Barron's Picks And Pans: Wal-Mart, Medtronic, Palo Alto Networks And More

"Wal-Mart's Turnaround Could Lift Shares 30%" by Robin Goldwyn Blumenthal makes a case that efforts to reignite growth, such as investments in labor and e-commerce, could give earnings from and shares of retail giant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) a nice lift in the next couple of years. And, with a 3 percent yield, according to the article, investors get paid while they wait.

In "Medtronic's Allure: Stable Shares and Steady Growth," Jack Hough takes a look at why, as Medtronic PLC (NYSE: MDT) trims its costs, integrates Covidien and introduces new medical devices, its shares could return up to 20 percent. See why Barron's thinks the company not only boasts better growth prospects but also a lower valuation than other safe-haven stocks.

Reshma Kapadia's "Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy Now" examines security firms that are poised to benefit as companies continue to bolster defenses against cybercrime. In particular, Barron's picks three companies that are worth a look following the sell-off in cybersecurity stocks: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), Fortinet Inc (NASDAQ: FTNT) and Palo Alto Networks Inc (NYSE: PANW).

Related Link: Barron's: A Liquid Alternative Mutual Fund Brain Trust

After a brutal pummeling, shares of aerospace parts maker Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO) could rise 30 percent over the next year, according to "Astronics Ready to Pull Out of Its Nose Dive" by David Englander. See why Barron's thinks the stock looks cheap and that investors are undervaluing the company's aerospace unit while focusing on its testing unit.

In Leslie P. Norton's "Leuthold Group's Ramsey Prepares for the Bear," Doug Ramsey, chief investment officer of Leuthold Group, is interviewed. Ramsey thinks the S&P 500 will drop at least 20 percent as the bear market shakes out, and that will be a cue to start buying. The article includes more than a dozen picks, including American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ: AAL) and CVS Health Corp (NYSE: CVS).

Also in this week's Barron's:

• Why bank stocks may be cheap but they are no bargain

• How new technology threatens Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)

• Nine big drug makers poised to boost their dividends

• Whether J C Penney Company Inc (NYSE: JCP) is the next Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT)

• An exchange-traded fund for the anti-FANG investor

• Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ: BIDU) searches for growth as rivals circle

• The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) as a safe, innovative category killer

At the time of this writing, the author had no position in the mentioned equities.

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