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Are These Stocks the Best Bets in the Financial Sector?
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Investors seeking to bet on financial stocks have set their eyes on today’s Fed meeting. All economic indicators point to a rate hike decision. In fact, Janet Yellen, speaking at the Congress’s Joint Economic Committee in November, said that an increase in interest rates could come “relatively soon.”
Most industries in the finance space, including banking, insurance and brokerage, will benefit from rising rates.
Moreover, the U.S. economy is progressing well as indicated by the improving real GDP numbers, declining unemployment rate, rising consumer spending and stabilizing housing market. These have further boosted investors’ confidence in the Finance stocks as the sector’s performance is largely dependent on the nation’s economic health.
Here, we bring a handful of stocks that are expected to give good returns.
How to Choose Winning Stocks
You can find companies with robust fundamentals and future prospects. Another key factor that one should consider is the comprehensive performance of the industry to which a company belongs.
In fact, studies have divulged that an average stock in a strong industry is likely to perform better than an exceptional stock within an industry that is out of favor with investors. Therefore, the combination of top performing industries and stocks, which are expected to shine, will surely enhance your investment portfolio.
Though finding the top industries is not easy, the Zacks Industry Rank makes this task relatively simple. Along with screening the industries, one needs to be very careful in picking stocks to get meaningful profits.
We zeroed in on stocks with favorable Zack Industry Rank and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
4 Stocks to Buy Now
AeroCentury Corp. , based in Burlingame, CA, is an independent aircraft leasing company. Belonging to the Financial-Leasing Companies industry that carries a Zacks Industry Rank #17 (top 6%), the company acquires aircraft and aircraft engines for lease to regional airlines and commercial users in the U.S. and worldwide.
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 3.7% over the last three months, compared with about 9.2% gain for the Zacks categorized Leasing Companies industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised significantly upward in the last 30 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
McGrath Rentcorp (MGRC - Free Report) , headquartered in Livermore, CA, is a business to business rental company. The company belongs to the Financial-Leasing Companies industry, which has a Zacks Industry Rank #17 (top 6%). The company rents and sells relocatable modular buildings, electronic test equipment, and liquid and solid containment tanks and boxes in the U.S. and worldwide.
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 21.3% over the last three months, compared with about 9.2% gain for the Zacks categorized Leasing Companies industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 1.9% upward over the last 60 days.
Employers Holdings, Inc. (EIG - Free Report) , headquartered in Reno, NV, operates in the Insurance - Accident and Health industry, which has a Zacks Industry Rank #23 (top 9%). The company provides workers' compensation insurance to small businesses in low- to medium-hazard industries.
This Zacks Rank #1 stock gained about 34.6% year to date, compared with about 20.4% gain for the Zacks categorized Accident & Health industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 3.0% upward over the last 60 days.
Unum Group (UNM - Free Report) , based in Chattanooga, TN, provides group and individual disability insurance products and services primarily in the U.S. and the UK. The company belongs to the Insurance - Accident and Health industry that carries a Zacks Industry Rank #23 (top 9%).
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 30.9% year to date, outperforming the 20.4% gain for the Zacks categorized Accident & Health industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 1.0% upward over the last 60 days.
Now See Our Private Investment Ideas
While the above ideas are being shared with the public, other trades are hidden from everyone but selected members. Would you like to peek behind the curtain and view them? Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trades >>
Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker
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Are These Stocks the Best Bets in the Financial Sector?
Investors seeking to bet on financial stocks have set their eyes on today’s Fed meeting. All economic indicators point to a rate hike decision. In fact, Janet Yellen, speaking at the Congress’s Joint Economic Committee in November, said that an increase in interest rates could come “relatively soon.”
Most industries in the finance space, including banking, insurance and brokerage, will benefit from rising rates.
Moreover, the U.S. economy is progressing well as indicated by the improving real GDP numbers, declining unemployment rate, rising consumer spending and stabilizing housing market. These have further boosted investors’ confidence in the Finance stocks as the sector’s performance is largely dependent on the nation’s economic health.
Here, we bring a handful of stocks that are expected to give good returns.
How to Choose Winning Stocks
You can find companies with robust fundamentals and future prospects. Another key factor that one should consider is the comprehensive performance of the industry to which a company belongs.
In fact, studies have divulged that an average stock in a strong industry is likely to perform better than an exceptional stock within an industry that is out of favor with investors. Therefore, the combination of top performing industries and stocks, which are expected to shine, will surely enhance your investment portfolio.
Though finding the top industries is not easy, the Zacks Industry Rank makes this task relatively simple. Along with screening the industries, one needs to be very careful in picking stocks to get meaningful profits.
We zeroed in on stocks with favorable Zack Industry Rank and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
4 Stocks to Buy Now
AeroCentury Corp. , based in Burlingame, CA, is an independent aircraft leasing company. Belonging to the Financial-Leasing Companies industry that carries a Zacks Industry Rank #17 (top 6%), the company acquires aircraft and aircraft engines for lease to regional airlines and commercial users in the U.S. and worldwide.
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 3.7% over the last three months, compared with about 9.2% gain for the Zacks categorized Leasing Companies industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised significantly upward in the last 30 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
McGrath Rentcorp (MGRC - Free Report) , headquartered in Livermore, CA, is a business to business rental company. The company belongs to the Financial-Leasing Companies industry, which has a Zacks Industry Rank #17 (top 6%). The company rents and sells relocatable modular buildings, electronic test equipment, and liquid and solid containment tanks and boxes in the U.S. and worldwide.
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 21.3% over the last three months, compared with about 9.2% gain for the Zacks categorized Leasing Companies industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 1.9% upward over the last 60 days.
Employers Holdings, Inc. (EIG - Free Report) , headquartered in Reno, NV, operates in the Insurance - Accident and Health industry, which has a Zacks Industry Rank #23 (top 9%). The company provides workers' compensation insurance to small businesses in low- to medium-hazard industries.
This Zacks Rank #1 stock gained about 34.6% year to date, compared with about 20.4% gain for the Zacks categorized Accident & Health industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 3.0% upward over the last 60 days.
Unum Group (UNM - Free Report) , based in Chattanooga, TN, provides group and individual disability insurance products and services primarily in the U.S. and the UK. The company belongs to the Insurance - Accident and Health industry that carries a Zacks Industry Rank #23 (top 9%).
This Zacks Rank #2 stock gained about 30.9% year to date, outperforming the 20.4% gain for the Zacks categorized Accident & Health industry. The stock’s earnings estimates for the current year have been revised 1.0% upward over the last 60 days.
Now See Our Private Investment Ideas
While the above ideas are being shared with the public, other trades are hidden from everyone but selected members. Would you like to peek behind the curtain and view them? Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trades >>