4 Semiconductor Stocks That Still Offer Big Upside Potential

By Lee Jackson Updated Jan 12, 3:13AM EST · Published Feb 21, 8:25AM EST

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

4 Semiconductor Stocks That Still Offer Big Upside Potential — © Thinkstock

The run in the semiconductor industry has been stunning, as it has gone on for well over two years. But as has been the case in the industry for the past 30 years, it remains cyclical, and there are signs that industry growth is slowing. With the exception of memory, which still appears to be in good shape, industry sales appear to have peaked in the middle of 2017 and continue to fade.

A new SunTrust Robinson Humphrey research report from William Stein and the semiconductor team, while conceding fourth-quarter 2017 results showed year-over-year growth, chalks that up to Apple’s iPhone seasonality.

The SunTrust report noted this:

The most significant fundamental risk to semis today is that shortages in complementary passive & discrete components could limit semi industry sales growth later this year. Our fourth quarter CyclePath analysis shows that despite a growth blip, our indicators (and bellwether clues) all suggest shortages are causing customers to tap the brakes on semis orders.

The analysts remain very positive on two top semiconductor companies, and another two also have Buy ratings. All remain good choices for aggressive growth accounts.

[nativounit]

Nvidia

This company has reported strong earnings over the past two years and remains the top large-cap pick at SunTrust. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) is one of the leaders when it comes to supplying graphics processing technology for the 3D graphics market, including desktop graphics processors and gaming consoles.

Nvidia is also moving into visual computing chips for cars, mobile devices and supercomputers. The company has been able to use its ability to leverage past investments, with a more controlled spending structure ahead on unified, which enables strong cash flow that is allowing a focus on capital return, which is currently estimated to be $1 billion next year.

Top analysts feel the stock is maturing to a platform company from a pure chip company, and Jefferies sees the stock continuing to benefit from four secular trends: virtual reality, PC gaming, chips in the automobile industry and graphic processing units (GPUs) in the cloud.

Once again the company recently shredded earnings expectations, and it guided April quarter sales 17.5% ahead of consensus. Data Center revenues grew more than 100% for the seventh consecutive quarter.

Nvidia investors receive a 0.28% dividend. The SunTrust price target is $305, and the Wall Street consensus target is $251.12. The shares closed Tuesday at $249.08.

Monolithic Power Systems

This off-the-radar play that could be offering continued upside potential is the top small/midcap pick for 2018 at SunTrust. Monolithic Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: MPWR) designs, develops and markets integrated power semiconductor solutions and power delivery architectures for consumer, industrial, computing and storage, and communications market segments.

The company offers direct current (DC) to DC converter integrated circuits (ICs) used to convert and control voltages of various electronic systems, such as portable electronic devices, wireless LAN access points, computers, monitors, automobiles and medical equipment.

It also provides lighting control ICs for backlighting that are used in systems, which provide the light source for LCD panels in notebook computers, monitors, car navigation systems and televisions, as well as for general illumination applications. In addition, it offers alternating current (AC)/DC offline solutions for lighting illumination applications and AC/DC power conversion solutions for various end products that plug into a wall outlet.

Shareholders receive a 0.68% dividend. SunTrust has a $135 price objective, while the consensus target price is $127.43. Shares ended on Tuesday at $119.68.

[recirclink id=444304]

TTM Technologies

This stock also could have very solid upside potential for 2018. TTM Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TTMI) is a manufacturer of printed circuit board (PCB) products and is focused on technologically advanced PCBs and electro-mechanical solutions. As of January 2, 2017, the company operated a total of 25 specialized facilities in North America and China.

The company’s PCB segment operates 13 domestic PCB fabrication plants, including a facility that provides follow-on value-added services primarily for one of the PCB fabrication plants, as well as eight PCB fabrication plants in China and one in Canada. A PCB provides that electrical connections between the components using (mostly) copper traces and pads that the electronic components (chips, resistors and the like) can be soldered. The company offers a range of PCB products, including conventional, high-density interconnect, flexible and rigid-flex PCBs, and custom assemblies and system integration, and IC substrates.

The $20 SunTrust price target is near the $19 consensus target. The stock closed on Tuesday at $15.94.

Microsemi

This company could benefit from continued industrial demand. Microsemi Corp. (NASDAQ: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense and security, aerospace and industrial markets.

Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world’s standard for time; voice processing devices; radio frequency solutions; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans.

The SunTrust price target is $70. The consensus target is $69.27, and shares closed Tuesday at $61.46.

[wallst_email_signup]

SunTrust has been cautious for some time, so this is not a new call on the industry. While it is somewhat contrarian, given the massive run, it is probably very timely. When the sellers do step-in, they will be followed quickly by the short sellers, which could exacerbate things to the downside.

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.