The Jefferies growth stock calls this week are an eclectic group of well-known companies that have big potential for aggressive accounts. With the market possibly starting to wear out the month-long selling binge, these may even be more attractive now.
A.O. Smith
This is a more off-the-radar pick that the Jefferies team thinks has big upside potential. A.O. Smith Corp. (NYSE: AOS) is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products.
The company posted outstanding second-quarter numbers in July and raised full year earnings per share guidance 10%. It has been eyeing thriving economies like China and India to spread its footprint. In fact, the company’s business in China has grown significantly over the decade and produced a 28% compounded annual growth rate in sales from 2003 to 2014 with over 7,500 outlets in the nation.
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Jefferies met with the CEO last week, and despite concern about the economy there, historically sales by the company in China have not been affected by swings in the stock market, which has been volatile of late.
AO Smith investors are paid a 1.1% dividend. The Jefferies price target is $90, and the Thomson/First Call consensus target is $78.80. Shares closed Monday at $69.01.
Hologic
Hologic Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLX) is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systems and surgical products. Its core business units focus on diagnostics, breast health, gynecological surgical and skeletal health. With a unified suite of technologies and a robust research and development program, Hologic is dedicated to what it calls the “Science of Sure.”
Jefferies has highlighted the changed culture over the past year, with progress seen in the resurgence in the company’s underperforming segments. The 3D cycle is just underway, and the management team believes it will play out over the next three years, its share going from 14% now to 60%, with good data backing up 3D testing. The analyst also thinks the operating margins can lift from 32% last year to 35% in three years and revenue growth will be 8% in 2016.
The Jefferies price target is $48, and the consensus target is $41.64. Shares closed Friday at $41.76.
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Tesla
Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) designs, develops, manufactures and sells electric vehicles, electric vehicle powertrain components and stationary energy storage systems in the United States, China, Norway and elsewhere. It also provides development services to develop electric vehicle powertrain components and systems for other automotive manufacturers. The company sells its products through a network of Tesla stores and galleries, as well as via the Internet.
Jefferies did a deep dive on the company’s battery strategy and found that changes to cell chemistry and the Gigafactory could reduce battery costs by 50% by 2020, resulting in a 10% gross margin lift. This also makes cars like the $35,000 Model 3, which some on Wall Street think can vault the company into the mainstream, a viable product. The analysts raise their 2020 vehicle gross margin estimates and also lift the price target for the stock.
The Jefferies price target is now $365, and the consensus target is much lower at $300.50. The stock closed on Monday at $264.20.
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Intuit
This company has been on a roll this year and hits all the metrics in the technology sector. Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) loves income tax time as its TurboTax product is one of the most widely used, and sales are expected to be very solid once again this year. It is also well-known for the QuickBooks line of accounting software, which is used by firms big and small. Intuit announced earlier this year it is launching QuickBooks Online Self-Employed, a new product that makes it easy for the rapidly expanding population of freelancers and independent contractors to handle small business accounting.
Intuit has served small businesses and accountants with QuickBooks for more than 20 years. It was an early innovator in cloud accounting when it launched QuickBooks Online in 2001. The company recently announced that QuickBooks Online has more than 1 million paying subscribers, cementing its market leadership as small businesses shift to the cloud.
Jefferies liked the fiscal fourth-quarter numbers, and QuickBooks Online beat consensus expectations. While guidance was below expectations, the switch to subscriber model was the culprit, and with expectations ratcheted down investors have a tremendous entry point.
Intuit investors are paid a 1.4% dividend. Jefferies has a big $108 price objective. The consensus price target is $99.60, and the stock closed Monday at $86.81.
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Nibbling at these top growth idea makes good sense, especially if investors have cash available or have sold stock over the past month, worried the markets were poised to go lower. With a domestic economy chugging along, and the housing sector picking up, a retrace to the August lows in possible, but could provide some of the best stock values in years.
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