A new research report from the global equity team at RBC revisits their top global stock suggestions for 2014 to update and give investors a progress report. We scanned their list for the top domestic ideas, especially those they felt were poised for a strong second half of 2014.
With the holiday over and the second half underway, many investors are taking a look at their portfolios for a mid-year checkup. After an extraordinary run over the past two years, taking some profits, re-establishing some cash and looking for new ideas makes very good sense.
Here are the top domestic names to buy from the RBC global stocks list.
Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE: AAP) makes the list, and auto parts stores as a whole are having a fantastic year. The brutal winter weather wreaked havoc with cars in general, and the retailers have seen a direct benefit. Investors are paid a miniscule 0.2% dividend. RBC has a $149 price target on the stock. The Thomson/First Call consensus target is $140.29. Shares closed Thursday at $134.94.
Amphenol Corp. (NYSE: APH) is one of the top picks at RBC. The company’s Fiber Systems International division last year won a $45 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of a “Mixed Fiber Optic Cable Assembly” to replace the “Light-Emitted Diode based CX-13295 Tactical Fiber Optic Cable Assembly” currently being used by the United States Marine Corps. This combined with other solid government contracts procured since is continuing to boost revenues. Investors are paid a small 0.8% dividend. RBC has a $100 price target and the consensus estimate is $99.46. Shares closed ended last week at $97.82.
CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) may be in the best position of all the broadcast networks, and it is one of the top picks at RBC. With an outstanding prime-time lineup, solid sports franchises like the NFL, March Madness College Basketball, The Masters and other top programming, the venerable network has been an outstanding stock for shareholders.
The broadcasting giant is now in the midst of a significant stock repurchase process, and the RBC team expects CBS to shrink its share base by about 25% over the next two years. Investors are paid a small 0.8% dividend. The stock is up over 60% in the past year. The RBC price target is $70. The consensus target is $63, but CBS closed Thursday at $64.30.
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Concho Resources Inc. (NYSE: CXO) is a top energy play in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The company is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploration of oil and natural gas properties. It also may be a possible takeover candidate.
Concho just completed a successful secondary stock offering that raised close to $1 billion, if the over-allotment shares were sold. The company plans to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay the debts under the company’s credit facility, as well as for corporate purposes that include financing its three-year accelerated growth plan, capital expenditure tied to the recently announced midstream joint venture and potential future asset buys. RBC has the company as a top pick, with a $148 price target. The consensus target is $150.34. Concho closed Thursday at $142.33.
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is top pick in financials at RBC, and it may have some outstanding earnings on tap after what should be a very solid 2014. For 2015, many Wall Street firms are forecasting credit card loan growth up 5% year-over-year to $60.7 billion and total loan growth up 5% year-over-year to $76.8 billion. A continued strong share repurchase program is also expected. Investors are paid a 1.5% dividend. RBC has a $66 price target and the consensus is at $64.32. The stock closed Thursday at $63.25
Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI) is likely to enjoy an ongoing strong automobile market in 2014, and the June sales numbers from the big automotive companies did nothing to dampen that solid outlook. The company is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Investors are paid a 1.7% dividend. RBC has a $61 price target, and the consensus target is $55.56. Johnson Controls closed Thursday at $51.43.
Monster Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: MNST) is a top consumer discretionary name to buy at RBC. The company is increasing its convenience-store penetration through innovations. It has had recent success launching Muscle Monster protein and energy drinks, a zero-calorie energy-drink line and other new products that have enabled it to grow market share.
With high margins and a growing market share, the Monster Beverage is a solid add. Investors may want to monitor some current negative headlines that have dogged the company lately. The RBC price target is $81, and the consensus target is $78.71. Shares closed Thursday at $70.15.
Ryder System Inc. (NYSE: R) may be one of Wall Street’s best known ground transport stocks, and it makes the RBC list as a top pick. The company provides transportation and supply chain management solutions. It operates in two segments, Fleet Management Solutions and Supply Chain Solutions. Investors are paid a 1.6% dividend. RBC has a $100 target, and the consensus figure is $93.23. Ryder closed Thursday at $89.25.
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SBA Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: SBAC) owns and operates wireless communications towers in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Brazil. The company leases antenna space primarily to wireless service providers on towers and other structures that it owns, manages or leases. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firm’s prospects in both the short and long term. The RBC price target is $115, and the consensus is placed at $110.31. SBA closed Thursday at $101.73.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is another top financial pick at RBC. It is one of the largest U.S. diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. The East Coast powerhouse should see strong loan growth in all real estate areas as the economy improves there in the second half of the year. Investors are paid a 2.1% dividend. The RBC team has a $95 price target. The consensus target is $92.44. PNC closed Thursday at $89.97.
United Rentals Inc. (NYSE: URI) is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 876 rental locations in 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces. With approximately 12,200 employees, the company serves construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. It offers approximately 3,100 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $7.99 billion.
With an improving economy, the outlook for both residential and commercial construction looks solid. This could bode well for United Rental in the last half of the year. RBC has a $110 price target, and the consensus price objective for the stock is $109.69. Shares ended Thursday at $108.96.
RBC clearly leans away from big cap momentum names to companies with solid business models and earnings. While many pundits are downplaying the possibility of a correction, history says it is very possible in the third quarter of a mid-term election year. Taking some profits and re-examining a portfolio now at market highs could be a solid plan.
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