Jefferies Out With 3 New Top Growth Stocks to Buy Now

By Lee Jackson Updated Oct 13, 10:33AM EDT · Published Oct 13, 9:20AM EDT

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Well we have made the turn and are now headed into the home-stretch for 2015 trading. Like many portfolio managers who may be trailing their index benchmarks, individual investors are looking for solid growth stock ideas to help firm up accounts by year end. In a new report, Jefferies is out with three very good new growth stock ideas for investors.

The Jefferies analysts have focused in on three top new growth stock calls to buy that may have some outstanding upside potential. Two of the picks are aggressive biotech and medical device plays, and one a leading retailer that could also have an outstanding fourth quarter. All are rated Buy at Jefferies.

Abiomed

With a competitor soon to be releasing clinical data, there may be some volatility in this medical devices stock. Abiomed Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) is a leading provider of medical devices that provide circulatory support. Its products are designed to enable the heart to rest by improving blood flow and/or performing the pumping of the heart.

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The Jefferies team note that PHP data on Thoratec’s new product will be presented soon, and it will compete with Abiomed’s Impella, which provides 100% of the company’s revenue stream. The analysts, rather than being worried, suggest that aggressive accounts use any weakness in the stock to accumulate shares. They note that entry into the U.S. market for the competing product is at least three years away, and the two technologies can split sales as the overall market in under-penetrated.

The Jefferies price target for the stock is $125, and the Thomson/First Call consensus target is $110.88. The stock closed Monday at $82.98.
Exact Sciences

This is another company that the Jefferies team is suggesting aggressive accounts buy as it has been absolutely hammered. Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of the deadliest forms of cancer. It has exclusive intellectual property protecting its noninvasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. Cologuard is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and stool DNA is included in the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.

The problem is that last week the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force deemed Cologuard as a second-tier “alternative” test for colon cancer. While the company has already secured reimbursement for 55% of the target population, a more positive recommendation would have helped with the balance. The Jefferies team doesn’t think that the draft guidelines necessarily keeps the company from securing favorable reimbursement, but they do concede the pathway to full coverage will take longer and may not come in at the $500 test level.

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The bottom line is the stock has been crushed and is down 75% from highs set in June, as well as over 50% since last week. Jefferies is a buyer of this stock at current levels and still maintains a whopping $35 price target. The consensus target is $22. The stock closed Monday at $8.24.

Dollar General

This is one of the nation’s top discount retailers, carrying a huge inventory of items designed to appeal to a cost-conscious consumer. Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) announced back in the spring that it will be accelerating new store openings next year after losing a furious bidding war for Family Dollar to rival Dollar Tree. The discount retail giant plans to open 730 stores this year, representing a staggering 6% square footage growth, with another 875 stores to be relocated or remodeled. These aggressive expansion plans have been applauded by analysts on Wall Street.

Dollar General currently has 11,800 stores nationwide, so the planned increase the company announced when it released earnings represents a huge 14% jump in the number of open stores in just two years. The company often focuses on smaller communities where a giant big-box store is a tougher proposition to make profitable.

Dollar General investors are paid a 1.2% dividend. The Jefferies price target is $89. The consensus target is $82.76. The stock closed on Monday at $68.52.

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With two super-aggressive plays and a solid retail offering, the Jefferies team has found stocks for aggressive growth accounts to add that could see substantial upside, should the analyst’s theses prove correct.

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.