May 21, 2021 5 min read

This story originally appeared on StockNews
The retail industry has grown remarkably over the past year on the back of increasing demand for online shopping, and immersive experiences offered by digitally sophisticated retail stores. While most stocks in the sector are thriving, there are some significantly overvalued players that Wall Street analysts detest. Cases in point are Gap (GPS) and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF).Their weak fundamentals do not justify their premium valuations. Hence, we think they should be avoided now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the retail landscape in a big way as consumers learned to depend much more on online shopping and physical retailers responded with speedy rollouts of new and advanced online shopping facilities. While brick-and-mortar retail has been dying a slow death at the hands of growing e-commerce trends, retailers equipped with omnichannel offerings have witnessed steady growth.

Investors’ confidence in the retail industry is evidenced by the SPDR S&P Retail ETF’s (XRT) 137.8% returns over the past year versus the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF’s (SPY) 39.9% gains over this period.

Furthermore, retailers offering personalized customer experiences should continue to experience accelerated growth in their businesses. Although the economy’s reopening and strategic changes in business models have been helping some retailers gain considerable traction, stocks such as The Gap, Inc. (GPS) and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) are trading at lofty valuations despite possessing weak fundamentals. As such, Wall Street analysts are bearish about their growth prospects. So, we think they are best avoided now.

Click here to checkout our Retail Industry Report for 2021

The Gap, Inc. (GPS)

Founded in 1969, GPS is an apparel retail company. It sells its products under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, and Janie and Jack brands. Its products include denim, tees, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and fitness and lifestyle products. As of March 04, 2021, the company had 3,100 company-operated stores and 615 franchise stores.

This month, GPS agreed to sell Intermix, a leading omni-channel fashion boutique, to private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners. Altamont intends to acquire the entire Intermix business, including all store leases, e-commerce and assets. This move should reduce GPS’ revenue stream and affect its financials.

GPS’ forward P/E currently stands at 23.35x, 26.5% higher than the 18.45x industry average. The company’s 760.03 trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA is 5178.7% higher than the 14.40x industry average.

GPS’ net sales declined by 5.4% year-over-year to $4.42 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter ended January 30.Its gross profit declined 0.4% year-over-year from its year-ago value to $1.67 billion, while its net cash from operating activities declined 83% from its year-ago value to $237 million.

Closing yesterday’s trading session at $32.82, the $32.43 consensus price target for GPS represents a potential downside of 1.3%.

GPS’ weak fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has a D grade for Growth and Stability, and a C grade for Quality. Among the 65 stocks in the B-rated Fashion & Luxury stocks, it is ranked #46.

We have also graded GPS for Sentiment, Value and Momentum. Click here to see them.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF)

ANF is a global specialty retailer. The company operates in two segments, Hollister and Abercrombie. It offers an assortment of apparel, personal care products, intimates, and accessories for men, women, and children under the Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie kids, Moose, Seagull, and Gilly Hicks brands. As of May 28, 2020, it operated approximately 850 stores.

In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, ANF is trading at 23.10x, 28.9% higher than the 17.92x industry average. The company’s trailing-12-month EV/EBIT of 793.12x is 4210.6% higher than the 18.40x industry average.

In its fourth fiscal quarter, ended January 30, ANF’s sales declined 5.1% year-over-year to $1.12 billion, while its gross profit declined 1.5% year-over-year to $679.02 million. The company has reported an operating income of $115.9 million, representing a 5.3% decrease from its year-ago value. ANF’s EPS came in at $1.27 for the quarter, compared to $1.29 in the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expect ANF’s EPS to decrease 43.5% for the next quarter ending June 2021. The company’s stock has declined 1.1% over the past month.

Closing yesterday’s trading session at $37.49, the consensus price target of $36.67 for ANF represents a potential downside of 2.2%.

ANF’s poor prospects are also apparent in its POWR Ratings. The stock also has a D grade for Stability, and a C grade for Growth and Sentiment. Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for ANF. (Momentum, Quality and Value).

ANF is ranked #27 of 65 stocks in the Fashion & Luxury industry.

Click here to checkout our Retail Industry Report for 2021

GPS shares were trading at $32.54 per share on Friday afternoon, down $0.04 (-0.12%). Year-to-date, GPS has gained 62.47%, versus a 11.35% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

About the Author: Samiksha Agarwal

Samiksha Agarwal has always had a keen interest in financial markets. This has led her to a career as a financial journalist. Through her extensive knowledge of fundamental analysis, her goal is to help investors identify untapped investment opportunities in the stock market.

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The post 2 Overvalued Retail Stocks Wall Street Hates appeared first on StockNews.com https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372644

May 20, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Top Consumer Discretionary Stocks To Watch In May 2021

Consumer discretionary stocks are gaining momentum in the stock market today. This would be the case seeing as the labor market shows signs of continued recovery. Namely, the U.S. Department of Labor released its weekly unemployment figures earlier today. In detail, there were 444,000 initial jobless claims last week, below the expected 450,000. This marks a new pandemic-era low, supporting economic recovery stocks as consumer spending remains on the uptrend. As such, consumer discretionary stocks which naturally benefit from consumers spending more would be on investors’ watchlists now.

For starters, travel and leisure stocks such as Disney (NYSE: DIS) would benefit from an eventual tourism boom. Whether it is pre-bookings or limited capacity events, the sector would be preparing eagerly for the post-pandemic market. Elsewhere, we could see continued support in retail names like Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) as well. Ideally, this could come from both existing users and global markets who are lagging in terms of dealing with the pandemic.

Overall, if investors continue to rotate out of 2020’s top growth stocks, the consumer discretionary industry could be in focus. Given the slew of consumer discretionary stocks that could ride the current reopening tailwinds, I can see why. With all that said, here are four to consider watching on the stock market now.

Top Consumer Stocks To Watch This Month

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc.

First up, we have a unique play on the tourism industry, Virgin Galactic. Now, most would not often think of SPCE stock when discussing consumer discretionary stocks. However, the company’s leading position in the space tourism industry would be one to consider in the long run. In brief, the company is developing commercial spacecraft and ultimately plans to facilitate space tourists via suborbital space flights.

For investors looking to bet on this new frontier of the travel industry, SPCE stock would be a viable option now. The company’s shares are trading hot today with gains of over 15% as of 3:52 p.m. ET trading at $19.92. This could be investors reacting to its latest announcement.

Diving right into it, Virgin Galactic is looking to run its next spaceflight test this weekend. In an announcement earlier today, the company revealed that it had completed a maintenance review of its flagship carrier aircraft allowing for the test. According to CEO Michael Colglazier, the test flight will involve two pilots carrying “microgravity research payloads”. As it stands, Virgin Galactic is supposedly still aiming to begin its commercial services in 2022. Should this be the case, does SPCE stock seem like a buy to you now?

[Read More] Top Clean Energy Stocks Buy Now? 5 To Watch

Roblox Corporation

Roblox is a video game developer that is based in San Mateo, California. It is ranked as one of the top online entertainment platforms for audiences under the age of 18. The company has a co-experience platform that enables shared experiences among billions of users. Its platform is powered by user-generated content that draws inspiration from gaming, entertainment, social media, and even toys.

Last week, the company released its first-quarter financials. Revenue for the quarter increased by 140% to $387 million. Its bookings also increased by 161% to a whopping $652.3 million. Roblox also reported that its average daily active users (DAU) were 42.1 million, an increase of 79% year-over-year. User engagement also increased to 9.7 billion hours, almost doubling year-over-year.

Seeing how the company is able to capitalize on human beings connecting with one another, it continues to invest in creating and sharing experiences for the Roblox community. With that in mind, will you consider RBLX stock as a top consumer discretionary stock to buy?

Read More

Delta Air Lines Inc.

Delta is one of the major airlines in the U.S. and a legacy carrier. The company in its pre-pandemic days offered more than 5,000 daily departures and as many as 15,000 affiliated departures. It also serves nearly 200 million people every year, taking customers to over 300 destinations in over 50 countries. Given how the airline industry is gradually recovering as vaccination rollout takes place all over the world, DAL stock has doubled in the last year.

In April, the company reported its March quarter 2021 financials. The recent demand trends are encouraging as confidence in air travel continues to rise. With vaccination rates improving and travel restrictions being eased, domestic leisure bookings have recovered to 85% of 2019 levels.

In this quarter, the company’s cash burn averaged $11 million per day and had turned positive in the month of March with cash generation of $4 million per day. Could these be signs of better days ahead for the company? Given how we could be at the last leg of the pandemic, the company could weather through it rather well. With all that being said, is DAL stock worth adding to your portfolio right now?

[Read More] Stocks To Watch This Week? 4 Entertainment Stocks To Know

Chewy Inc.

Chewy is a consumer stock that focuses on online retailers of pet food and other pet-related products. In essence, the company offers a personalized service of a neighborhood pet store alongside the convenience and speed of e-commerce. It also boasts a wide selection of products with over 45,000 items to choose from. With competitive prices, fast shipping, and around-the-clock convenience, Chewy is no doubt a leader in the retail industry. CHWY stock is up by over 75% in the last year.

In March, the company reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 financials. Net sales for the quarter grew by 51% year-over-year at $2.04 billion. Chewy’s net income for the quarter was $21 million.

Sumit Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Chewy had this to say, “Years of preparation and focus have positioned us as the Internet’s preeminent neighborhood pet store and a leading pure-play e-commerce company in the pet space. We look forward to a future marked by ongoing innovation and to winning customers’ hearts and minds as we grow to become the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents (and partners) everywhere.” Given all of this, will you consider buying CHWY stock?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372549

May 19, 2021 7 min read

This story originally appeared on PennyStocks

4 Crypto Penny Stocks to Watch Right Now

Penny stocks are volatile. For as many highs that we see, there are twice as many lows. Picking the right penny stocks from the thousands on offer is the challenge. Successful investment decisions can still occur with proper research and taking relevant trends seen in the market into consideration. 

However, when considering penny stocks to buy, some trends can also be misleading. This can result in buying in at overvalued price per share and ending in even greater losses. 

Many instead consider investing during dip periods. This typically occurs when a stock price drops to a previous low or resistance value where the stock becomes undervalued. Another method investors are using during price downturns is averaging down. 

A current market downturn being seen is in cryptocurrencies. As more banks buy large stakes in different digital currencies it further verifies their legitimacy for future implementation. 

Many have been fighting it, but this decentralized way to perform transactions, both domestic and internationally, is the way of the future. investing in blockchain penny stocks has seen tremendous growth over the past year. And while there is a correction currently in play, this most likely will be short lived.

As cryptocurrencies begin to correct, many associated crypto penny stocks have been doing the same. During this period of consolidation, investors are looking to predict which penny stocks to watch will offer the best opportunity for buying in for the following months. 

The expected rebound has many excited. For those waiting for the opportune time, creating a penny stocks watchlist has never been more important. 

It’s very natural to see up and down periods in the markets, especially when it comes to penny stocks. To trade these highly volatile companies is not for everyone. One must have a high tolerance for risk and not shy away from frequent dips. The high price volatility is something we are seeing throughout the past few weeks of trading. 

[Read More] 4 Hot Reopening Penny Stocks That You Need to Know About

In order to have a greater chance at success when buying into penny stocks at a dip period, there are two very important things to consider. The first is speculation. Has there been recent news about the stock? Is the news optimistic or pessimistic about its future growth? 

The other thing to consider is what is its value at the current level it is trading at. This tells investors the thresholds for overvaluation and undervaluation. Taking this into consideration, here are four crypto penny stocks that you should add to your watchlist as the markets take a dip.

4 Crypto Penny Stocks to Watch During the Dip

1. Sos Limited (NYSE: SOS)
2. Uxin Limited (NASDAQ: UXIN)
3. Ebang International Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EBON)
4. Atari SA (OTCMKTS: PONGF)

Sos Limited (NYSE: SOS)

Although cryptocurrency markets are in a decline at the moment, Sos Limited is working to stay afloat. As of yesterday, SOS announced that the 6,039 mining rigs it has received during the past month are now all operational. This includes 575 Etherreum rigs that should generate 400 GH/s, and the other 5,464 rigs that will produce 177 PH/s via Bitcoin mining. 

In total, SOS will be able to generate 1,456 GH/s for ETH mining and an astonishing 527 PH/s for BTC mining. With recent concerns over energy consumption, it’s important to note that 90% of SOS’ energy comes from renewable sources. 

The core of SOS surprisingly does not lie in crypto mining, rather it’s a cloud SaaS platform that provides for emergency rescue services. Its basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information cloud system offer marketing solutions for its clients.

“With the completion of Phase I of the Leibodong mine and continued expansion of our mining fleet, we are pleased with the progress on our digital currency business plan, based on blockchain technology. The launch of our mining business has provided valuable experience to our team, and is expected to be an important driver of growth in 2021 and beyond.”

CEO of SOS, Yandai Wang

Considering this, will SOS be on your list of penny stocks to buy?

Uxin Limited (NASDAQ: UXIN)

We have covered Uxin Limited quite a few times in the past several months. This Chinese investment firm was founded in 2011 and runs the majority of its operations out of Beijing, China. As a tech penny stock, UXIN operates in the motor vehicle industry. 

Its online e-commerce site is known for the buying and selling of used cars as well as selling related car products and services. Additionally, its online platform offers used car auctions, online retail, and financial derivative services. 

Currently, with a market cap of $884 million, UXIN reported a recent revenue of $49.5 million, a growth of 30% from last year. A reason for this gain could be attributed to UXIN’s recent opening of its first inspection and reconditioning center in Xi’an. Yet, due to COVID-19, there has also recently been an increase in used car pricing in general. 

This price increase seen in UXIN could be due to the higher demand in used car sales as well. Because new car sales have decreased in accordance with the pandemic, people are holding onto their own vehicles, driving the supply and demand ratio to change. Having a previous all-time high of $10.40, could buying in at its current price of near $3.30 be considered?

Ebang International Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EBON)

With strong ties to the cryptocurrency prices, Ebang International Holdings has seen a 70% decrease these past three months. Since it works directly with digital currency infrastructure, rather than a specific coin, investors can expect high price fluctuations.

Its core business is in the realm of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Within this, it deals with energy-intensive proof of work protocols such as Bitcoin. With the high volatility and increasing interest in crypto, EBON still has much runway left in the coming years. Investors might take this opportunity to learn about its operations. This will help to see if its current price is worth buying at. 

[Read More] 5 Penny Stocks To Watch Right Now That Analysts Are Bullish On

Its work in the blockchain technology sector is what separates it from the rest. So, a long-term investment with EBON could be worth taking into consideration. With this in mind, will EBON be on your blockchain penny stock watchlist? 

Atari SA (OTC: PONGF)

Atari SA is another global penny stock that has seen a correction this past month. With previous highs of $1.15, its current price makes many consider it as a potential buy. Atari SA consists of subsidiaries that come together to form a global interactive entertainment and multi-platform business model. 

It has a strong portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises and is still developing more. With strong ties with Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo game consoles, PONGF leverages its business through partnerships with other platforms. 

Recently PONGF announced its partnership with Chain Games and Hello There Games to bring about the new game Beat Legend: AVICII. This new player vs player game will integrate on the Chain Games Esports platform which utilizes blockchain at its core. This platform allows players to compete in tournaments and one-on-one matches with the incentive to win cash and crypto rewards. 

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Atari, one of the most recognized consumer brands in the video game and entertainment space, and are honored to continue to support Avicii’s legacy.”

CEO of Chain Games

PONGF remains a strong candidate for any blockchain penny stock watchlist. However, its wide range of operations mean that investors should consider it wholly.

Are Blockchain Penny Stocks Worth Buying During the Dip?

Taking this all into consideration, buying the dip with penny stocks can be a good strategy. This is especially true considering the situation that the market is in right now. With pullbacks in the crypto market, we must ask ourselves what we envision 10 years from now. 

[Read More] 7 Penny Stocks to Watch With Crypto News Sparking a Market Dip

Are crypto penny stocks going to exceed current expectations, or are they going to become irrelevant? As more large companies take investment stakes in cryptocurrencies, it seems as if this may only be a short consolidation period. 

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372417

May 18, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Are These Top Retail Stocks Worth Investing In This Week?

When looking for the most active stocks today, investors might be looking towards retail stocks. Sure, the stock market may be hugging the flat line this week, but there is a case to be made for retail companies now. For starters, the retail industry has come a long way since taking massive hits at the onslaught of the pandemic. Over a year later, April’s retail sales figures are up by over 51% year-over-year.

According to the U.S. National Retail Federation, this figure could continue to climb amidst record savings and a reopening economy. For the most part, I would be inclined to agree with this. After all, most of the top names in retail have and continue to leverage e-commerce services to the fullest. When you couple this with brick-and-mortar store figures recovering, we could see the retail industry come back stronger than ever.

For instance, we can see that leading e-commerce company Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) continues to make massive plays. Earlier today, it was reported that the company is leading a $400 million round of funding for Masan Group. Namely, this investment will be put towards Masan’s retail unit in Vietnam, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. At the same time, investors would be watching the retail space considering many huge names are reporting earnings this week. For instance, Target (NYSE: TGT) will be announcing first-quarter earnings tomorrow. Safe to say, top retail stocks would be in the limelight in the stock market today. Should you be looking to add some to your portfolio, here are four trendings now.

Best Retail Stocks To Watch This Week

The Home Depot Inc.

Home Depot is one of the largest home improvement retailers in the U.S. It supplies a wide variety of tools, construction products, and services. It boasts more than 2,200 stores across North America and has approximately 500,000 associates. Aside from its retail space, the company also has an impressive e-commerce business that offers more than 1 million products for DIY customers and professional contractors. HD stock currently trades at $318.55 as of 3:40 p.m. ET. Today, the company announced its first-quarter results.

In it, the company reported sales of $37.5 billion for the quarter, an increase of 32.7% year-over-year. Comparable sales for the quarter increased by 31%. Home Depot also posted net earnings of $4.1 billion or $3.86 per diluted share. For the first quarter of fiscal 2021, diluted earnings per share increased by 85.6% from the same period in the prior year.

The company is certainly off to a strong start as it continues to carry out its strategic investments. It has also effectively managed the unprecedented demand for home improvement projects in the last year. All things considered, will you add HD stock to your portfolio?

[Read More] Best Stocks To Buy Today? 3 Electric Vehicle Stocks In Focus

Walmart Inc.

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores from the U.S. The company claims that approximately 220 million customers and members visit its 10,500 stores and clubs in 24 countries and e-commerce websites. WMT stock currently trades at $142.43 as of 3:40 p.m. ET. The company also reported its first-quarter financials today.

Diving in, total revenue for the quarter was $138.3 billion, a 2.7% increase year-over-year. The company’s e-commerce sales grew by 37% with strong results across all channels. Also, consolidated operating income for the quarter was $6.9 billion, an increase of 32.3% compared to a year earlier.

CEO Doug McMillon had this to say, “This was a strong quarter. Every segment performed well, and we’re encouraged by traffic and grocery market share trends. Our optimism is higher than it was at the beginning of the year. In the U.S., customers clearly want to get out and shop. We have a strong position as our store environment improves and e-commerce continues to grow.” Given this piece of news, will you consider buying WMT stock?

Read More

Macy’s Inc.

Macy’s is a holding company that specializes in retail. In essence, it is one of the nation’s premier omnichannel retailers. The company comprises three retail brands: Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury. Given its impressive e-commerce capabilities, rich mobile experience, and national stores footprint, Macy’s has approximately 90,000 employees and over 700 stores.

The company reported its first-quarter financials today as well and exceeded expectations on both top and bottom lines. M stock currently trades at $19.18 as of 3:40 p.m. ET and is up by over 65% year-to-date.

In today’s first-quarter report, Macy’s reported that it outperformed sales expectations across all three brands. It also continued to build on the momentum from its fourth quarter and its sales trend continued to improve throughout the quarter. Net sales for the quarter were $4.706 billion, an increase of 55% year-over-year. Digital sales grew by 34% year-over-year and the company brought in 4.6 million new customers into the Macy’s brand. It also ended the quarter with $1.8 billion in cash due to strong performance and more efficient use of capital. With these financials, is M stock a top retail stock to consider buying?

[Read More] Best Growth Stocks To Buy Now? 3 To Watch Today

Sea Limited

Following that, we have leading Southeast Asian e-commerce company, Sea Limited (SE). The retail giant primarily operates out of its three core divisions which focus on e-commerce, fintech, and entertainment. For the most part, SE’s respective Shopee, SeaMoney, and Garena services continue to hold substantial footing in the Southeast Asian market. Arguably, investors looking to bet on the fast-growing consumer market in the region would be eyeing SE stock now. As it stands, the company’s shares are currently up by over 220% in the past year. Given its recent earnings figures, I could see these trends continue.

Earlier today, SE reported stellar figures across the board in its first-quarter fiscal. Notably, the company raked in a total revenue of $1.8 billion for the quarter, a 146.7% year-over-year surge. According to SE, this is thanks to massive growth across all three of its core divisions. To begin with, revenue from e-commerce and related services skyrocketed by 189% year-over-year.

Next, SE’s total payment volume figures from its SeaMoney division tripled year-over-year. Finally, the company’s Garena gaming division saw revenue more than double over the same time. By and large, it seems that SE is firing on all cylinders right now. The real question is whether it can maintain its current momentum moving forward. Regardless, would you consider investing in SE stock now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372280

May 17, 2021 11 min read

This story originally appeared on StockNews
Increasing purchasing power due primarily to falling unemployment and fiscal stimulus policies are driving rising inflation in the United States. This environment makes for a favorable backdrop for gold because the precious metal tends to perform well in inflationary conditions. Hence, we think investors seeking to capitalize on the turnaround in gold prices could bet on mining stocks Kinross Gold (KGC), Yamana Gold (AUY), Alamos Gold (AGI), and Centamin (CELTF). They are all still trading at reasonable prices.

Investors turned to safe haven gold last year to protect their wealth during the coronavirus-led economic slowdown and general uncertainty. However, the precious metal came under relentless selling pressure after hitting an all-time high last August on investor optimism over the potential for a robust global economic recovery with the mass vaccination drive. Since then, gold prices have slid from more than $2,000 and are currently trading a little above $1,850.

However, the yellow metal is expected to rebound on worries surrounding rising inflation. Fiscal stimulus spending and an improving job market have been boosting investors’ purchasing power, which is fueling inflation. According to Statista, the annual rate of inflation this year is expected to be 2.26%.

While the recovery witnessed by the economy so far has boosted investors’ risk appetite, uncertainties continue to loom over the pace of recovery. As a result, gold’s demand as a safe-haven asset is increasing. Economists believe that the yellow metal’s secular bull market is far from over. In addition, experts anticipate gold will break the crucial $2,000-level again in the near term.

With the printing of money printing picking up pace globally, and the Fed expanding its balance sheet, gold is well-positioned to move higher. So, we think it is wise to bet on affordable gold mining stocks Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC), Yamana Gold Inc. (AUY), Alamos Gold Inc. (AGI) and Centamin plc (CELTF). They are currently  trading at reasonable prices. As direct beneficiaries of rising gold prices, these stocks could witness solid upside in near term.

Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC)

KGC is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company that engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties, principally in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Mauritania, and Russia.

KGC’s Tasiast 24k development project has been advancing on budget, with the mine expected to increase throughput to 21,000 ton/day by year’s end. The drilling and study work has been progressing at its Udinsk project and a pre-feasibility study is expected to be complete this year along with a feasibility study of its Lobo-Marte project. Additionally, the pre-stripping of the La Coipa Restart project , which started in January 2021, and first production remains on-track for mid-2022.

KGC produced 0.558 million ounces of attributable gold in its first quarter, ended March 31, which was underpinned by strong performances at most sites. However, its three largest producing mines—Paracatu, Kupol and Tasiast—delivered standout performances with lowest costs and accounted for 60% of production for the quarter. KGC’s total metal sales improved 12% year-over-year to $986.5 million, including the sale of 0.552 million total gold equivalent ounces. Its average realized gold price per ounce was  $1,787, compared to A $1, 581  year-ago value. Notably, its adjusted EPS surged 50% year-over-year to $0.15.

KGC added 5.7 million gold equivalent ounces to probable mineral reserves in 2020, a 23% year-over-year increase, to 30 million ounces, due mainly  to net additions of 6.4 million ounces at Lobo-Marte, 446,000 ounces at Chirano and 103,000 ounces at La Coipa mines. In fact, KGC’s management extended mine life at Chirano by three years, and by one year at Kupol and Paracatu, and continues to explore opportunities for further mine life extensions.

KGC  stock has gained more than 10% over the past three months to close Friday’s trading session at $7.78. In the current fiscal year, KGC’s management expects to produce 2.4 million gold equivalent ounces from its operations, which is consistent with its 2020 production. Notably, first gold ounces were produced from the new heap leach pad at the Fort Knox Gilmore development project earlier this year. Wall Street analysts expect KGC’s current year revenues to grow 3.2% year-over-year.

KGC’s POWR Ratings reflect this promising outlook. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors with each factor weighted to an optimal degree. The stock has a B grade for Value, Momentum and Quality. It is ranked #12 of 42 stocks in the Miners – Gold industry.

In total, we rate KGC on eight different levels. To see additional POWR Ratings for Growth, Stability and Sentiment click here.

Yamana Gold Inc. (AUY)

AUY is a Canadian precious metals producer that  explores for and produces gold and silver ores. It has production, development-stage , and exploration properties, and land positions throughout the Americas, including Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.

AUY expanded its footprint in Quebec’s Abitibi Region, a prolific mining district with a friendly acquisition of Monarch Gold Corporation earlier this year to further solidify its gold projects in that area. As part of the deal, AUY has acquired Monarch’s Wasamac property and its Camflo property. Furthermore,  the company completed the integration of its Agua Rica project with the Minera Alumbrera plant and infrastructure in the previous quarter, which together are now known as the MARA project.

AUY’s  fourth quarter gold equivalent ounce (GEO) production came in at 255,361 ounces, while full-year production was 901,155 GEO, both of which exceeded the management’s original guidance. In addition,  production at its Jacobina mine hit  an all-time high during the fourth quarter, increasing for the seventh consecutive year.

AUY plans to continue to build on its operations through expansion and optimization initiatives at existing operating mines, the development of new mines, and the   advancement  of its exploration properties. Notably, the company has identified opportunities to further optimize the results and recoveries achieved in the Phase 1 optimization of its Jacobina Optimization Project. AUY is further advancing the Phase 2 expansion for an increase in throughput to 8,500 tonnes per day.

Impressive technical study results were obtained in early February of 2021 and the company and its partner made a positive construction decision of the Odyssey project at Canadian Malartic. AUY  has already issued its 2021 cost guidance, and its 10-year production overview. The stock closed Friday’s trading session at $5.12, rising 10.3% over the past three months. In addition, analysts expect AUY’s current-year revenues and EPS to improve 8.6% and 50%, respectively.

AUY’s strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. AUY has a B grade for Growth, Momentum and Quality. It is ranked #9 in the Miners – Gold industry.

To see additional POWR Ratings for Value, Sentiment and Stability for AUY, click here.

Alamos Gold Inc. (AGI)

AGI is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer with diversified production from three operating mines in North America. This includes its flagship project–the Young-Davidson and Island Gold mines in northern Ontario, and the Mulatos mine in Sonora State, Mexico. In addition,  the company has a significant portfolio of development stage projects in Canada, Mexico, Turkey, and the United States.

On April 9, AGI purchased 15.9 million common shares of Canadian exploration company Manitou Gold, representing approximately 2.5% of the outstanding common shares of Manitou. Prior to the transaction, the company had beneficial ownership of more than  42 million common shares and 4,520,000 warrants of Manitou, or 17.44% of its issued and outstanding common shares, on a partially diluted basis.

In the first quarter of 2021, AGI produced 125,800 ounces of gold, which was above the top end of its quarterly guidance—and  a 14% increase year-over-year—driven by significantly higher production at its flagship mine and another record quarter at Island Gold mine. In fact, Young-Davidson produced 48,000 ounces of gold, driven by record mining rates of 7,791 tonnes per day. Consequently, the company delivered record revenues of $227.4 million during the quarter, including the sale of 126,482 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,798 per ounce. Its adjusted EPS came in at $0.13, rising 67% compared to the year-ago value.

Adding to its  ongoing strong operational performance, AGI has been ramping up development activities on the Phase III expansion at its Island Gold mine to increase exploration efforts, following  the successful 2020 program that  drove another significant increase in high-grade mineral reserves and resources. Construction of the higher grade La Yaqui Grande project is also ramping up and remains on track for commercial production in the third quarter of 2022.

AGI  stock has returned 7.8% over the past three months to close Friday at $8.70. AGI’s Global Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves of gold totaled 9.9 million ounces at the end 2020, representing a slight increase from 9.7 million ounces as of December 31, 2019. AGI’s management expects its gold production in the second quarter of 2021 to decrease slightly  from the first quarter due to lower planned grades at Island Gold. However, its attributable equivalent gold production for the full-year 2021 is anticipated to be between 470,000 oz and 510,000 oz.

According to our POWR Ratings, AGI has an overall B rating, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. AGI also has a B grade for Growth, Momentum and Quality. It is ranked #7 in the Miners – Gold Industry.

Beyond what we stated above, we also have given AGI grades for Value, Stability and Sentiment. Get all AGI’s ratings here.

Centamin plc (CELTF)

CELTF explores for, mines, and develops precious metals, particularly gold ore deposits, in Egypt, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Jersey, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its principal asset is the bulk tonnage open pit Sukari Gold Mine project, located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. CELTF produced 452,320 oz of gold in 2020 and currently has 14.3 million oz of both measured and indicated reserves.

Last  December, CELTF contracted with Egypt-based Capital Drilling LLC to complete a 120Mt waste-stripping program in the Eastern section of the Sukari mine over the next four years. As part of this increased open pit program, the company will  not only continue to utilize its existing owner operator fleet but also get support in meeting its stated production targets in the future.

CELTF generated $190 million in revenues during the first quarter (ended March 31, 2021) from sales of 106,573 oz gold. Sukari gold production for the quarter was 104,047 oz, increasing 53% sequentially, driven by improved open pit and underground mined grade, resulting in a 34% increase in feed grade. CELTF reported a record 22.8 million tons quarterly total of material moved, driven by the commencement of the waste-stripping program.

CELTF closed Friday’s trading session at $1.69 after surging 4.3% intraday. In fact, the stock has returned nearly 15% over the past six months. Open pit ore mining in the last quarter focused primarily on the low-to medium-grade Stage 5 North area. As a result, total open pit ore mined for the quarter was 3.8Mt, a 6% increase sequentially. CELTF’s plant processed 3 Mt of ore during the first quarter, a 4% increase quarter-over-quarter. Notably, the metallurgical gold recovery rate came in at 88.6% for the quarter.

CELTF is a debt-free company that has adopted a long-term orebody stewardship model at Sukari. Management has revised the pit design to enhance value and lower risk, while implementing numerous exploration targets to extend its 12-year-plus mine life. Management further anticipates producing 400,000 to 430,000 oz of gold this year, with results of the West African strategic review to act as a catalyst in the ongoing quarter, followed by the Sukari Life of Asset Phase 2 later in the year.

It is no surprise that CELTF has an overall B rating, which equates to Buy in our POWR Ratings system. CELTF has an A grade  for Value, and B for both Momentum and Quality. It is ranked #4 in the Miners – Gold industry.

Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for CELTF (Growth, Stability and Sentiment).

KGC shares were trading at $8.15 per share on Monday morning, up $0.37 (+4.76%). Year-to-date, KGC has gained 11.04%, versus a 11.22% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

About the Author: Sidharath Gupta

Sidharath’s passion for the markets and his love of words guided him to becoming a financial journalist. He began his career as an Equity Analyst, researching stocks and preparing in-depth research reports. Sidharath is currently pursuing the CFA program to deepen his knowledge of financial anlaysis and investment strategies.

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The post 4 Gold Stocks Under $10 to Buy Now appeared first on StockNews.com https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372147

May 15, 2021 7 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Should Investors Consider These High Yield Dividend Stocks?

There are many high-quality dividend stocks in the stock market, but typically they only pay on a quarterly basis. What’s better than a high yield dividend every quarter, you ask? Getting paid every month, of course. We have bills to pay, and most of those bills come on a monthly basis. And this is where monthly dividend stocks come into play.

If you are looking for some additional cash flow every month, top monthly dividend stocks should be on your radar. Finding companies that have monthly dividends payout is no easy task. However, you’ll see a few similarities across the selection. They tend to be concentrated in real estate investment trusts (REITs), business development companies (BDCs), and closed-end funds (CEFs). 

So, say you’ve decided to invest in dividend stocks right now. It’s worth finding stocks that offer a mix of healthy and reasonable dividends from investment areas that could deliver consistently over an extended period of time. Generating consistent yield during the difficult investment climate in the stock market today has been the focus for many investors. After all, if your bills come monthly, why not your dividend checks? Without spending too much time doing research on your own, we are narrowing down a list of monthly dividend stocks for you to check out. 

Top Monthly Dividend Stocks To Watch Now

Realty Income

No list of monthly dividend stocks is complete without Realty Income. While several REITs pay monthly dividends, this company’s monthly payout is a crucial part of its identity. In fact, the company actually trademarked “The Monthly Dividend Company” as its official nickname. Look no further if you want a safe and consistent payout for your portfolio. The REIT even boasts on its homepage its 609 consecutive monthly dividends paid and 4.4% annualized dividend growth since 1994.

What’s making Realty Income a compelling investment is its strong portfolio of strong clienteles. After all, it has clients like Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Dollar General (NYSE: DG) as some of their top tenants. And these tenants should continue to do well and bring in a stable revenue stream for the company. And considering the fact that the economy is slowly reopening, Realty Income’s most affected tenants such as cinema operators and gyms should enjoy a nice recovery. Thus, would you add O stock to your portfolio?

[Read More] Hot Stocks To Buy Next Week? 5 Reddit Stocks In Focus

LTC Properties

LTC Properties is a healthcare REIT, specializing in senior living properties and skilled nursing facilities. There’s no question that COVID-19 has hit elderly homes especially hard. Considering how susceptible the elderlies are towards the effects of the virus, many are postponing their move into these facilities until the virus is more under control. Naturally, many of the health REITs will cut down their dividend yield during this challenging time, but not LTC. This healthcare REIT is bucking the trend and holding the line on its dividend. You could expect an annual dividend of nearly 6% with LTC.

One of the key reasons why LTC is holding on to its dividend is because of its focus on net-lease properties. A net-lease property is one where the tenant is responsible for most of the operating costs of the asset. Essentially, LTC just sits back and collects rent. Even though the novel coronavirus has presented a great challenge to the industry, the good news is the longer-term demographic trends are here to stay. As the population continues to age, demand for senior living will likely creep up over time. And LTC stock would likely be a beneficiary of that trend.

Read More

Pembina Pipeline

Pembina Pipeline is a Canadian company that specializes in transportation and storage infrastructure for the oil and gas sector. The company released its first-quarter 2021 earnings of $320 million and adjusted EBITDA of $835 million, both being consistent with the same period in the prior year. Shares of this dividend stock have climbed more than 30% year to date. The stock is up nearly 40% over the past year. Pembina still offers attractive value relative to its industry peers. The energy company offers around a 4.5% dividend yield to its investors.

Oil and gas prices have enjoyed a rebound on the back of a global economic recovery. This has given energy stocks new life as of late. While it’s not quite as high as the other monthly dividend stocks on this list, it’s arguably less risky. Once the economy fully reopens, people will need crude oil products. And oil prices are reflecting the sentiment of the energy market today. Of course, we don’t know for sure if there are going to be new coronavirus variants that will have a profound impact on our lives. In the meantime, would you be watching PBA stock?

[Read More] Best Growth Stocks To Buy Now? 3 To Watch Today

AGNC Investment

AGNC Investment Corp is the largest mortgage REIT by market cap. The mREIT has made a strong comeback after an underwhelming 2020. For starters, the company uses its in-house subsidiaries to help package, buy, and sell government-backed mortgages secured by residential real estate. Investors love this mREIT because it primarily invests in mortgage-backed securities instead of physical real estate. More importantly, AGNC Investment has an annualized dividend yield of more than 8%.

In the past year, the company completed $1.4 billion of accretive capital transactions, having a total portfolio of $96.6 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and to-be-announced (TBA) securities. If you’re an investor in the stock market today, you probably know a thing or two about the rising inflation rate. And rising interest rates are among the reasons why stocks are down. While these are bad for stocks in general, rising interest rates actually benefit AGNC. For this reason, some may see AGNC stock as a defensive play in the highly volatile stock market we are having today. With that in mind, would you add AGNC to your watchlist?

[Read More] Top Industrial Stocks To Buy In May 2021? 4 Names To Watch

Prospect Capital Corporation

Prospect Capital Corporation is a New York-based financial services company that aims to generate both current income and long-term capital appreciation through debt and equity investments in middle-tier companies. Its portfolio is mostly debt-based, with most of it invested in first-lien loans and other senior secured debt. It has a dividend yield of around 9% and it pays out all of its earnings as dividends. 

Dividend investors should research PSEC stock and add it to their portfolios if they like what they see. And, with the company’s consistent yield and solid financials, there’s plenty to like when it comes to Prospect Capital. Apart from offering a higher yield, the company also trades at a lower price compared to other dividend stocks on this list. Of course, these favorable metrics also come with higher risks. Considering that some of its clients may have liquidity issues during this difficult economic climate, I would tread cautiously with PSEC stock.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372053

May 14, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

5 Trending Reddit Stocks To Watch Ahead Of Next Week

When it comes to trading Reddit stocks and Reddit penny stocks in the stock market, speculation often comes to mind. However, not all Reddit stocks are speculative. There are also long-term growth trends being discussed in the subreddit r/WallStreetBets. Hence, it makes perfect sense for investors to track trending names on the subReddit groups.

For those unfamiliar, Reddit is the popular social media website that sparked the Gamestop Corp. (NYSE: GME) fiasco a few months ago. This is where hundreds of traders came together to all buy shares of the struggling video game corporation. And because this new phenomenon, has resulted in a fundamental shift in trading both big-cap and small-cap stocks within the stock market. While we don’t know the long-term effects of this yet, we are seeing similar trading occur with other companies. 

It is no surprise that Reddit stocks to buy are especially popular among millennials. And many of them choose Robinhood as their platform of choice. Heading into the weekend, there are several top Reddit stocks on Robinhood to watch. Will these be the top names to buy before next week, or should you avoid them entirely?

Reddit Stocks To Consider Buying Right Now

Ocugen

First up, we have clinical-stage biopharmaceutical specialist Ocugen. It is one of the top trending names on the subreddit r/WallStreetBets over the past month. The company was focusing on developing cures for blindness diseases but the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the company’s focus. OCGN stock investors now own a stake in a business that’s competing with other COVID-19 vaccine makers.

And if you had placed your bets on OCGN stock at the beginning of December, you would have reaped nearly 3000% gains during this period. The company’s shares received another catalyst after the company released promising data of its vaccine candidate in April.

The company has been working endlessly to advance the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin with partner Bharat Biotech. Researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) believe its vaccine candidate could protect against multiple coronavirus strains. Should the company be successful in receiving regulatory approval, I won’t be surprised if there’s another round of breakout in OCGN stock.

[Read More] 3 Epicenter Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Today

AMC Entertainment

AMC is a movie theater chain company that is one of the largest movie theater chains in the world. It owns the largest share of the U.S. theater market and boasts over 1,000 theaters. With the onset of the novel coronavirus, the movie chain operator had to shut its doors, cutting off nearly 100% of its revenue. And with the company’s recent financial report, it makes sense to find out how the company has been managing its outflow during this period. 

From its first quarter, the cinema chain reported $312.9 million in cash outflow for its operating activities. That’s approximately $104 million burned per month. The number may be huge, but that’s already an improvement from the September 30 figure, when the company was burning through an estimated $140 million per month.

With expansive vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and blockbuster movie titles set to be released in the coming months, would you bet on the company returning to its pre-pandemic levels soon? Having said all that, is AMC stock worth watching right now?

Read More

Nokia 

Nokia’s stock recently rallied after the Finnish telecom company’s first-quarter numbers beat analysts’ expectations. Its revenue came in 3% higher year-over-year to $6.1 billion. On a constant currency basis, revenue grew 9%. Certainly, that retail trending frenzy has done nothing to change Nokia’s fundamentals. But it sure did reintroduce Nokia to the investing world again this year. 

Nokia was not only an instrumental developer of the 5G wireless networking standards. But it is also one of the leading names in the 5G hardware market. 5G products are sold at a premium, generating stronger profit margins as the revenue stream from the segment grows.

Management maintained its full-year financial forecast for revenue of $25 billion to $26.4 billion. But CEO Pekka Lundmark said Nokia’s strong first-quarter performance makes it more likely to achieve the high end of its 7% to 10% operating margin target. With that in mind, would you add NOK stock to your watchlist?

[Read More] Best Growth Stocks To Buy Now? 3 To Watch Today

Sundial Growers

Like it or not, Sundial Growers remains a favored name among retail traders. It was one of the hot penny stocks on Reddit earlier in the year as traders flocked to the stock. Soon after reaching highs of $3.96 this year, SNDL stock tumbled. The company had gone on a capital-raising spree to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. It has also been a frequent name on the list of most active stocks in the market, daily.

Besides profit-taking, a key reason for the stock decline is equity dilution. However, it seems that the worst is over in terms of the downside. After a series of capital fundraising, the company has a stronger cash buffer to fund its growth over the coming one to two years.

Earlier in May, Sundial announced the acquisition of Canadian recreational cannabis retailer Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd. That would put Sundial in a stronger position in the market. Besides, Sundial announced its first-quarter results on Wednesday. In it, the company saw its first quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA in Sundial’s history, at $3.3 million. With these achievements, would you be adding SNDL stock to your portfolio?

[Read More] Top Industrial Stocks To Buy In May 2021? 4 Names To Watch

Palantir Technologies

Palantir has garnered attention in various sub-Reddit groups lately. The company is a developer of software and analytics tools for the defense industry and large corporations. The company reported its first-quarter earnings this week. From the report, the revenue came in 49% higher year-over-year to $341 million and its cash generation also improved dramatically. More importantly, the management expects revenue to increase 43% to $360 million in the second quarter. Even with the impressive earnings, PLTR stock fails to climb this week. 

Interestingly, CFO David Glazer disclosed during a conference call that the company had begun accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment from its customers. That was before Musk announced that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has stopped accepting Bitcoin for its electric vehicles due to environmental reasons.

Of course, there is no indication that Palantir will follow suit. Apart from that, Palantir has certainly been firing on all cylinders as it continues to forge new partnerships and extend old ones. In addition, Palantir and Ringler AG announced a renewed strategic partnership to provide the latter with software to accelerate its shift to a digital-first global media company. With all these developments, will you consider buying PLTR stock?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/372037

May 14, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Top E-commerce Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Today

Lately, investing in the stock market can be a challenging task. But if you have got to bet on something, e-commerce stocks could be a good option in the long run. Now, why is that so? E-commerce allows businesses to reach out to customers in more ways than before. As time goes by, we will continue to see consumers migrating towards purchasing online for the sake of convenience and the ability to research products in real-time. On top of that, having an online store relinquishes the restrictions of set business hours and allows consumers to access its products and services at any given time. So it is safe to assume that this trend is here to stay and still growing in popularity.

We need to look no further than Booking Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: BKNG) to show how e-commerce has impacted our lives. Being the world leader in online travel, it provides customers all over the world easier and better access to travel planning and other services. Imagine how it changed how we plan our travels compared to several decades ago.

Now, consumers could go on to websites such as booking.com and Agoda to book their hotels or tour packages without the need of going to an actual travel agency. Now if you believe e-commerce is the future of commerce, then here are some of the top e-commerce stocks to watch in the stock market right now. 

Top E-Commerce Stock To Watch In May

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd 

To start the list, we have one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, Alibaba. Just as we have Amazon in the U.S., some consider Alibaba as the Amazon of China. Both companies have one thing in common, they are both tech-driven companies that have expanded beyond their core e-commerce divisions. The company is also one of the biggest venture capital firms with one of the biggest investment corporations in the world. Today, Alibaba announced its much-anticipated earnings report for the quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

It has been a historic fiscal year for the company as it reached a milestone of 1 billion annual active users globally. Revenue came in 64% higher year over year to $28.6 billion. However, the company recorded a net loss of $1.16 billion. This can be attributed to the $2.8 billion fine levied by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation according to China’s Anti-monopoly Law. That aside, the overall business delivered strong growth on a healthy foundation.

In other news, Alibaba’s Taobao Live also announced in April that it would supercharge its ecosystem to yield further success for merchants and brands on the platform. It aims to support 2,000 live stream channels and 200 partners to significantly boost its sales. All things considered, would you invest in BABA stock with its current dip?

[Read More] Top Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Cruise Line Stocks Making Headlines

eBay Inc

Next up, we have the global commerce company, eBay. The company’s technology allows sellers worldwide to offer their inventory for sale, virtually anytime and anywhere. eBay’s platforms are accessible through a traditional online experience, mobile devices, and its application programming interfaces (APIs). Hence, consumers could easily access its platform as long as they have access to the internet. The company’s stock has been trading sideways since the start of the year. However, for those who invested a year ago, you would’ve seen a gain of over 40%. So could EBAY stock resume its upward trend moving forward?

Earlier this month, the company announced that there is a possibility of accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment in the future. In addition, it is also looking at ways to get non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its platform. The company is always looking at relevant forms of payment so that it doesn’t get left behind in this fast-paced world.

Fast forward a week later, the company finally hops on the NFT bandwagon. Consumers can now purchase NFTs on its broad online marketplace. This reflects an expansion of eBay’s digital collectibles business, in line with the increasing popularity of NFTs this year. With that in mind, would EBAY stock be a good buy now?

Read More

Shopify Inc 

Next up, we have Shopify. It is a multinational tech company with a focus on e-commerce. In detail, the company provides a cloud-based platform for small and medium-sized businesses to operate their digital storefronts. The Shopify platform provides merchants with a single view of their business and customers across all of their sales channels.

Hence allowing better management of their products and inventory, building customer relationships, and reporting all from one integrated back office. Late last month, the company announced its first-quarter earnings report and it crushed analyst’s expectations. 

Zooming in, the company posted revenue of $988.6 million, up by a whopping 110% compared with a year prior. On top of that, net income was boosted by a $1.3 billion unrealized gain on its investment in online payments company Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM), which went public in January. As of the end of March, Shopify has extended a cumulative $2 billion of funds to merchants through Shopify Capital. This is to help boost its fast-growing merchant base through the help of machine learning. Therefore, with such impressive financial figures and innovation, would you buy SHOP stock now?

[Read More] Top Consumer Discretionary Stocks To Watch In May

The last on this list requires no introduction. We have e-commerce giant Amazon. The company offers a range of products and services through its websites. This includes merchandise and content that it purchases for resale from vendors and those offered by third-party sellers. Also, it manufactures and sells electronic devices. AMZN stock has been on a dip since the start of the month after it reached an all-time high at the end of April. Well, this could be seen as a retracement and potentially a buying opportunity for investors who believe in the long-term success of the company. 

Despite being known for its e-commerce influence, the company has expanded its reach to other industries as well. For example, the company recently struck a multi-year deal with the Women’s National Basketball Association that will see several games streamed live on Prime Video. This is in addition to its earlier forays into streaming sports content like Thursday Night Football and the Premier League.

Financially, its first-quarter earnings report is as impressive as you would expect. Amazon posted revenues of $108.52 billion, an increase of 44% compared to the prior year. What is even more outstanding was its net income skyrocketing by 319%, up from $2.54 billion to $8.11 billion. So, with Amazon already being one of the biggest names in the market, coupled with its fantastic financial results, would this be a good time to bet on AMZN stock?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/371953

May 12, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Do You Have These Top Food Stocks On Your Radar Right Now?

As an investor, you would always want to invest in something you are familiar with in the stock market. Now, what’s better than food stocks when it comes to knowing the products of the company. It may not be the fanciest industry but it is something we need day in, and day out. The food industry comprises companies that focus primarily on offering food and non-alcoholic beverage products. It includes grocery stores, food distribution companies, and other companies offering consumer staples that we eat or drink. 

Some of the major names in the industry would include Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) and The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR). Both stocks have been on an upward trend since the start of the year. On one hand, TSN stock has risen over 24% this year. On the other hand, KR stock has also risen by over 20%. So it is safe to say, food companies will thrive no matter the economic climate. Furthermore, with most countries globally showing signs of economic reopening, this would allow food stocks to flourish even more. Now, with all this in mind, let us have a look at some of the top food stocks in the stock market today. 

Top Food Stocks To Watch Right Now

Darling Ingredients Inc 

First on the list, we have the Darling Ingredients. It is a company that develops and produces sustainable natural ingredients, creating a range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for its customers. In addition, Darling also provides grease trap services to food service establishments, environmental services to food processors, and sells restaurant cooking oil delivery and collection equipment. The company’s stock has been on a steady incline for the past year. It has seen gains of more than 200% over the past year. With the company scheduled to release its first-quarter earnings report, investors would be keen to see if its current trajectory would continue. 

In mid-April, EnviroFlight, a wholly-owned division of Darling, announced the development of a new R&D and corporate center in Apex, North Carolina. The facility is expected to be ready in early 2020. This new facility will allow for further emphasis to be placed on target research areas.

Furthermore, Darling’s Rousselot Brand reinforced its application science leadership with a renewed application lab in Brazil earlier this month. This is a strategic move to further strengthen its world-leading lab network, which already includes a global lab in Belgium and a regional lab in China. Given how rapidly the company is expanding, would you consider buying DAR stock?

[Read More] Trending Tech Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know

Aramark 

Next up, we have the global provider of food, facilities, and uniform services, Aramark. Its clients are largely from the education, healthcare, business, sports, and leisure industry. The company operates through three segments: Food and Support Services North America (FSS North America), Food and Support Services International (FSS International), and Uniform and Career Apparel (Uniform). Although ARMK stock has been trading sideways since the start of the year, people may have forgotten that it has already been up by 50% for the past year. That being said, the upcoming earnings report would likely determine the direction of the stock in the coming months. 

In April, Aramark signed an agreement to acquire Next Level Hospitality, a premier provider of culinary and environmental services in the senior living sector. It specializes in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. This acquisition will allow Aramark to partner with a business that is committed to serving its clients with the ability to leverage a scalable operating model.

In the same month, Aramark Canada also announced the renewal of its eight-year-long partnership agreement with Creequest Corporation. This is to provide Detour Lake Mine with catering and janitorial services. With that in mind, would you consider adding ARMK stock into your portfolio?

Read More

The Wendy’s Company

Third, on the list, we have the fast-food company, Wendy’s. The company engages in operating, developing, and franchising a system of quick-service restaurants. It has 5,852 restaurants in the U.S. Out of which, 357 were operated by the company and 5,495 were operated by franchisees. WEN stock is another stock in the food industry that has suffered during the pandemic. As a result, the stock has been trading sideways for the past year. However, with the economy reopening in most parts of the world, this could well be a turning point for the company.

On Tuesday, the company announced its plans to open up to 400 restaurants across the UK, with the first one located in Reading in June. The company hopes that this relaunch would “spearhead” a European-wide expansion. This aggressive approach shows that the company is optimistic about its business expansion and preparing for the post-pandemic life. Wendy’s will be releasing its first-quarter earnings report on May 12, 2021. So investors would be on the lookout for the performance of its breakfast business.

Notably, the company’s continuous focus to extend its breakfast daypart offerings is likely to have driven the first-quarter top line. Given the excitement surrounding the company, would you consider WEN stock a top food stock to buy?

[Read More] 4 Cyclical Stocks To Look Out For In 2021

The Kraft Heinz Company 

To sum up the list, we have global food and beverage company, Kraft Heinz. The Company’s segments include the United States, International, and Canada. Its products include various brands, such as Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Kool-Aid, Ore-Ida, Jell-O, and many more. With staples like mac and cheese and ketchup, the company has benefitted from the pandemic where people spend more time at home and seek out comfort foods. Now when looking at the company stock, it has been on an upward trend since the start of the year. In fact, it is at its 52-week high and trading at $43.26 as of Tuesday’s closing.

In April, Kraft’s Jet-Puffed introduced two new lines of snacking marshmallows that would bring joy to marshmallow lovers nationwide. It will be available in regular, mini, and strawberry flavored marshmallows in a stand-up resealable pouch. The premium resealable packaging ensures every marshmallow bite is as good as the last. Hence this should serve as a boost to the company’s product as nearly 50% of Americans snack on marshmallows directly out of the bag.

On top of that, the recent first-quarter report released in April also showed healthy numbers. Net sales increased by 3.9% to $6.4 billion while net income was up by a whopping 49%, up to $568 million. This coupled with the company’s stock bullish run, could there be a better time to buy KHC stock?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/371710

May 11, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Top Tech Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market This Week

As investors look forward to another week of high-profile earnings, tech stocks could be in focus. Seasoned and new investors alike would be looking for reasonably priced names in the stock market today. After all, despite posting blowout quarters, some of the top tech stocks have taken a breather. When you couple this with the world’s ever-growing reliance on tech, some might argue that we could be looking at exciting investment opportunities this week. 

Tech giants such as Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN) and Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) will be reporting earnings later this week. Sure, both companies focus on different end markets, but businesses and consumers rely heavily on their tech, nonetheless. Given their current positions in their respective industries, both companies’ shares could be on investors’ radars this week. As it stands, NUAN stock and PLTR stock are up by over 100% in the past year.

Aside from the current earnings season, tech companies related to cryptocurrencies also appear to be on the rise. Be it Ethereum surpassing the $4,000 mark for the first time or Dogecoin’s massive swings over the weekend, investors appear to be more receptive towards these digital assets than where we were one year ago. By and large, there appears to be no shortage of exciting news in the world of tech today. Having said all that, here are four tech stocks to watch on the stock market now.

Best Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now

Coinbase Global Inc.

Coinbase is a tech company that operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The company boasts approximately 56 million verified users, 7,000 institutions, and 115,000 ecosystem partners in over 100 countries. In essence, the company is building a crypto economy that is efficient and a more transparent financial system enabled by crypto. Fresh off its IPO last month, could strong cryptocurrency growth translate to big gains for Coinbase?

Coinbase is reporting its earnings on May 14 after the closing bell. Last month, the company announced its estimated first-quarter financials and also provided its outlook for the full year of 2021. Firstly, Coinbase expects a trading volume of $335 billion for the quarter. Total revenue for the quarter is approximately $1.8 billion.

Secondly, it expects a top-line income of $800 million. Being a major cryptocurrency exchange, the fortunes of Coinbase will likely move closely with the prices of major cryptocurrencies. Besides, if more investors decide to trade cryptocurrencies, Coinbase would also see more business. Given all of this, will you be watching COIN stock ahead of its earnings this week?

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Salesforce is a cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Basically, the company provides customer relationship management (CRM) service and also provides a complementary suite of enterprise applications focused on customer service, analytics, and application development. Recently, the company announced that it has been ranked as the #1 CRM provider by International Data Corporation (IDC) in its latest Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker for the eighth consecutive year. The company is slated to report its earnings on May 27, with $0.42 of net income expected on $5.89 billion of revenue.

It is no surprise as Salesforce continues to grow its overall market share position. In the last year, it had increased its revenue more than any other CRM vendor. IDC data also shows that Salesforce is the market share leader for sales applications, customer service applications, model-driven application platforms, and marketing applications.

Last month, the company also introduced Digital 360 for Industries. The platform helps companies deliver better experiences faster with industry apps and developer tools. It can be deployed for consumer, health care, and financial services segments among others. With that in mind, will you add CRM stock to your portfolio?

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Riot Blockchain Inc.

Riot is a bitcoin mining company. It supports the rapidly expanding industrial-scale mining of the Bitcoin blockchain in the U.S. The company focuses on expanding its operations by increasing its bitcoin mining hash rate while decreasing its costs of production. Riot has invested heavily in its mining equipment and facility to improve its efficiency. More impressively, the company has already hit GAAP profitability and will continue to increase revenues at an impressive pace should the momentum continue.

Last month, the company provided a production update for March 2021. Riot produced a total of 187 BTC in March, an 80% increase year-over-year. For the entire first quarter, the company produced an impressive 491 BTC, which is a 75% increase year-over-year.

Earlier in the same month, it also announced a large-scale contract for the purchase of 42,000 S19j Antminers from Bitmain Technologies. The company expects to receive them by the end of 2022. This would represent a 93% increase over the company’s previously estimated committed hash rate capacity by October 2021. All things considered, will you watch RIOT stock amid the strong market appetite towards crypto?

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Penn National Gaming Inc.

Last but not least, we will be looking at Penn National Gaming (PENN). For the uninitiated, PENN is a juggernaut in the online sports betting industry now. According to PENN’s estimates, it boasts the largest and most diversified regional gaming footprint in the U.S. In terms of scale, the company operates out of 41 properties across 19 states. Sure, PENN stock may not conventionally be thought of as a tech stock.

However, PENN’s operations are becoming increasingly reliant on the digital medium as online gaming trends continue to gain momentum. Despite shedding more than 30% of its value since March, PENN stock is still up 350% over the past year. 

Recently, news broke of PENN acquiring real money gaming company, HitPoint Studios. Subsequently, the acquisition would go towards supporting PENN’s newly launched Penn Game Studios (PGS). What is PGS, might you ask? In short, PGS is an in-house content development team, focusing on creating “exclusive iCasino content” for consumers. It seems that PENN has no plans on losing its current lead in the digital gaming industry now. At the same time, the company has also been expanding its brick-and-mortar operations. We can see this as PENN is opening up applications for jobs at its upcoming Hollywood Casino York. With the company firing on all cylinders now, will you be adding PENN stock to your watchlist?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/371569