5 Best Stocks in the S&P 500 for June

The month of June was a huge turning point in the S&P 500 on the year. The index went from a positive position on the year to a more negative one. This broad index fell off more toward the end of the month, but it was helped along to this point by some of its equities. 24/7 Wall St. has included some of the top stocks in the S&P 500 on the month, along with some background information and color.

TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) saw its shares jump this past month on news that it would be partnering with Marriott. According to the deal, Marriott will add its global hotel portfolio to TripAdvisor’s instant booking platform. Over the course of the month, shares increased 13.9%. They closed Tuesday up 1.6%, at $87.14 in a 52-week trading range of $66.04 to $110.22. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $88.13.

Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE: WMB) saw its shares jump this past week on news that it rejected an all-equity buyout bid from Energy Transfer Equity valued at $53 billion, or $64 per share. Shares increased 13.2% in June and closed Tuesday up 1.8% at $57.39. The consensus analyst price target is $58.90, and the 52-week trading range is $40.07 to $61.38.

Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI) has been in the midst of huge merger talks within the health insurance industry. The talks were initially marked by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which created a climate in which these health insurers are looking to mitigate their risks by acquiring more clients. The best way to do that is to merge. During the month, shares increased 12.6%. Cigna closed Tuesday down 1.6% to $162.00, in a 52-week range of $85.75 to $170.68. The consensus price target is $156.15.

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ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) saw its shares jump in June when Jana Partners announced that it holds a 7.2% stack in the company. Less than a couple of weeks later, the company reported its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results and announced that it would be exiting its private brands segment. Shares increased 12.5% in June. ConAgra closed Tuesday up 0.7% to $43.72. The consensus price target is $41.33. The 52-week range is $29.62 to $44.31.

HCA Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HCA) has been the long drawn-out story of the ACA. This week, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that subsidies under the ACA were in fact legal. Other hospital stocks jumped at the news, but HCA was the highest over the course of the month. Shares increased 10.1% to current prices. HCA closed Tuesday relatively flat at $90.72, in a 52-week range of $53.61 to $92.63. The consensus price target is $96.25.