Last week was not a good one for equities. Even Friday’s partial recovery left behind a loss of 4.2% for the Dow industrials, 4% for the S&P 500, and 3.2% for the Nasdaq Composite. For the year to date, the Dow is up just 2.1%, trailing both the S&P 500 (up 2.6%) and the Nasdaq Composite (up 7%).
Barely half (16) of the 30 stocks included in the Dow index have posted year-to-date gains in 2018, and just nine have managed to post double-digit gains for the year so far.
In 2017, the Dow gained 25% and the index’s top performer for almost the entire year nearly doubled in value, gaining 89%. Only 5 of the 30 Dow stocks posted a full-year loss in 2017.
Most impressive, perhaps, is the fact that 20 Dow stocks posted double-digit gains in 2017. From the look of it now, however, only the 9 Dow components that have managed double-digit gains so far this year have a realistic chance of making it into this year’s Dow Double-Digit club.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) posted a 46% gain in 2017 and has added another 31% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $150.24 to $233.47, and the consensus price target on the stock is $236.02. The company is scheduled to report fourth fiscal quarter 2018 results on November 1, and analysts currently estimate earnings per share (EPS) of $2.77 (up 34% year over year) and revenue of $61.44 billion (up nearly 17%).
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) posted a 38% gain in 2017 and has added another 28% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $77.25 to $116.18, and the consensus price target on the stock is $123.55. The company is scheduled to report first fiscal quarter 2019 results on October 24, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $0.96 (up 14% year over year) and revenue of $27.89 billion (up nearly 14%).
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) posted a 4.4% share price loss in 2017 but has added 24% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $52.83 to $72.89, and the consensus price target on the stock is $75.75. The company is scheduled to report fourth fiscal quarter 2018 results on October 25, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $1.13 (up 1.8% year over year) and revenue of $10.87 billion (up 5.3%).
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) posted a 42% gain in 2017 and has added another 24% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $106.60 to $151.56, and the consensus price target on the stock is $163.85. The company is scheduled to report fourth fiscal quarter 2018 results on October 24, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $1.20 (up 33% year over year) and revenue of $5.43 billion (up nearly 12%).
The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) posted an 89% gain in 2017 and has added another 22% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $254.50 to $394.28 and the consensus price target on the stock is $413.30. The company is scheduled to report third fiscal quarter 2018 results on October 24, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $3.54 (up 30% year over year) and revenue of $24.47 billion (up just 0.7%).
Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted a 23% gain in 2017 and has added another 21% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $50.64 to $86.04, and the consensus price target on the stock is $87.69. The company is scheduled to report third fiscal quarter 2019 results in December, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $0.45 (down 2% year over year) and revenue of $9.16 billion (up 7%).
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) posted a 12% gain in 2017 and has added another 21% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $33.20 to $45.81, and the consensus price target on the stock is $42.27. The company is scheduled to report third fiscal quarter 2018 results on October 30, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $0.74 (up 9.5% year over year) and revenue of $13.56 billion (up 3%).
Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) posted a 27% gain in 2017 and has added another 19% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $33.44 to $49.47, and the consensus price target on the stock is $51.32. The company is scheduled to report first fiscal quarter 2019 results on November 14, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $0.72 (up 15% year over year) and revenue of $12.86 billion (up 6%).
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) posted a 38% gain in 2017 and has added another 18% so far in 2018. The stock’s 52-week range is $191.36 to $272.07, and the consensus price target on the stock is $292.90. The company is scheduled to report third fiscal quarter 2018 results on October 16, and analysts currently estimate EPS of $3.29 (up 24% year over year) and revenue of $56.34 billion (up 12%).
After these nine, the best performer so far in 2018 is The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) with a year-to-date gain of 4.7%. Not much chance of a breakthrough there it appears.
Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
