While summer actually ends in September, the Wall Street summer comes to an end this week as traders will be out to the beach and vacation areas for one last time before the trading and activity gets back to normal levels. With the markets grinding back and forth during the past three months, it’s a good bet that everybody will be looking at portfolios for places to take profit and for companies that make sense for the rest of 2017.
A series of new reports from Jefferies look at some top large cap companies that show some value traits along with solid growth potential. It’s important for readers to remember that typically September and October can be the most volatile months, and we haven’t had a 5% correction since the summer of 2016.
Here are five top growth stocks with a value edge to Buy at Jefferies.
Chevron
This integrated giant is a safer way for investors looking to stay or get long the energy sector, and it has big Permian Basin exposure. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) is a U.S.-based integrated oil and gas company with worldwide operations in exploration and production, refining and marketing, transportation and petrochemicals.
The company sports a sizable dividend and has a solid place in the sector when it comes to natural gas and liquefied natural gas. Some on Wall Street estimate the company will have a compound annual growth rate of over 5% for the next five years.
The company reported solid earnings for the second quarter, and analysts have noted that the Permian Basin remains a key source of capital flexibility, and it is a key issue behind their relative preference for Chevron versus some of the other majors. Analysts also noted at the time that Permian production is running ahead of guidance, with implications on reducing sustaining capital for the broader portfolio. Major project starts, led by Gorgon continue to drive an inflection in free cash flow, with the cash breakeven trending below $50 by 2018.
Shareholders are paid a solid 4% dividend. The Jefferies price target for the stock is $135, and the Wall Street consensus price objective is $116.38. The shares closed trading on Monday at $107.76.
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Expedia
This is an online travel leader that is poised for a potential big 2017. Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the leading internet travel pure-play with exposure to online travel in the United States, Europe and Asia. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Expedia, Orbitz, HomeAway, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Trivago, Egencia, Hotwire, Wotif, Venere and Classic Vacations.
Top analysts see it as a story of improving execution, and they also think that the company is starting to finally match Priceline’s growth metrics. The company has raised its dividend and is buying back stock, both shareholder friendly actions.
Jefferies notes that the stock trades at a discount to its top rival, Priceline. The point is the stock trades at 10.5 times enterprise value/EBITDA, the lowest among large cap internet names and a 37% discount to Priceline.
Investors are paid a 0.85% dividend. Jefferies has a $180 target price, while the consensus target is $176. Expedia closed Monday at $142.53.
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JPMorgan
This stock trades at a reasonable 13 times estimated 2017 forward earnings and could respond well in a rising rate scenario. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is one of the leading global financial services firms, and one of the largest banking institutions in the United States, with about $2.6 trillion in assets. The company as it is today formed through the merger of retail bank Chase Manhattan and investment bank JPMorgan.
The firm has many operating divisions, including investment and corporate banking, asset management, retail financial services, commercial banking, credit cards and financial transaction services.
The bank recently raised the dividend to $0.56 from $0.50, which was ahead of the of many Wall Street estimates. Top analysts also see share buybacks of $19.4 billion of stock through 2018, a huge positive for shareholders.
JPMorgan investors receive a 2.18% dividend. The $104 Jefferies price target compares with a consensus target of $95.17. The shares closed Monday at $91.60.
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Mallinckrodt
This company has been on a mergers and acquisitions binge over the past three years, and it is a top pharmaceutical stock to buy. 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.
The company’s areas of focus include therapeutic drugs for autoimmune and rare disease specialty areas, like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology and pulmonology, as well as neonatal critical care respiratory therapies and analgesics and central nervous system drugs.
Jefferies has stayed bullish on the company and noted this:
We updated our thesis following the recent second quarter results. While Acthar growth came in solid against a tough comparison, Specialty Brands is likely to remain pressured. We believe the lower end of the fiscal year guidance range is more likely. While the generics business continues to perform better than competitors we take down estimates to account for lower Specialty revenue, research and development and dilution. Our price target reflects the same 8x P/E multiple on our new earnings per share estimate of $8.00 (which is 2% below the Street).
The new Jefferies price target is $60, but note that the consensus target is $65.93. The stock closed Monday at $36.98.
Valero Energy Partners
This company is a midstream master limited partnership, and it could have solid value at current trading levels. Valero Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: VLP) owns, operates, develops and acquires crude oil and refined petroleum products pipelines, terminals and other transportation and logistics assets in the United States.
Valero’s assets include crude oil and refined petroleum products pipeline and terminal systems, including Port Arthur logistics system, McKee products system, Memphis logistics system, Three Rivers Crude System, Wynnewood Products System, Houston Terminal, St. Charles Terminal and Corpus Christi Terminals located in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.
Jefferies notes that the company is well positioned to achieve distribution growth, and the current events in and around the Houston and Texas Gulf Coast could provide investors with a solid entry point for the shares, as the stock is already down 20% since late February.
Investors receive a 4.2% distribution. Jefferies has set its price target at $50. The consensus target is higher at $54.17, but the shares closed Monday at $43.35.
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These are five solid stocks to buy now as we wind down the slow trading summer. It makes sense for investors to review their portfolios for the fall and the rest of 2017 and make some changes now.
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