken shale plays are now turning into solid investments. The company’s Eagle Ford production for the second quarter shot up a whopping 280% from last year to 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Deutsche Bank has a $40 price target, and consensus target was not listed. Investors are paid a 2.1% dividend.
Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) is a top name for investors looking to capitalize on the emerging service markets around the world. Plus, the company is an industry leader in technology and innovation. Despite an exposure to the volatile Middle East, the company to continues to expand market share and consistently grow earnings. Deutsche Bank has a $93 price target, and the consensus is at $96.50. Investors are paid a 1.5% dividend.
The Deutsche Bank sector strategy does not incorporate a significant bias toward domestic over foreign exposure as the financials are U.S.-driven but technology and energy are globally driven. Technology is the preferred play on accelerating business spending, and energy is the preferred play on moderately stronger global growth and resilient oil prices despite a stronger dollar. Investors looking to add solid performing names to their portfolio may want to add some of the top stocks to buy from Deutsche Bank.
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