Investing

Jefferies Has 3 Top Blue Chip Value Stocks to Buy Now

Lee Jackson

Published: February 23, 2016 9:45 am

Last Updated: March 13, 2020 5:25 pm

The tide for the markets may be starting to turn, and the follow through Monday on the heels of last week’s positive trading may be just what investors need to feel more comfortable. Plus, short sellers who have hammered the markets since the beginning of the year are finally starting to take their chips off the table. One thing the selling has done, especially in certain sectors like banking, is to bring blue chip growth stocks into value territory.

In this week’s research for top U.S. value calls, the analysts at Jefferies have focused on some top blue chip names that have traded down into clear value territory. We found three that make good sense for investors now.

Dish Network

Jefferies and others on Wall Street think the value of the Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) spectrum is significantly undervalued by the market. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 13.9 million pay-TV subscribers, as of Sept. 30, 2015, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. It offers a high-definition line-up with more than 200 national high-definition (HD) channels, the most international channels and award-winning HD and DVR technology.

Dish also offers its Sling TV services, which require an Internet connection and are available on streaming-capable devices, including TVs, tablets, computers, game consoles and smartphones, primarily to consumers who do not subscribe to traditional satellite and cable pay-TV services. The company operates Sling International, which offers over 200 channels in 18 languages, and a Sling domestic package that includes over 20 channels and tiers of programming, including sports, kids, movies, world news, lifestyle and Spanish language, and premium content, such as HBO.

The company recently reported inline numbers, but also that is lost 12,000 paying subscribers, which was less than most estimates. Jefferies is not alone in feeling that the company’s spectrum is a highly undervalued asset. Dish Network is constantly rumored to be a takeover candidate. Last summer rumors swirled around a merger with T-Mobile.

The Jefferies price target for the stock is a massive $80. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target is just $68.71. The stock closed Monday at $46.46, up over 5% on the day.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is expected to benefit from commercial loan growth and an upturn in capital spending. Wall Street analysts agree that the stock seems attractively valued on estimated price-to-earnings and a very solid price-to-book value — the stock trades at a very low 9.65 times estimated 2016 forward earnings. But some on Wall Street have cautioned that last year’s divestiture of the physical commodities business could provide an earnings headwind throughout this year.

Improvement in loan growth, improving equity capital markets and a steady increase in deposits will be a solid plus. Trading at a discount to many of the large cap banks on 2016 earnings estimates helps upside potential as well. With $2.6 trillion in assets on a worldwide basis, and one of Wall Street’s savviest leaders in Jamie Dimon, the stock is a solid buy for investors.

Dimon also recently put his money where his mouth was, and reportedly bought a stunning 500,000 shares of the stock for a massive $26 million. It brings his total holdings in the bank to 6.7 million shares, worth over $360 million.

JPMorgan investors receive a 3% dividend. Jefferies has a $71 price target, and the consensus target is $72.22. Shares closed on Thursday at $58.57.

Spirit AeroSystems

This top aerospace and defense company offers solid upside potential. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SPR) is one of the world’s largest non-OEM (original equipment manufacturer) designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft. Spirit’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides aftermarket customer support services, including spare parts, maintenance/repair/overhaul and fleet support services in North America, Europe and Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of customers, including Airbus.

Jefferies is reasonably confident that the company’s recent announcement that it received a significant contract is for the Long Range Strike Bomber, which could add $350 million to $600 million in revenue in about five years. Trading at a low 10 times fiscal 2017 earnings, the stock is cheap.

The $66 Jefferies price target is higher than the consensus target of $56.79. The stock closed on Monday at $46.13.

Three top companies to buy, all in different sectors and trading at value levels. While a touch more aggressive than some accounts can tolerate, they make good sense for investors looking for reasonable multiple valuations.