The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Best Buy, Activision Blizzard, DaVita, Micron and PulteGroup

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 13, 2020 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY, Activision Blizzard, Inc ATVI, DaVita Inc. DVA, Micron Technology, Inc. MU and PulteGroup, Inc. PHM.

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

5 Top Stocks to Buy as S&P 500 Nears an All-Time High

The broader S&P 500, barring Tuesday’s setback, is quite close to an all-time high. The S&P 500 has rallied more than 50% since its March low and is now 1.8% off from its record high. The broader market index had hit a record at 3,386.15 on Feb 19, followed by a plunge of nearly 34% to a bear-market low of 2,237.40 on Mar 23.

It’s worth pointing out that the S&P 500’s recent recovery is on pace to be the fastest in history. This is because last time, the S&P 500 took 310 days to traverse from its Feb 9, 1966 low to a record high on May 4, 1967, per Dow Jones Market Data. On average, a recovery from a bear market to a record high generally takes 1,447 trading days.

Nonetheless, investors placed their bets on risky assets like stocks banking on hopes of a new coronavirus relief package as well as a vaccine along with encouraging economic data. What’s more, with the second wave of the virus coming under control and corporate earnings coming in much better than expected, the broader index is well poised to notch a record close in the coming days.

U.S. stocks are predominantly moving closer to a record high as investors are betting on a fresh round of government stimulus measures to pep up the economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump recently signed an executive order to expand the coronavirus relief package, extend weekly jobless bonus to $400 per week, provide a payroll tax holiday for Americans earning less than $100,000 per year and defer student loan payments this year.

On the vaccine front, Russia came up with positive news on a vaccine for COVID-19. Now, though the safety of the vaccine is in question, it has lifted sentiments and many are expecting more vaccines to come up by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, despite the coronavirus outbreak, job numbers, consumer outlays and manufacturing as well as service sector activities picked up in recent times, a tell-tale sign that most part of the economy has been able to sustain the blow of the pandemic.

In fact, coronavirus case count recently showed a declining trend. Only 13 U.S. states reported that their seven-day average of new cases in the last two-week period has moved up, down from 42 states having higher averages a month earlier.

And with cases declining steadily, we may well expect the economic as well as corporate earnings picture to improve steadily in the third and fourth quarter of this year. Notably, 2020 estimates may also move up.

5 Top-Performing S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now

Given that the S&P 500 is close to its first record close in six months as hopes rise for U.S. economic stimulus and a COVID-19 vaccine, investing in some of the best-performing stocks from the index which are poised to gain further seems prudent. These stocks flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

Best Buy Co., Inc. is a multinational specialty retailer. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved up 11.6% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 8.2%. Its shares have gained 18.6% year to date.

Activision Blizzard, Incis a leading developer and publisher of console, online and mobile games. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 13.4% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 17.3%. Its shares have gained 33.2% so far this year.

DaVita Inc. is a leading provider of dialysis services in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has climbed 9.3% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 9.5%. Its shares have gained 9% year to date. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Micron Technology, Inc. has established itself as one of the leading worldwide providers of semiconductor memory solutions. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved 13.6% north over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 10.3%. Its shares have rallied 9.7% in the past three-month period.

PulteGroup, Inc. engages in homebuilding and financial services businesses, primarily in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved up 44.9% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 9.4%. Its shares have gained 14.3% year to date.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Activision Blizzard, Inc (ATVI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
DaVita Inc. (DVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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