Analyst who predicted market's 40% rally says these stocks will lead to all-time highs

After nailing the market's recovery, Fundstrat's Tom Lee is predicting hard hit stocks can carry the S&P 500 to new highs.

3 Big Dividend Stocks Yielding Over 7%; Wells Fargo Says ‘Buy’

We’re in perplexing times. At this writing, the S&P 500 index stands at 3,201, just 5.5% below its all-time high. That high, reached back in February, came the day before the bottom fell out of the stock market, as the coronavirus crisis triggered the steepest, deepest – and fastest – stock market drop on record. And now we are in the midst of a prolonged bull-rally, as the markets have been trending upwards since bottoming out on March 23.What’s an investor to do? The natural inclination during a bear market is to defend the portfolio and make conservative plays toward defensive dividend stocks, while the inclination during a rally is to go with the winners and stake positions in the stocks that are climbing most rapidly. The two strategies don’t often overlap, and the future remains clouded even though sentiment is high for now.At Wells Fargo, strategist Christopher Harvey believes that defensive moves are obsolete for now, and that investors should “start adding risk.”“We’re starting to price in a less bad scenario. Things are getting slightly better at the margin… A few weeks ago, for the first time in a long time, we went overweight on value. Now, what we are telling [investors] is we want them to start putting risk into the portfolio,” Harvey said.The strategist is advising investors to look for stocks that are positioned for a strong comeback. These are note necessarily the stocks that have been doing best in the current rally; rather, they are stocks that will benefit most as the economy reopens. That reopening is happening now, in fits and starts, as some states continue their lockdown policies and others try to get back to business. With this in mind, we’ve opened the TipRanks database and pulled up three relevant stock calls from three of Wells Fargo's top analysts. These are stocks with at least 7% dividend yield, and in the eyes of the Wells Fargo analysts, at least 10% upside potential. Let's take a closer look. EQT Midstream Partners (EQM)We’ll start in the energy industry, with a $4.8 billion mid-cap player in the important midstream segment. EQM provides natural gas pipeline and storage services for the Pennsylvania/West Virginia/Ohio sections of the Appalachian basin. This region, in the rugged, low mountains of the East, is one of North America’s richest natural gas production areas, and a center of the fracking industry. EQM is also involved in that latter, providing water supply and waste-water disposal services for gas fracking companies.EQM holds a sound position in an essential industry, and has been able to maintain revenues and earnings despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Q1 earnings numbers beat the forecast by a wide margin. The $1.08 EPS was well ahead of the 95-cent estimate, while revenues grew 16.25% year-over-year to reach $453 million, 14% ahead of expectations.In addition, for income-minded investors, the company has made moves to maintain the dividend even in difficult times. Management lowered the payment – never a good look, really – but the new payout of 38.75 cents per share quarterly gives a yield of 7.43% and an annualized payment of $1.55 per share. These are solid numbers that significantly outperform the services industry average yield of 1.4%.Much of EQM’s potential is tied up in the Mountain Valley Pipeline. This project, in which the company is heavily invested, is delayed by regulatory and permitting hurdles, but is widely expected to come online in 2021.Covering this stock for Wells Fargo is analyst Michael Blum. Noting the pipeline delays, he writes at the bottom line, “EQM is well positioned to benefit from improving natural gas fundamentals heading into 2021 due to the expected decline in associated gas production. We see … the pending completion of MVP as positive…”Blum sets a $27 price target here, in support of his Buy rating. His target implies a healthy upside potential of 17%. (To watch Blum’s track record, click here)Overall, EQT Midstream gets a Moderate Buy from the analyst consensus, based on 3 Buy and 2 Hold ratings set in recent weeks. Shares are selling for $23.18, and the $23.20 average price target is less bullish than Blum’s. (See EQM stock analysis at TipRanks)BP PLC (BP)Next up, we move from mid-cap to industry-leading giant. BP, with a market cap of $93 billion, is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, and reported $278 billion in revenue for 2019. While that was down from the year before, the $10 billion in net profits beat the expected $9.7 billion.And then came Q1 2020. We all know the story. Back in April, oil prices dropped dramatically, as demand was quenched by the ongoing economic shutdowns. Oil producers don’t have the luxury of simply shutting off the pumps when demand falls; the equipment must be maintained, and it is not easy to restart a well that has been capped. The bounce back in prices since the April low has been helpful, but only partially. Even so, BP saw net profit fall 67% yoy in Q1, from Q1 2019’s $2.4 billion to the current figure of $800 million. Even though Q1 earnings dropped so drastically they remained positive, but looking ahead Q2 is expected to show a loss of 37 cents per share.Through everything, however, BP has kept up its dividend payment. The company remains committed to the payments, and has even increased its debt load to do so. The current dividend is 63 cents per share quarterly, annualized to $2.52, gives a yield of 9.65%. Compared to the 3% yield among utility peer companies, the attraction is clear.Roger Read, another of Wells Fargo’s analysts, is cautious here but also sees a path forward for BP. He writes, “…BP's expected free cashflow generation through 2022 should support reductions in leverage and capacity to raise its dividend in 2020 and beyond.”Read gives the stock a Buy rating, and backs it with a $31 price target implying room for 15% upside growth in the next 12 months. (To watch Read’s track record, click here)The Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating on BP is derived from 7 reviews, including 4 Buys and 3 Holds. The average price target of $32.20 suggests a 16% premium from the $27.81 current trading price. (See BP stock analysis on TipRanks)CenturyLink, Inc. (CTL)The last stock on our list here is a communications services firm, in the cloud-based tech niche. CenturyLink’s products offer customers solutions for networking and online security, a vital industry in today’s connected work environment – and even more vital during the current corona crisis, with so many office workers moving to telecommuting. The urgency of online security is clearer now than ever.That clear from CTL’s Q1 earnings, which not only grew 12% sequentially, but also beat the forecast by a penny. The 37 cents reported was even 8% higher than the year-ago quarter.CTL’s steady earnings underlie the company’s dividend. The payment has been stable for 5 quarters – and management recently announced that the next payout, set for June 12, will remain at 25 cents per share, or $1 annually. At this level, the dividend yields 9.43%, a solid return by any standard.Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche, rated 5-stars in the TipRanks database, acknowledges that leading-edge tech company inhabit a capricious landscape, but is optimistic about CTL’s prospects. She writes, “In our view – the co. made its difficult capital allocations decisions last year and we see that dividend as secure near term. If one lesson will be (crystal) clear coming out of this crisis, it is that fiber is critical and necessary ‘railroad tracks’ (to quote WSJ) in our new normal. CTL has more of that asset than any public co.”Supporting her Buy rating on the stock, Fritzsche gives CTL a $12 price target, indicating room for 10% upside growth. (To watch Fritzsche’s track record, click here)While Fritzsche is optimistic here, her Wall Street peers remain cautious. CTL shares have a Hold from the analyst consensus, based on 2 Buys, 4 Holds, and 4 Sells. Shares are selling for $10.24, but the average price target is $9.91. Time will tell if Fritzsche’s bullish stance is the correct course for CTL. (See CenturyLink stock analysis at TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

Here are the 10 most under and overbought S&P 500 stocks, according to Goldman

There has been significant divergence between individual stock prices and their expected earnings next year, presenting some buying and selling opportunities for investors

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The Party Is Over for Moderna Stock Holders

[Editor's Note: "Sell Moderna (MRNA) Stock as Covid-19 Catalyst Inflates Valuation" was originally published April 2, 2020. It is regularly updated to include the most relevant information.]Source: Shutterstock Is the party over for Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA)? MRNA stock soared in May as the company's novel coronavirus prospects looked bright. But now, with investors selling off vaccine plays, the days of this being a "hot stock" may be coming to an end.Granted, this doesn't mean "game over" for their prospective mRNA-1273 vaccine. Already entering phase 2 clinical trials, they could have a vaccine available for use by the end of the year.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsPerceived "first mover advantage" is one thing Moderna has going for it. Another is social proof, courtesy of the U.S. government. With a former exec leading the White House's vaccine efforts, it seems Moderna has yet another edge.Yet, as investors have either cashed out, or lost love, for Moderna, shares have taken a hit. Just a few weeks ago, the stock was parabolic, hitting prices as high as $87 per share. * 10 M&A Deals I'd Love to See Happen in the Second Half of 2020 Now? Things aren't so hot anymore. Shares now trade around $60 per share. But, could today's pullback be a buying opportunity?Not so fast! Moderna shares still trade at a rich valuation. Investors continue to price in much of the potential gains from not one, but two vaccines (more below). In short, shares could tumble further if both efforts wind up being fruitless. I know, it's fun to speculate on biotech stocks. Especially when it ties into a newsworthy event. But, as Moderna stock trends lower, it may be too late to ride the coronavirus vaccine wave. Coronavirus Vaccine and MRNA StockWhat a difference a few weeks makes. On May 18, news of positive preliminary findings put Moderna shares into hyper-drive. But, vaccine experts went through the details. According to them, the recent news revealed little about the vaccine candidate's effectiveness.It all went downhill from there. As the company raised equity, insiders sold shares, and other concerns mounted, Moderna's stock price fell back to earth.But, don't take this pullback as being an invitation to buy. Considering so much has been priced into shares, investors still face big potential losses if things don't pan out.So, with this catalyst a bit of a gamble, are there other factors at play with Moderna's stock? Yes. As InvestorPlace's Luke Lango discussed March 5, there's huge potential for the company's prospective vaccine for CMV, or congenital cytomegalovirus.Creating a vaccine for this major cause of birth defects may be an even greater catalyst for Moderna. Based on Lango's analysis, if all goes right, the company could generate billions in pre-tax profits if it receives Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.But this catalyst was already reflected in the stock price of MRNA. Before coronavirus sent shares higher. The company's market capitalization now stands at around $23.3 billion. In short, the company needs its prospective CMV vaccine to go without a hitch. Any bump in the road could send shares cratering.So would dashed hopes of mRNA-1273 becoming the first Covid-19 vaccine. Considering investors have priced in both catalysts, it's tough to justify a buy. Other Vaccine Stocks Could Offer Better ValueThe recent run-up in Moderna stock means shares trade at a rich valuation. The company's enterprise value/sales (EV/Sales) ratio currently stands at 422.7. That's a lot more reasonable than another coronavirus vaccine play, Inovio (NASDAQ:INO). That company's shares trade at a EV/Sales ratio of 688.8.But, if you're looking for a pure coronavirus vaccine play, there are other opportunities selling at lower (yet still frothy) valuations. Take, for example, iBio (NYSEMKT:IBIO), which currently trades at a EV/Sales ratio of 158.5. Granted, this name may be more of a gamble. But, a binary play like iBio may be a better than a more diversified one like Moderna.Moderna shares would bounce back if their vaccine shows success. But the potential rise in its stock price, percentage-wise, likely isn't as great as you'd see with an iBio or an Inovio.You could take that as a positive. A less binary play, downside for Moderna could be lower given their other catalysts. But that's hardly a great reason to buy, as the share price remains inflated due to past coronavirus speculation. Sell Moderna Stock as Shares Go ParabolicDon't buy Moderna because you think it'll strike gold with a coronavirus vaccine. Other vaccine contenders could offer a more promising risk/return proposition.Moderna stock does bring a lot more to the table. Their CMV vaccine catalyst could really move the needle if it pays off. But, this doesn't make shares a low-risk opportunity. If that vaccine fails to deliver, much of the stock's rich valuation would evaporate overnight.Whether you bought stock in MRNA for the CMV or the coronavirus catalyst, it's clearly time to sell. With shares treading water around $60 per share, cashing out today could be the best call.Thomas Niel, contributor to InvestorPlace, has been writing single-stock analysis since 2016. As of this writing, Thomas Niel did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 25 Stocks You Should Sell Immediately * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * This Stock Picker's Latest Video Just Went Viral * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post The Party Is Over for Moderna Stock Holders appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Billionaire Jim Simons Snaps Up These 3 Penny Stocks

When billionaire financier Jim Simons makes a move, Wall Street pays attention. Simons is best known as the inventor of quantitative trading, using data crunching algorithms to make market predictions. He put his theories to work in the 1980s, when he founded the Renaissance Technologies hedge fund, and since then has established the best record on Wall Street, averaging a 66% annual return for over 30 years.Ask how he did it, and Simons will likely tell you that he took the emotional factor out of trading. Humans are fickle beasts, but data never lies. Take out the human factor, focus solely on the numbers and their patterns, and you can’t lose. Following this insight, Simons’ fund has brought in $100 billion in profits since 1988, and his personal fortune totals over $20 billion.It’s clear that a smart trader can build an investment strategy just by following Simons’ lead. And right now, the 13F filings show that Simons is buying, among others, penny stocks. These equities, priced below $5 per share, typically offer high upside potentials. Even a small gain in share price – just a few cents – quickly translates into a high yield return. Yes, there is risk involved, but that’s where Simons’ quantitative algorithms come in, to pick the winners.Looking into Renaissance's basket of stocks, we’ve chosen three penny stocks that TipRanks database reveals as a “Buy” and offer solid upside potential. Let’s take a closer look and see what Wall Street analysts have to say.Orbcomm, Inc. (ORBC)We’ll start with a small-cap communications company. Orbcomm controls both ground-based wireless messaging infrastructure and a network of 31 satellites, giving it global coverage. Orbcomm’s network provides machine-to-machine communications, and is heavily involved with Internet of Things. The company boasts 2 million billable subscribers in 130 countries.During the first quarter, Jim Simons' Renaissance upped the ante by 464%, adding 1,150,018 shares of the company to the fund. The fund had first bought into the stock in Q4 2019, with a purchase of 248,000 shares. Its latest buy brought its total holding to over 1.39 million shares, worth $4.8 million.Currently going for $3.43 apiece, some members of the Street believe the share price reflects an attractive entry point.Canaccord's 5-star analyst Michael Walkley sees a bright future for Orbcomm, despite the coronavirus pandemic. He writes of the company, “With a portion of ORBCOMM’s business dedicated to helping its customers transport food and medicine during these uncertain times, a strong piece of the firm’s recurring revenues remains protected… we view the risk-reward as very positive…” The analyst added, "ORBCOMM should be well positioned with its 2.2M subscriber base to drive consistent adjusted EBITDA through its high-margin recurring revenue solutions. Further, its improving cost structure and consolidated platforms should lead to longer-term margin expansion."To this end, Walkley rates ORBC a Buy along with an $8 price target. His target implies a wildly robust upside potential of 133% for the coming year. (To watch Walkley’s track record, click here)Overall, Orbcomm has 4 recent analyst reviews, and all are Buys, making the analyst consensus rating a Strong Buy. The average price target stands tall at $6.88, which suggests the stock has room to double in the next 12 months. (See Orbcomm stock analysis on TipRanks)Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO)Next up is Arcos, the master franchise holder for McDonalds in the Latin America & Caribbean region. The company is one of the world’s largest McDonalds franchisees, and lists some 20 countries in its franchise territory. Arcos is the largest fast-food chain in Latin America.Pulling the trigger on ARCO in the first quarter, Renaissance purchased over 563,000 shares. This is a 221% boost to the fund's holding, and brings its stake in the company to nearly $2.6 million.As you can easily imagine, the sudden halt in economic activity imposed to stop the coronavirus spread hit Arcos hard, as restaurants were among the businesses most harshly affected. Arcos saw Q1 earnings turn sharply downward, from a 16-cent Q4 profit that was nearly double the forecast to a 26-cent net loss. The Q1 loss was more than 6x worse than analysts had anticipated. Looking forward, Q2 losses are estimated to reach 70 cents per share.Yet, JPMorgan analyst Ian Luketic believes ARCO's long-term growth narrative remains strong and that its $4.59 share price reflects the ideal entry point. Luketic lays out the clear case for Arcos’ return to profitability in the wake of corona: “As stores are reopened and the company is able to adjust its cost structure, we expect to have more visibility on what to expect from margins going forward. Although margins were at a miss, we don´t expect a major negative reaction as the market is already pricing-in weak margins for 2020 and focus should be on results ahead and potential indicators of consumption pick-up.”Luketic maintains a Buy rating on this stock, and his $5.50 price target implies a 19% upside potential. His is the only recent analyst review on record for ARCO. (To watch Luketic’s track record, click here)Some stocks fly under the radar, and CATS is one of those. Luketic is the only recent analyst review of this company, and it is decidedly positive.Adecoagra SA (AGRO)Last on the list, we have an agricultural holding company. Adecoagra’s subsidiaries operate in crop farming and dairy, along with sugar, ethanol, and even energy production. The company’s field of operations is in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The company was hit on two fronts – food production and distribution were impacted by the shutdowns, while forced social lockdown policies put a heavy damper on the fuel market’s demand for ethanol. Yet, AGRO’s niche is essential, and the company is expected to benefit quickly as economies reopen. Demand is already beginning to resume for ethanol, as consumers are starting to purchase more automotive fuel. Simons’ algorithms are forward-looking, so maybe it’s no surprise that he bought into this company, picking up 415,131 shares in Q1. This holding is worth $1.9 million. Lucas Ferreira, covering this stock for JPMorgan, noted, “COVID-19 and the oil price decline drove sugar and ethanol prices down by 18%-25% year-to-date and compressed sector valuations and near-term free cash flow generation prospects.” He goes on to add that “the worst seems behind us with domestic ethanol demand surprising to the upside and the gradual reopening to give a further booster to volumes.”Ferreira’s Buy rating comes with a $6 price target that indicates a solid 31% upside potential from the current share price of $4.57. (To watch Ferreira’s track record, click here)To find good ideas for penny stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

This is the insurance bill for damage and looting during protests over George Floyd’s death — and that’s just in Minnesota

‘It’s going to take a bit of time for the insurance industry to understand the full implication of this.’

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Thinking About Buying Stock In American Airlines, Luckin Coffee, XpresSpa Or Genius Brands?

Share prices for American Airlines, Luckin Coffee, XpresSpa and Genius Brands have all spiked up to unusual price points. Here's what you need to know before investing.American Airlines: Why Did The Price Move? American Airlines Group Inc (NYSE: AAL) stock took off Thursday, gaining more than 40% on the day. This followed a statement by the company saying it believed 74% more flights will take place in July than in June. Mind the bears, however. Citron Research tweeted on Friday that the surge was largely due to increased buy volume from young retail traders, and didn't reflect the company's poor fundamentals.> $AAL Back to $10 Robinhood traders have 0 idea what they buying. Balance sheet is upside down. Unencumbered assets worth far less than current price. The reason why Buffett fully exited lower. They don't teach finance in the Sherwood Forest.> > -- Citron Research (@CitronResearch) June 5, 2020Luckin Coffee: Why Did The Price Move? The recent spike in shares may have been due to bargain hunting amid the stock's plunge. Although the number of shorted shares has declined from April, Chinese Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) competitor Luckin Coffee Inc (NASDAQ: LK) still is at a relatively high 37.73 million as of May 15, representing 14.91% of the outstanding shares. The short ratio as of May 15 was at 1.92. With bargain hunters picking up the stock, some of the short bets may have unwound, creating additional strength.XpresSpa: Why Did The Price Move? XpresSpa Group Inc (NASDAQ: XSPA) shares are trading higher after the company announced it has signed a contract with HyperPointe to provide coronavirus screening and testing in U.S. airports.Genius Brands: Why Did The Price Move? The shares of Genius Brands International Inc., (NASDAQ: GNUS) a company until recently struggling to keep itself listed on Nasdaq, have added 2458% since May. The surge has come following a string of operational advancements and investments announced by the children entertainment company.See more from Benzinga * Analysis: Amazon Air And ATSG Grow Together * Group Of Pro-Cannabis Law Enforcement Agents Share Recommendations For Police Transparency, Accountability * The Rise Of The Cannabis Beverage: An Analysis(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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These Chinese stocks will be hurt the most if the U.S. forces them to delist

U.S. investors will find it tougher and more expensive to buy shares in some Chinese companies if delisting law is passed.

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Buy this, not that — 5 stocks to trade into now and 5 to avoid

Global growth in e-commerce was already well underway before coronavirus pandemic created an even bigger tailwind for this megatrend. Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) is plotting 30% revenue growth this fiscal year and another 25% growth next year — figures that top the admittedly impressive growth of Amazon. Furthermore, while Western nations continue to wring their hands over the influence of Big Tech, with President Trump and the European Union finding a rare issue of agreement as they take aim at Amazon, Alibaba remains quite cozy with the Chinese government and carries much lower political risk.

Watch out: This is the age where you should definitely stop trading stocks

For more investors, low cost index funds, especially exchange-traded index funds, are the way to go. How annuities could protect your retirement income Annuities can help plan for retirement during a volatile market. Maybe you saw the study which found that 10% of retail investors beat the market indexes over time.

Should You Buy Delta Stock Before Travel Demand Returns?

[Editor's Note: "Stay on the Sidelines While Delta (DAL) Stock Is Up in the Air" was originally published April 13, 2020. It is regularly updated to include the most relevant information.]Source: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com With investors jumping back into airlines, what's next for Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL)? The legacy carrier's shares have rallied 70% off their lows set in mid-May. While the novel coronavirus continues to impact air travel, Wall Street is betting on a swift recovery in DAL stock.However, many things remain uncertain. On one hand, air travel is slowly rebounding from its extreme lows in weeks prior. On the other hand, even if the novel coronavirus quickly fades away, it could be years until a rebound happens, as some industry leaders have predicted.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsYet, while airline stocks remain risky, Delta may be a cautious way to bet on a V-shaped recovery for the industry.Why? Delta is relatively stronger than legacy rivals like American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) and United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL). That doesn't guarantee they will survive today's headwinds. Yet, being the "best of the worst" may be enough to justify a buy.Let's dive in, and see why it could be a shrewd move in hindsight to jump in at today's prices. What's Next for DAL Stock After Covid-19?The three major legacy airlines, American, Delta, and United, all face big trouble from the coronavirus. With the lion's share of their routes inactive, cash is quickly flying out of the window.Compared to the other two, is Delta stock a stronger rebound opportunity? At first glance, it's hard to say yes. As InvestorPlace's Mark Hake wrote Jun 1, the company continues to experience massive cash burn. The daily losses are coming down, from $50 million per day to $40 million per day. But, cash burn could continue through the end of 2020.Yet, they may have enough capital to wait things out. According to Raymond James' Savanthi Syth, the company has about 11 months of liquidity. And, with air travel slowly picking up, they can probably stretch that out a bit. * 10 M&A Deals I'd Love to See Happen in the Second Half of 2020 Previously, Stifel's Joseph DeNardi cited Delta as being financially stronger relative to rivals like American. That may not mean much as underlying demand remains depressed. But it could indicate this stock is the best legacy carrier to bet on for an industry rebound.However, a swift recovery remains a long shot. It may be up to five years before airlines recover from the coronavirus. Also, airline stocks could pull back again on the heels of additional bad news. Air travel may be slowly returning. But, with flights no more than 60% full, profitability will remain a challenge. Did Buffett Call the Bottom?Back in April, Warren Buffett sold Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B) stake in DAL, along with other airline stocks like American, United, and Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV).Given the big change in the operating environment for airlines, it makes perfect sense Buffett and Berkshire did a 180 on airline stocks.Best case scenario, airlines ride out the weak air travel market, and return to prior price levels a few years out. Worst case scenario? Government intervention fails to keep airlines afloat, they require additional bailouts/capital infusions, and their share prices fall to lower levels.In short, the thesis has changed on airline stocks. It's no surprise Buffett cut his losses.Yet, did the "Oracle of Omaha" call the bottom, as a Barron's article predicted in May? It looks like it. Granted, the near-term picture for airlines remains bleak. But, with the specter of air travel bouncing back sooner than predicted, it may be too late to go short airline stocks. Legacy carriers remain a high-risk proposition. But, by going long the "least broken" of the three, investors could see additional gains in the near-term. Buy DAL Stock, Even If Things Remain Up in the AirDelta has a stronger balance sheet than its legacy rivals. But it's all relative. With billions flying out the door each month due to the coronavirus, the company faces a tough road ahead. Travel demand may be slowly bouncing back. But that doesn't mean a swift return to profitability.Yet, bleak prospects have already been priced into this stock. Buffett may have called the bottom. Sure, investors could be getting ahead of themselves. But, Delta stock may move even higher as positive developments continue.Thomas Niel, contributor to InvestorPlace, has written single-stock analysis for web-based publications since 2016. As of this writing, Thomas Niel did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals Next 1,000% Winner * 25 Stocks You Should Sell Immediately * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Should You Buy Delta Stock Before Travel Demand Returns? appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Wharton finance professor says an index of mom-and-pop businesses ‘would show devastation far worse than what we saw in the stock market’

Like other analysts, Siegel worried about the wide disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street, amid sky-high unemployment and mass business closures. Main Street could be on the path to recovery, if the latest economic data turns out to be a lasting trend.

Amazon, Alibaba: These Two Online Giants Are Just Below Buy Points

E-commerce stocks to watch this week include Amazon and Alibaba, both near buy points. Shopify and some other players are consolidating after big runs.

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These Are The 5 Best Stocks To Buy And Watch Now

Buying a stock is easy, but buying the right stock without a time-tested strategy is incredibly hard. So what are the best stocks to buy now or put on a watchlist?

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'Long Lines And Packed Flights': Casino Stocks Rise Following Vegas Reopening

Casino stock investors received some good news this week as early reports out of Las Vegas suggest the reopening of major casino resorts was met with strong initial demand.However, one analyst said on Friday that Vegas still has a long road to full recovery from its shutdown.What Happened?A number of Las Vegas casinos opened their doors for the first time on June 4, and Bank of America analyst Shaun Kelley said initial demand was so strong that several operators are now opening additional properties ahead of schedule."At 12:01AM on June 4th, Las Vegas casinos officially reopened. From local reports and our channel checks, the demand was strong with long lines and packed flights, similar to most regional gaming markets," Kelley wrote in a note.Why It's ImportantDemand was so strong that Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) has bumped up its planned opening of Harrah's and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is planning to open Excalibur next week.But while the initial surge of Vegas demand was much better than feared, Kelley said room rates will likely suffer significantly in the medium term. Kelley estimates quoted room rates on the Vegas Strip are down 36% in June and 46% in July compared to a year ago, which will negatively impact operator margins. Kelley said the cancellation of Vegas events and conferences will continue to weigh on room rates given these events drive demand for some of the Strip's highest-priced rooms.Even once events ramp back up, Kelley is projecting convention attendance will drop 15% in the second half of the year.Kelley estimates Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) will endure the smallest drops in average room rates in the near term, with average rates in June and July falling 23% and 40%, respectively. Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ: WYNN) has the highest average room rates on the Strip, and Kelley estimates it will endure the largest drop in average rates. He projects 43% and 53% declines in June and July, respectively.Benzinga's TakeStrong initial demand was the first hurdle for Vegas casino stocks to overcome in the near-term. Now that the Strip is reopened, the focus will shift to room rates and margins to determine just how profitable these casino stocks can be in a sub-optimal environment.For investors looking to play the Vegas recovery, Bank of America has the following ratings and price targets for major Las Vegas casino operators: * Las Vegas Sands, Buy rating and $61 target. * Wynn, Buy rating and $95 target. * MGM Resorts, Underperform rating and $15 target.Do you agree with this take? Email feedback@benzinga.com with your thoughts.Related Links:Las Vegas Casinos Reopen This Week, And Here's What Investors Should Expect Analyst: Why Penn National And Boyd Could Outperform As US Casinos ReopenLatest Ratings for MGM DateFirmActionFromTo May 2020UBSMaintainsNeutral May 2020Credit SuisseAssumesNeutral May 2020B of A SecuritiesDowngradesNeutralUnderperform View More Analyst Ratings for MGM View the Latest Analyst RatingsSee more from Benzinga * 7 Sin Stocks To Buy During The Coronavirus Shutdown * Q1 13F Roundup: How Buffett, Einhorn, Ackman And Others Adjusted Their Portfolios(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Italian trader loses his ‘entire life savings’ on one insanely risky position

When Luckin Coffee shares, which were already down 89% for the year, were halted in April amid an investigation into financial misconduct, losses were felt far and wide. One investor with a PG-13 Reddit name took a particularly grievous hit.

Norwegian Cruise Line: There Is Light at the COVID Tunnel, Says 5-Star Analyst

Remaining afloat has become more than just a scientific feat for the beleaguered cruise industry. It has, figuratively, been the first port of call for cruise line operators during the pandemic. The global grounding of the entire industry has raised questions whether cruise lines can make it through the COVID-19 storm.For Tigress Financial’s Ivan Feinseth, one company to certainly sail through to the other side will be Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH). The 5-star analyst anticipates NCLH will “overcome COVID-19 pandemic headwinds and emerge a stronger, and even better-positioned industry leader.” Feinseth has a list of reasons to back up his claim.Although currently waiting to resume operations, booking demand for 2021 remains strong, with pricing trends “remaining within historical ranges.”55% of those booked on cancelled sailings have already rebooked or are favoring future cruise credits rather than cash returns. Those requesting cash back have also indicated a willingness to rebook when conditions become clearer.Norwegian has also been taking “significant steps to enhance passenger safety,” implementing fleetwide safety programs including “state-of-the-art safety protocols,” with a range of measures in place to ensure safe sailing.Ensuring the balance sheet remains healthy, too, has resulted in a number of shrewd capital raising moves. Norwegian was swift to act as the pandemic hit, taking on a further $675 million line of credit, and drawing down on a mix of credit lines to the tune of $1.5 billion. The company estimates it has enough cash on hand to withstand more than 18 months of total non-cruise activity, which appears an unlikely scenario. The cruise line hopes to be riding the waves by Q4, and at worst by Q1 2021.Summing up, Feinseth said, “While the travel industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic with the cruise industry suffering the most, we believe the cruise industry and NCLH are both extremely resilient and will see a tremendous ramp up in business once its ships return to service. NCLH currently operates the youngest, most feature-rich, technologically advanced, and fuel-efficient ships, enabling it to earn a greater Return on Capital on its new ship investments as newer ships have greater demand at higher price points.”Accordingly, Feinseth has a Strong Buy rating for NCLH, though has no set price target in mind. (To watch Feinseth’s track record, click here)Overall, the Street wind is blowing mixed signals Norwegian’s way. The stock holds a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 8 Buy ratings, 6 Holds and 1 Sell. Yet, the stock price forecast of $16.17 indicates analysts, on average, expect shares to drop by 28% over the coming months. (See NCLH stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

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Is United Airlines Stock A Buy Right Now? Here's What Earnings, Charts Show

Is United Airlines stock ready to take flight? Here is what the fundamentals and technical analysis say about buying United stock now.

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Aurora Cannabis (ACB): The Stock Is Too Hot on U.S. CBD Entry

In just a couple of weeks, Aurora Cannabis (ACB) has surged back to a rich valuation. The most recently news has the Canadian cannabis company entering the U.S. CBD space via an acquisition set to close in June.The stock originally surged over 36% on the news leading to an increase in the stock value by over $500 million. Aurora Cannabis has cooled off some following the weak quarter from Canopy Growth, but investors need to realize that the CBD space in the U.S. is still held back by FDA restrictions. Wall Street is not convinced that Aurora's reward is worth all the risk, especially when taking note that TipRanks analytics exhibit ACB as a Hold. Based on 14 analysts tracked in the last 3 months, only 3 rate the stock a Buy, while 9 say Hold and 2 suggest Sell. Indeed, the 12-month stock price forecast stands at $11.35, marking a nearly 19% downside from where the stock is currently trading.  U.S. CBD DealAurora Cannabis bought Reliva, LLC for $40 million in stock plus an earn-out potential of up to an additional $45 million in stock and cash. The deal is forecast to be EBITDA accretive to Aurora principally due to the company having large EBITDA losses currently so any acquisition with positive EBITDA is accretive.Cantor analyst Pablo Zuanic has Reliva pegged at $14 million in annual revenues from their distribution into 20,000 retail locations. The company is focused on topicals where sales have continued at specialty stores despite FDA restrictions on other CBD sales.The CBD market is still projected to reach a high end of $24 billion in 2025 according to Brightfield, but the numbers are highly dependent on the FDA removing restrictions on dietary products. Currently, mass retailers are reluctant to sell products in this segment which Charlotte’s Web Holdings (CWBHF) has stated account for over 80% of sales in the CBD category. For this reason, CWH saw Q1 revenues decline 1% from 2019 levels.The small deal allows Aurora Cannabis to enter the U.S. space without a large commitment or spending millions to establish a brand. The CBD space had over 6,000 brands entering 2020, so the large Canadian cannabis company can likely purchase more brands on the cheap to build up a strong revenue base while eliminating competition.Too Far, Too FastPrior to reporting FQ3 results on May 14, Aurora Cannabis traded to a new low of $5.30. The stock rallied over 200% off the lows to reach recent highs at $18.The cannabis company produced an impressive improvement in cash burn and a large reduction in EBITDA losses during FQ3. Better numbers in the June quarter should whittle down the EBITDA loss to somewhere below C$10 million leading up to a positive EBITDA in FQ1’21. Some positive EBITDA from Reliva should help, though the company has limited sales to impact the financials of Aurora Cannabis.The issue here is that Aurora Cannabis still has a market cap of $1.6 billion with 112 million shares outstanding after this deal. The CBD upside appears limited in the near term so the sales upside from this entry into the U.S. appears rather small. The company won’t generate much more than $300 million in sales for FY21 with or without Reliva.TakeawayThe key investor takeaway is that the valuation equation for Aurora Cannabis is far less interesting now as the market has pushed the stock up over 200% in a couple of weeks. The move to purchase a small CBD company in the U.S. is a smart move to enter the beaten down sector on weakness, but investors need to wait for the stock to cool off more before loading up on Aurora Cannabis.To find good ideas for cannabis stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.Disclosure: No position.

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