Penny Stocks to Watch as 2021 Comes to an End 

As 2021 comes to an end, investors continue to search for the best penny stocks to buy. Although it can be challenging given the sheer number of penny stocks out there and factors at play, there are many ways to make money with small caps.

PennyStocks.com – PennyStocks

The best way to get started is to have a thorough and consistent understanding of what is going on in the stock market. This includes knowing how different news events will impact your portfolio and the various industries at large. 

It is also crucial to understand that penny stocks are highly volatile. With the Omicron variant, high inflation, and geopolitical upsets, there is a lot at play with penny stocks and blue chips. So, with all of this in mind, let’s take a look at five penny stocks to add to your holiday watch list.

Penny Stocks To Watch 

1. OPKO Health Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) 
2. Mereo BioPharma Group plc (NASDAQ: MREO)
3. Progenity Inc. (NASDAQ: PROG) 
4. Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd (NYSE: CANF)
5. Digital Ally Inc. (NASDAQ: DGLY) 

OPKO Health Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK)

OPKO Health Inc. is a biotech firm that specializes in diagnostics and medications. BioReference Laboratories, a subsidiary of the company, provides lab testing services, a complementary business. The company works on diagnosing, detecting, evaluating, and monitoring an extensive range of diseases. Aside from this side of its business, the company is studying OPK88004, an orally given selective androgen receptor modulator, and several other compounds.

Must Read: 3 Hot Penny Stocks to Add to Your Watchlist This Week

On December 8th, OPKO received approval from the FDA for its 4Kscore test. This is a test used in men aged 45 and older who haven’t had a prior prostate biopsy or are biopsy negative and have an age-specific abnormal total PSA or abnormal digital rectal exam. This test is currently available at BioReference Laboratories, which, as mentioned earlier, is owned by OPKO.

“The 4Kscore Test has been available as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) since 2014. The FDA approval provides further validation of its value as an important tool in the diagnostic paradigm for prostate cancer”.

The Executive Chairman of BioReference Laboratories Inc., Jon R. Cohen

Heading into the end of the year, there is some quick housekeeping to be aware of. In particular, this October, Opko reported an update that cited data from its RAYALDEE candidate for treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Phase 2 trial enrollment was completed, and the company expects topline data by the end of the year. Considering the period of the year we’re in, this could be something to keep in mind if OPK stock is on your list of penny stocks right now.

Mereo BioPharma Group plc (NASDAQ: MREO)

Another one of the penny stocks to watch during year-end is Mereo BioPharma. The company specializes in treating cancer and rare diseases. Its Alvelestat treatment platform will likely be a focus for traders right now. This is Mereo’s candidate under evaluation in patients with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and patients with COVID-19. Since new virus variants have become a very prominent topic in the stock market this month, MREO stock could be on the list.

What’s there to look at when it comes to its Alvelestat treatment? In March, the company gave a heads-up that year-end could be an important time for the company. That’s first because the company initiated a Phase 1 study for the treatment of COVID-19 and data expected during the second half of 2021. Second, there is an ongoing Phase 2 trial in 165 patients with AATD that has data anticipated in late 2021. In light of the time of the year we’re in right now, these could be things to keep in mind.

Last week Mereo presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. The Alvelestat platform was once again the focus. This time, data was presented on alvelestat in patients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. With a solid finish to the week and a countdown to year-end, MREO stock could be another one of the names to know right now.

Progenity Inc. (NASDAQ: PROG)

Progenity Inc. is a molecular testing company that creates many biotech-related products. The company recently received recognition for its COVID-19 PCR testing services, which have been in high demand for the past two years. In addition, it’s worth noting that any biotech company involved in Covid has seen heightened attention during that time. For some context, Progenity also sells genetic testing for disorders like Lynch syndrome.

Read More: Best Penny Stocks To Buy Now? 3 To Watch Before Next Week

Progenity disclosed a new invention for a single-molecule detecting treatment on December 2nd. This was revealed in the form of US Patent No. 11,186,863 for  “Methods, Systems, and Compositions for Counting Nucleic Acid Molecules.” This patent contains important methods for counting target molecules, eliminating the requirement for sequencing them. 

Progenity now has a significant patent portfolio relating to its single-molecule detection platform, which has contributed to its overall success. This consists of six patent families that cover various areas of its programs.

“Our Single-Molecule Detection Platform is designed to enable tests such as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or liquid biopsy for cancer to be performed without the need for costly, complex sequencing, which would greatly reduce cost and simplify operational implementation.”

General Manager of Diagnostics at Progenity, Matthew Cooper

With sizable bullish momentum in the past few weeks, will PROG make your list of penny stocks to watch?

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd (NYSE:CANF)

Shares of Can-Fite BioPharma climbed last week after a tumultuous few months of selling pressure. It was steadily dropping since mid-summer and finally reached fresh 52-week lows of $0.94 earlier this month.

Heading into the end of 2021 and the start of the new year, there are plenty of things to keep track of. As far as this month goes, Can-Fite’s Phase IIb study of its NASH drug candidate Namodenoson will be in focus. In particular, following clearance from the Israeli Ministry of Health, the company expects start begin in Q4 2021. This is the next portion in studying Namodenoson. A prior Phase IIa clinical trial of Namodenoson in the treatment of NASH met study endpoints showing anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects.

Can-Fite’s Piclidenoson, its lead drug candidate, will be the next treatment to keep track of. This year, the company completed enrollment in a Phase 3 psoriasis study and expects topline results next quarter. According to Can-Fite, ‘The study is designed to establish Piclidenoson’s superiority compared to placebo and non-inferiority compared to Apremilast (Otezla®) in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.”

With these potential catalysts, CANF stock could be another one of the names for your list of penny stocks to watch right now.

Digital Ally Inc. (NASDAQ: DGLY)

Digital Ally Inc. develops digital video imaging software, digital storage solutions, disinfectants, and other safety products. These products are used by law enforcement, security, and commercial purposes in the United States. One of its products is a digital video mirror system used in police vehicles.

On November 17th, the corporation released its operating results for the third quarter of 2021.  In the third quarter, overall revenues increased by 29% to $4,639,822 from $3,588,640 the previous year. This was achieved due to a 421% increase in services and other income from 2020 levels. These numbers are substantial and show sizable growth for the company.

Read More: Penny Stock News Sent These 5 Small-Caps Stocks Soaring Today

On December 13th, Digital Ally provided another update. The company announced that it had launched the FirstVu PRO body-worm camera. This is the latest addition to Digital Ally’s family of next-gen technology. The company is now taking pre-orders and expects to start shipping the product in the first quarter of 2022. 

“We believe the unique features of the PRO, like live streaming and remote activation, will be highly embraced and will prove to be invaluable for law enforcement.” 

The CEO of Digital Ally, Stan Ross

Right now, the tech industry continues to heat up as more and more investors take note. If we look at DGLY’s chart, we see that its yearly performance is mostly bearish to date. However, in the last few trading days, shares of the company have begun to trend upward. Amid the company’s new developments, will DGLY be on your penny stock watch list before December ends?

Which Penny Stocks Are You Watching?

Finding the best penny stocks to buy is about understanding where to look. Although there are hundreds of penny stocks out there, not all of them will have value in the future.

[Read More] Hot Penny Stocks to Watch as 2021 Comes to an End

The best way to understand this as it pertains to your portfolio is to have a consistent trading strategy that fits your risk tolerance. This should also be in line with how the market is moving. With all of that considered, which penny stocks are you watching right now?

If you enjoyed this article and you’re interested in learning how to trade so you can have the best chance to profit consistently then you need to checkout this YouTube channel. CLICK HERE RIGHT NOW!

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403639

If you’re looking to make money in the stock market before the new year, you’ve got your work cut out for you. With broader indexes swaying, is there any place to find opportunity? In my opinion, if you understand how to handle a bit more risk and have a keen understanding of how to day trade, penny stocks have been one of the stand-outs lately.

PennyStocks.com – PennyStocks

Forget looking at ETFs like the Russell 2000 Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: IWM). That has been used as a benchmark for penny stocks at times. But if you look at the list of top 10 holdings in the ETF, the closest thing to a penny stock is AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC), and that’s only because it was one of the stocks under $5 earlier this year. In most cases, cheap stocks move without influence from the broader markets. Today, we look at three of them that gained noticeable ground this week.

Penny Stocks To Watch Right Now

1. DatChat Inc. (NASDAQ: DATS)
2. Petros Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: PTPI)
3. Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: INFI)

1. DatChat Inc. (NASDAQ: DATS)

Ever since its IPO, DatChat has been on our list of penny stocks to watch. The company kicked off its public debut trading under $4 per share, and within about a month, it managed to reach highs of $18.50. Thanks to the launch and popularity of alternative social platforms like Truth Social and Rumble, the market has looked for other “social” platforms besides Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc.

Read more: These Biotech Penny Stocks Exploded Today, Here’s Why

DatChat has built a platform that involves blockchain, cybersecurity, and social media. Users can delete messages and posts to protect themselves from anyone taking a screenshot of them before getting deleted. The launch of DatChat’s new reward program, as well as some attention from a popular sports entertainment brand, have put DATS stock back in the spotlight.

As far as the reward program is concerned, DatChat released its Nirad Points Rewards Program. According to the company, “Using a “Proof of Participation” protocol, users can earn NRD Points through active participation on the DatChat Social Network+ platform, including creating an account, daily login, adding friends, allowing advertisements, and growing your DatChat network. NRD Points may be used for premium services, upgrades, and eCommerce on the DatChat Social Network+ platform.” – Read More About NRD Points Here

Initiatives like this and the company’s social communication platform have garnered the attention of companies like Barstool Sports. In a Tweet earlier this week, the popular media outlet sent a Tweet mentioning DatChat’s handle and the caption “Next time use the @datchatapp, and it’s message destruction feature,” with a download link. Barstool and DatChat agreed to a multi-channel marketing campaign in October.

2. Petros Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: PTPI)

Another one of the penny stocks on our list frequently is Petros Pharmaceuticals. The topic of discussion has helped give it some extension in the market (no pun intended). That’s due, in part, to news from earlier this month after the company reported sales growth of its STENDRA tablets. This was thanks, in part, to its digital health marketing agreement with Hims & Hers Health Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMS). The product is a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Adding to this, Petros also reported progress this month with its over-the-counter draft label comprehension study results for STENDRA. According to the company, this was a crucial component in Petros’ plan to engage the FDA in expanding the product’s access through a potential OTC pathway.

While progress in the market is strong – PTPI stock is up over 100% in the last month – there are some things to consider. The foremost is a recent S-1 filing this week showing the potential resale by selling shareholders from time to time of up to 3,830,000 shares. See the full S-1 here.

3. Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: INFI)

While certain stocks waivered, Infinity continued its December climb. Since dipping to the $1.80 level, INFI stock has been in rally mode. Its focus has been on its eganelisib in treating advanced cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer. This month, part of the recent uptick in trading stemmed from new data in the company’s MARIO-3 trial, which was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Read more: Stock Market Today: Rate Concerns Weigh, Markets Slide, AMC Shines As Spider-Man Saves The Day

Among the results, the company found that 88.6% of evaluable patients achieved tumor reduction with a disease control rate of 92.8% and 81.4% of evaluable patients with PD-L1 positive and PD-L1 negative tumors, respectively.

“With a median duration of follow-up of almost 10 months, the durable clinical benefit seen with the eganelisib combination reinforces our vision of bringing better therapies to frontline TNBC patients. When compared to the IMpassion130 benchmark data, a 47% improvement in median PFS for patients with PD-L1 positive tumors and a 30% improvement in median PFS for patients with PD-L1 negative tumors provides consistent and compelling evidence of eganelisib’s potential to improve outcomes for these patients.”

Adelene Perkins, Chief Executive Officer and Chair, Infinity Pharmaceuticals

Following these developments, Infinity Pharmaceuticals was added to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. This becomes effective next Monday. This seems to have also caught the attention of analysts. In particular, B. Riley raised its price target to $7 from $4. The firm currently has a Buy rating.

Which Penny Stocks Are On Your List Right Now?

Thanks to so much volatility in the stock market today, penny stocks have begun to shine a bit brighter. Heading into the end of the year, there are plenty of companies to watch. The first step in putting together a solid list is identifying opportunities and understanding what is driving the market moves.

If you enjoyed this article and you’re interested in learning how to trade so you can have the best chance to profit consistently then you need to checkout this YouTube channel. CLICK HERE RIGHT NOW!

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403555

– Zacks

What are the Top economic risks for 2022? Our Chief Equity Strategist and Economist, John Blank, is here now to give his assessment.

1. You wrote recently, cybersecurity was the top risk in 2019, and in 2021 COVID times, and maintains that position for business in 2022’s post-COVID environment. That’s even ahead of supply chain issues. Why do you think that is?

2. What are the other top risks to our economy for the New Year that you see?

3. What about the global economy?

4. Will managing these risks be more challenging to companies?

5. In your economic commentary, you list one risk as economic volatility. What does that mean?

6. As inflation moves higher, will that be a major challenge for both business and consumers?

7. The Great Resignation in the labor market here doesn’t seem to be abating. Will that play a role in stalling the economic recovery?

8. Let’s look into the largest Semi stocks on our Zacks #1 Rank list now. Infineon Technologies IFNNY, Xilinx XLNX and ON Semiconductor ON.

Chief Equity Strategist & Economist, John Blank, looking ahead to the economy in the New Year. We hope you have a happy holiday season and prosperous New Year. With John, I’m Terry Ruffolo.

Bitcoin, Like the Internet Itself, Could Change Everything

Blockchain and cryptocurrency has sparked one of the most exciting discussion topics of a generation. Some call it the “Internet of Money” and predict it could change the way money works forever. If true, it could do to banks what Netflix did to Blockbuster and Amazon did to Sears. Experts agree we’re still in the early stages of this technology, and as it grows, it will create several investing opportunities.

Zacks’ has just revealed 3 companies that can help investors capitalize on the explosive profit potential of Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies with significantly less volatility than buying them directly. 

See 3 crypto-related stocks now >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Xilinx, Inc. (XLNX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Infineon Technologies AG (IFNNY): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403546

– Zacks

• (0:45) – Finding Deals Heading Into 2022:  Avoiding Value Traps
• (4:30) – Tracey’s Top Stock Picks
• (26:15) – Big Takeaways: DIS, PYPL, GPS, JWN, HET, WSM
•                Podcast@Zacks.com

Welcome to Episode #262 of the Value Investor Podcast.

Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.

A lot of popular stocks have sold off in the last few weeks, with some of them seeing bear pullbacks of 20% or more.

Disney, PayPal, Gap, Nordstrom and Williams-Sonoma are all down double digits.

Are they cheap?

Should value investors be diving in or is this a value trap?

Definition of a Value Trap

Remember, a stock can be cheap and have classic value fundamentals such as a low P/E or PEG ratio but still not be a deal.

A true value stock has another special factor: increasing earnings for next year.

A trap usually has declining earnings so the stock really isn’t as “cheap” as it appears.

5 Stocks That Have Sold Off: Are they cheap or traps?

1.       Walt Disney DIS

Disney has been a popular stock for years as many parents have bought it for their children’s portfolios over the years.

But despite being a pandemic winner thanks to its streaming service, the shares have now fallen about 18% year-to-date.

Is Disney cheap after this sell off?

Disney is trading with a forward P/E of 34.8. It’s not exactly cheap on a P/E basis.

But Disney’s earnings are expected to be up 86.9% this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus calling for $4.28 up from $2.29 last year.

Are Disney’s earnings expected to bounce back further from the pandemic in fiscal 2023?

Is it a deal?

2.       PayPal PYPL

PayPal has been on an incredible 5-year run, with shares up 384% during that time compared to the S&P 500 up just 105%.

But in the last few months, PayPal shares have sunk and are now down 18.6% year-to-date.

Earnings are expected to jump 19% to $4.62 this year from $3.88 last year.

But even with the shares retreating, PayPal is still trading with a forward P/E of 40.

Will PayPal grow those earnings next year or is this sell-off a trap?

3.       The Gap GPS

The Gap owns one of the most popular retail brands in athleisure powerhouse Athleta. But supply chain issues are hitting the retailer this holiday season.

8 estimates have been cut for fiscal 2022 in the last 30 days, pushing this year’s Zacks Consensus Estimate down to $1.35.

That’s still earnings growth of 164% as the Gap lost $2.11 last year.

Shares have tumbled and are now down 30% over the last 3 months.

However, the Gap is a true value stock, with a forward P/E of just 12.

But is it a trap in 2022?

4.       Nordstrom JWN

Nordstrom recently reported a disappointing quarter and the shares plunged, falling 23.1% over the last 3 months.

7 estimates were cut for this fiscal year in the last 30 days, with one also being raised during that time. But those cuts have pushed the Zacks Consensus down to $1.28 from $1.43 just a month before.

That’s still earnings growth of 129% as Nordstrom lost $4.39 during the prior year, as the pandemic crushed department store retailers.

Nordstrom trades with a forward P/E of 15.9. This is a little high to even be considered a classic value stock.

Is Nordstrom a deal after this big sell off, or is it a trap?

5.       Williams-Sonoma WSM

Williams-Sonoma is a home products retailer which owns one of the most popular furniture brands among Millennials and GenZ consumers, West Elm.

Tracey owns shares of Williams-Sonoma in her own personal portfolio.

Shares are up big in 2021, gaining 68.5% year-to-date but in the last month, they’ve fallen 18.5% from recent highs.

It is now trading with a forward P/E of just 12, which makes it a value stock by the classical definition with a P/E under 15.

Williams-Sonoma has been reporting record quarters and analysts are bullish on this year, with earnings expected to rise 57.2% year-over-year.

But what about next year?

Will the strong demand for furniture finally cool in 2022?

Is Williams Sonoma on sale or is it a trap?

Tune Into This Week’s Podcast

What else should you know about figuring out if a stock is a deal or a trap?  

Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 5 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
The Gap, Inc. (GPS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
The Walt Disney Company (DIS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
WilliamsSonoma, Inc. (WSM): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403308

SL Green SLG is poised to bank on the improving office real-estate market in the New York City, backed by its high-quality office properties at key locations. Nonetheless, the rising supply of office properties and remote working environment are concerns for SLG’s office assets.

– Zacks

SL Green has a mono-market strategy with an enviable footprint in the large and high-barrier-to-entry New York real estate market. This, along with ownership of premier Manhattan office assets, has enabled the company to enjoy a decent occupancy at its portfolio over the years. Also, its near-term leasing pipeline is robust with more than450,000 square feet leased in the third quarter. SLG remains on track to meet or exceed its leasing goal of 1.5 million square feet for 2021.

Recently, SL Green signed a 191,207-square-foot expansion lease with Bloomberg at 919 Third Avenue. In addition, SLG signed a new 19,522-square-foot lease with Flexpoint Ford and a 6,554-square-foot expansion lease with Stone Point Capital LLC at One Vanderbilt Avenue. With these, One Vanderbilt is now 92.7% leased.

SL Green also enjoys a robust balance-sheet position and has ample financial flexibility. SLG made efforts to bolster liquidity on the back of financing, refinancing, sale of real-estate assets and joint venture stakes as well as the repayment of existing positions in the debt and preferred equity portfolio. In December, SL Green announced refinancing its corporate credit facility. With this, SLG extended the maturity date as well as reduced the borrowing cost and the overall size of its unsecured corporate credit facility.

Moreover, SL Green has been following an opportunistic investment policy to enhance its overall portfolio quality. It continues selling non-core assets and redeploy the proceeds to the development pipeline, share buybacks and debt repayment. In line with this, in December, the REIT announced the sale of its ownership interest in 707 Eleventh Avenue to a domestic buyer for a gross sale price of $95 million. It plans to use the proceeds from the sale to repay corporate debt.

Shares of this presently Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) player have appreciated 4.7% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 4.3%. Further, the recent trends in estimate revisions for 2021 funds from operations (FFO) per share indicate a favorable outlook for the company, with estimates having moved marginally upward in the past week.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

However, though dispositions are a strategic fit for the long term, dilution in earnings is a concern for the near term.

Rising supply of office properties in SL Green’s markets also remains a concern for SL Green. SLG faces intense competition from developers, owners and operators of office properties and other commercial real estate, including sublease space available from its tenants. This restricts its ability to attract and retain tenants at relatively higher rents than its competitors.

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks from the REIT sector are OUTFRONT Media OUT, Cedar Realty Trust CDR and CubeSmart CUBE.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OUTFRONT Media’s 2021 FFO per share has been raised 13.8% over the past two months. OUT’s 2021 FFO per share is expected to increase 45.71% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

OUTFRONT Media flaunts a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) at present. Shares of OUT have rallied 3.5% in the past three months.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cedar Realty’s current-year FFO per share has been raised marginally to $2.38 in the past week. Over the last four quarters, CDR’s FFO per share surpassed the consensus mark twice and missed the same in the other two, the average surprise being 6.4%.

Currently, CDR sports a Zacks Rank of 1. Shares of Cedar Realty have appreciated 51.7% in the past six months.

CubeSmart carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. Over the last four quarters, CUBE’s FFO per share surpassed the consensus mark on all occasions, the average being 7.10%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CubeSmart’s 2021 FFO per share has been revised 2.4% upward in the past month to $2.10. Shares of CUBE have appreciated 17.9% in the past six months.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent FFO — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 5 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
SL Green Realty Corporation (SLG): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CubeSmart (CUBE): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (CDR): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
OUTFRONT Media Inc. (OUT): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403289

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ISRG recently received the FDA’s clearance for its fully wristed, 8 mm SureForm 30 Curved-Tip Stapler and reloads (gray, white and blue) for use in general, thoracic, gynecologic, urologic and pediatric surgery. The latest stapler is expected to be launched in the United States in 2022, followed by other countries.

– Zacks

For investors’ note, the 8 mm SureForm 30 Curved-Tip Stapler integrates SmartFire technology, similar to the other SureForm staplers.

The latest regulatory approval is expected to significantly solidify Intuitive Surgical’s Instruments and Accessories business on a global scale.

Significance of the Nod

Intuitive Surgical’s latest type of the SureForm stapler was designed to aid surgeons to better visualize and reach patient anatomy. It is the first 8 mm robotic stapler with 120-degree articulation and SmartFire technology. As the stapler fits through the 8 mm da Vinci surgical system instrument cannula, the stapler allows surgeons to approach patient anatomy via various angles.

Per a thoracic surgeon based in Wisconsin, an 8 mm diameter stapler option (especially during complex procedures) will likely provide more options to the surgeons to confidently access the target anatomy.

Per management, the 8 mm SureForm 30 curved tip stapler is expected to provide better access and visibility during stapling procedures.

Industry Prospects

Per a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global surgical stapling devices market was valued at $2.16 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to reach $3.81 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 7.4%. Factors like technological advancements and the growing preference for staples over sutures are expected to drive the market.

Given the market potential, the latest regulatory clearance seems to have been timed well.

Recent Developments

Of late, Intuitive Surgical has witnessed a few notable developments across its business.

This month, the company announced that the global number of robotic-assisted surgical procedures performed using da Vinci surgical systems has surpassed 10 million.

Intuitive Surgical, in November, reported robust third-quarter 2021 results, wherein it recorded strong segmental performances. The company’s revenue growth in the reported quarter reflected procedure increase and rise in system placements.

In October, the company announced the release of preliminary data from the Prospective, Multi-Center Evaluation of the Clinical Utility (PRECIsE) — a post-market, multi-center clinical trial of its Ion endoluminal system. Intuitive Surgical’s Ion Endoluminal System for Peripheral Nodule Lung Biopsy was used in the trial.

Price Performance

Shares of Intuitive Surgical have gained 27.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s 6.9% growth and the S&P 500’s 27.2% rise.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, Intuitive Surgical carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings LH or LabCorp, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO and AMN Healthcare Services AMN.

LabCorp, flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has an estimated long-term growth rate of 10.6%. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 25.73%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

LabCorp has gained 51.5% compared with the industry’s 12.1% rise over the past year.

Thermo Fisher has an estimated long-term growth rate of 14%. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 9.02%. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Thermo Fisher has gained 41% compared with the industry’s 6.9% rise over the past year.

AMN Healthcare has an estimated long-term growth rate of 16.2%. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.51%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

AMN Healthcare has gained 67.3% against the industry’s 59% fall over the past year.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 5 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>

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Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
AMN Healthcare Services Inc (AMN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403290

Northern Trust NTRS has joined hands with Accelex, a data acquisition, analytics and reporting provider, to expand the ambit of alternative asset data offerings for Northern Trust’s Front Office Solutions clients. This underpins NTRS’ efforts to digitize alternative asset servicing and enhance asset owner clients’ experience. On similar lines, NTRS had previously rolled out artificial intelligence-powered data extraction capabilities.
Limited partners in private equity firms and other alternative investments are calling upon for better discernments that can be mustered from the huge array of unstructured data received from investment managers. The limited partners pursue data that goes beyond basic performance and exposure metrics to evaluate their investments. Thus, by leveraging Accelex’s technology, Northern Trust can offer asset owners more timely and a broader range of insights. This is feasible since the solution will amplify data granularity and automate the extraction process to provide more conclusive inputs to the Northern Trust Front Office Solutions system.

– Zacks

Melanie Pickett, head of Front Office Solutions at Northern Trust, said, “By leveraging Accelex’s scalable technology to complement our top-notch service teams, we will provide our asset allocator clients with an increasing ability to ingest, curate, and use unstructured data to lead them to insights and improve their investment decision-making.”

Michael Aldridge, president of Accelex, remarked, “Our data science-led solution automates the often-manual process of extracting data from large volumes of complex fund investment documents. Accelex seamlessly surfaces data at both the fund and underlying asset level, allowing Northern Trust to offer critical look-through insights to their clients.”

Conclusion

Northern Trust is deeply focused on tapping efficiencies through digitalization. Its innovative technology-driven hedge fund administration capabilities are brought to the marketplace via Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services. This provides an attractive proposition to clients. Further, the implementation of the Target2-Securities strategy to provide better services to its clients is commendable.

However, it is seeing an escalation in costs due to ongoing investments in technology, which has been driving compensation and equipment as well as software expenses for a while. Non-interest expenses witnessed a CAGR of 5.8% over the last five years (2016-2020) with the trend continuing in the first nine months of 2021. We believe that an increasing trend in expenses will continue to hinder bottom-line growth in the near term.

The stock has gained 4.4% over the past six months compared with 7% growth recorded by the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Northern Trust currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks in the banking space are Shore Bancshares SHBI, Southern First Bancshares SFST and Colony Bankcorp, Inc. CBAN. At present, SHBI sports a Zacks Rank #1 while SFST and CBAN carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

In the year-to-date period, the stock of Shore Bancshares has jumped 38.4% whereas shares of Southern First and Colony Bankcorp have gained 68.6% and 11.7%, respectively.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Shore Bancshares’ current-year earnings has been revised 21.7% upward. The same for Southern First has moved 13.3% north. Current-year earnings estimates for Colony Bankcorp have moved 15.2% up over the past two months.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 5 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Shore Bancshares Inc (SHBI): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (SFST): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (CBAN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403291

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when MSC Industrial (MSM) reports results for the quarter ended November 2021. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company’s earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

– Zacks

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on December 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management’s discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it’s worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus Estimate

This distributor of industrial tools and supplies is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.18 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.3%.

Revenues are expected to be $837 million, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions Trend

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.49% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings Whisper

Estimate revisions ahead of a company’s earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model — the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model’s predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for MSC Industrial?

For MSC Industrial, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company’s earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.34%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that MSC Industrial will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?

Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it’s worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that MSC Industrial would post earnings of $1.26 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.26, delivering no surprise.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom Line

An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it’s worth checking a company’s Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’ve reported.

MSC Industrial appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2021. Previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (MSM): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403013

Wall Street expects flat earnings compared to the year-ago quarter on higher revenues when Cintas (CTAS) reports results for the quarter ended November 2021. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company’s earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

– Zacks

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on December 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management’s discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it’s worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus Estimate

This uniform rental company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.62 per share in its upcoming report, which represents no change from the year-ago quarter.

Revenues are expected to be $1.91 billion, up 8.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions Trend

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings Whisper

Estimate revisions ahead of a company’s earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model — the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) — has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model’s predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Cintas?

For Cintas, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Cintas will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?

While calculating estimates for a company’s future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it’s worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Cintas would post earnings of $2.76 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.11, delivering a surprise of +12.68%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom Line

An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it’s worth checking a company’s Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’ve reported.

Cintas doesn’t appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2021. Previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Cintas Corporation (CTAS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403015

The market expects Paychex (PAYX) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended November 2021. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company’s earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

– Zacks

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on December 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management’s discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it’s worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus Estimate

This payroll processor and human-resources services provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +8.2%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.06 billion, up 7.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions Trend

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings Whisper

Estimate revisions ahead of a company’s earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model — the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model’s predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Paychex?

For Paychex, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Paychex will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?

Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it’s worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Paychex would post earnings of $0.81 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.89, delivering a surprise of +9.88%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom Line

An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it’s worth checking a company’s Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’ve reported.

Paychex doesn’t appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2021. Previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Paychex, Inc. (PAYX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/403014