Jefferies Has 3 Top Growth Stock Calls to Buy This Week

By Lee Jackson Published Oct 6, 10:05AM EDT

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As the market edges into the home stretch for the year, and with third-quarter earnings right just getting started, many of the top firms that we cover on Wall Street are revising their lists of top stocks to buy. With the markets bouncing nicely off the August lows last week and on Monday, and the potential for earnings to drive shares higher, much of the negative pall that has hung over trading for the past six weeks may be dissipating.

A new research report from Jefferies spotlights new growth stock calls for clients this week, and we highlight three that look very promising right now. All are rated Buy at Jefferies.

Adobe Systems

This is a high-profile old-school software company that makes sense for growth accounts. Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) operates in three segments. The Digital Media segment provides tools and solutions that enable individuals, small and medium businesses, and enterprises to create, publish, promote, and monetize their digital content.

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The Digital Marketing segment offers solutions for how digital advertising and marketing are created, managed, executed, measured and optimized. It provides analytics, social marketing, targeting, media optimization, digital experience management and cross-channel campaign management solutions, as well as video delivery and monetization to digital marketers, advertisers, publishers, merchandisers, Web analysts, chief marketing officers, chief information officers and chief revenue officers.

The Print and Publishing segment offers products and services, such as eLearning solutions, technical document publishing, Web application development and high-end printing, as well as publishing needs of technical and business, and original equipment manufacturers printing businesses.

Adobe is also reasonably safe route for investors looking to own a company with marketing automation product, which has become huge.

The Jefferies price target for the stock is $92. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target is $90.65. Shares closed on Monday at $85.84.

BroadSoft

This company received solid orders from a number of the big carriers this year and could be poised for an outstanding quarter. BroadSoft Inc. (NASDAQ: BSFT) is the leading provider of software and services that enable mobile, fixed-line and cable service providers to offer unified communications over their Internet protocol networks. Its core communications platform enables the delivery of a range of enterprise and consumer calling, messaging and collaboration communication services, including private branch exchanges, video calling, text messaging and converged mobile and fixed-line services.

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The company’s network transformation projects are driving near and longer term revenue ahead of the firm’s current and Wall Street forecasts, with eventual operating leverage perhaps starting next year. The company’s voice-over-internet-protocol services have been in demand at the carriers and should be able to drive Verizon orders. The Jefferies focus is on the migration for many consumers and businesses into IP telephony, and the firm sees BroadSoft as one of the leading beneficiaries.

The Jefferies price target is $41, and the consensus target is $39.57. The stock closed Monday at $31.38.

MasterCard

This company continues to be one of the top credit card players in the world. MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) operates the self-described world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances easier, more secure and more efficient.

Jefferies believes the setup for the stock going into 2016 looks very promising, especially after the recent sell-offs. The firm expects the company’s net revenue to grow 11.8% next year, versus 2.2% in 2015.

The $112 Jefferies price target is well above the consensus target of $107.65. Shares closed up on Monday at $94.33.

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With all the indexes still down sharply for 2015, the market will need a strong set of earnings for the third quarter to drive share prices higher. The good news is many on Wall Street expect just that, and with a stronger consumer and an improving economy, the tailwinds are there for stocks.

About the Author Lee Jackson →

Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.

Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.

Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.

Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.