Merrill Lynch Adds New Stocks With Huge Upside to Its Endeavor Portfolio

A new report from Merrill Lynch points out that the firms’ Endeavor portfolio has doubled the performance of the Russell 2000 so far this year. The analysts added two new stocks to the portfolio. In addition, we screened for the other top values to buy now.

California Resources

This stock is a newcomer to the Endeavor portfolio and is a spin-off from Occidental Petroleum, which was just what activist investors were bugging Occidental to do for years. California Resources Corp. (NYSE: CRC) is the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production company in California on a gross-operated basis. The company operates its world-class resource base exclusively within the State of California, applying integrated infrastructure to gather, process and market its production.

The Jefferies team points out that 60% of the total production is skewed towards oil and that for the foreseeable future the company will focus significant attention on high-return steam and water flood assets.

California Resources pays shareholders a small 0.5% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target is a gigantic $15. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target is $9.63. Shares closed Tuesday at $8.24.

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Tessera Technologies

This company also joins the Endeavor list as a new addition. Tessera Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRA) and its subsidiaries license technologies and intellectual property to customers and others who implement it for use in areas such as mobile computing and communications, memory and data storage, and 3DIC technologies. The company’s technologies include semiconductor packaging and interconnect solutions, as well as products and solutions for mobile and computational imaging, including FaceTools, FacePower, FotoSavvy, Digital Aperture, face beautification, red-eye removal, High Dynamic Range, auto focus, panorama and image stabilization intellectual property.

Tessera investors are paid a 2.1% dividend. Merrill Lynch has a price objective of $50, while the consensus target is slightly higher at $51.25. The stock closed most recently at $39.29.

Surgical Care Affiliates

Surgical Care Affiliates Inc. (NASDAQ: SCAI) was a recent addition the Endeavor list. The stock was a top health care IPO in 2013 and has moved steadily higher since selling off last fall. The company has benefited, and likely will continue to, from the current trend toward cost cutting in medical practices. The firm’s ambulatory surgery centers are a much less costly alternative to in-house surgery departments for many medical organizations.

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Despite beating on earnings estimates and revenues, and reaffirming 2015 guidance, the stock was taken out and shot Tuesday. Aggressive investors may want to do some quick due diligence and add shares now.

The Merrill Lynch price target is $44, and the consensus target is currently at $39.38. Surgical Care closed Tuesday at $36, down almost 8%.

Take-Two Interactive Software

This company is a top video game producer that has cashed in with some super-hot titles. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) offers its products under labels including Rockstar Games and 2K. It develops and publishes action/adventure products under the Grand Theft Auto brand, as well as other franchises, including L.A. Noire, Max Payne, Midnight Club and Red Dead under the Rockstar Games label. The Grand Theft Auto franchise has been one of the best selling ever released.

Earnings for the company are right around the corner, scheduled for May 18. The company’s red-hot Grand Theft Auto 5 may add some big spice to the earnings report.

The Merrill Lynch target is a whopping $36, and the consensus figure is at $33.77. The stock closed trading on Tuesday at $24.91.

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For aggressive growth investors looking to add smaller cap names to portfolios, all these make very good sense. All have solid upside, and should not face extraordinary currency headwinds.