Jefferies Has 2 Blue Chip Value Stocks to Buy as Market Struggles Continue

One thing that always happens during a stock market correction is back for a repeat show. Every item that seems to be a reasonably normal occurrence when indexes are not in a free fall becomes magnified. Then, everybody from Donald Trump to Jim Cramer weigh-in with even more fatalistic comments, the kind that rub salt in the wounds of investors psyches. The bottom line is the U.S. economy, while not rampaging, is certainly better off than most around the world, and investors looking for value now have options.

In the weekly report from Jefferies that highlights the firm’s top value picks, we found two companies that also should be somewhat resistant to spikes in volatility and make good sense for investors to consider now. Both are rated Buy at Jefferies.

Boeing

This top aerospace industrial has dropped a whopping 18% since the beginning of the year and is a Franchise Pick at Jefferies. Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems and services worldwide.

The Jefferies team have increased confidence in continuing good demand and note that the company has made announcements in the past that support the analyst’s thesis that the productivity and margins will continue to improve. 787 execution is good as the company works through the backlog, and cash flow looks to be strong with 787 deliveries and C-17 orders. Some Wall Street analysts also point to low oil prices as a bullish indicator for the top carriers who are Boeing’s big customers.

Jefferies thinks that some of the most recent quarterly earnings report was misunderstood and that, trading at a very cheap 10 times free cash flow, the valuation is the best in some time. The analysts note that while there was an accounting change for KC-46 tankers, the 777 rate change was already in the Jefferies numbers, and the 737 rate boost was a positive that was not figured into numbers.

Boeing investors are paid a solid 3.65% dividend. The Jefferies price target for the stock is $165, and the Thomson/First Call consensus price target is $148.17. The shares closed trading on Tuesday at $118.88.
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Mallinckrodt

This company has been on a mergers and acquisitions binge over the past two years, but it got rocked last year when concerns over the company’s business model and results jumped. Mallinckrodt PLC (NYSE: MNK) is a global specialty biopharmaceutical and medical imaging business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and medical imaging agents.

Mallinckrodt’s areas of focus include therapeutic drugs for autoimmune and rare disease specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology and pulmonology; neonatal critical care respiratory therapies; and analgesics and central nervous system drugs.

The company reported fiscal first-quarter adjusted earnings that beat the Wall Street consensus estimates and increased handily from the year-ago quarter. Net sales were up 19.1% from the year-ago quarter and above the street estimates. Some unfavorable foreign currency movements hurt sales, but still an outstanding report in a tough environment. The Jefferies team also noted that the company raised fiscal 2016 guidance, another strong positive.

Jefferies has an $85 price target, but the consensus is much higher at $97. The stock closed Tuesday at $63.01.

Sell-offs provide opportunity, and these two blue chips are the epitome of cheap right now. While there could be more selling to come, when stocks of this quality hit these low levels, savvy investors with dry powder can make out like the proverbial bandit.