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As analysts are the most important information intermediaries in capital markets, initiation of coverage by them creates value for companies.
It is to be borne in mind that that the lack of consistency in information creates inefficiencies that might result in misinterpretation of stocks (over- or under-valued). Thus, initiation of coverage by analysts offers critical information on a stock which is of great value to investors.
Coverage initiation on a stock by analyst(s) usually depicts increased investor inclination. Investors, on their part, often assume that there is something in the stock that has attracted analyst attention. In other words, they believe that the company coming under the radar definitely has some value which can be tapped into.
Obviously, stocks are not arbitrarily chosen to cover. New coverage on a stock usually reflects an encouraging future envisioned by the analyst(s). At times, increased investor focus on a stock motivates analysts to take a closer look at it.
However, we have noticed that the average change in broker recommendation is preferred over a single recommendation change.
Analyst Coverage & Price Movement
Interestingly, the price movement is generally a function of the recommendations from new analysts. Stocks typically see an upward price movement with a new analyst coverage compared to what they witness with a rating upgrade under an existing coverage. Positive recommendations – Buy and Strong Buy – generally lead to a significantly positive price reaction than Hold recommendations. On the contrary, analysts hardly initiate coverage with a Strong Sell or Sell recommendation.
Now, if an analyst gives a new recommendation on a company that has limited or no existing coverage, investors start paying more attention to it. Also, any new information attracts portfolio managers to build a position in the stock.
So, it’s a good strategy to bet on stocks that have seen increased analyst coverage over the last few weeks.
Screening Criteria
Number of Broker Ratings now greater than the Number of Broker Ratings four weeks ago (This will shortlist stocks that have recent new coverage).
Average Broker Rating less than Average Broker Rating four weeks ago ('Less than' means 'better than' four weeks ago).
Increased analyst coverage and improving average rating are the primary criteria of this strategy but one should consider other relevant parameters to make the strategy foolproof.
Here are the other screening parameters:
Price greater than or equal to $5 (as a stock below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most investors).
Average Daily Volume greater than or equal to 100,000 shares (if volume isn’t enough, it will not attract individual investors).
Here are five of the 13 stocks that passed the screen:
Based in South San Francisco, CA, Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (CALA - Free Report) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company. The stock skyrocketed 237% year to date, significantly outperforming the Zacks classified Medical-Drugs industry’s 0.1% dip. It has an expected 3–5 year earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 75%. The stock saw positive earnings estimate revision of 44 cents for this year over the past 60 days, with an expected growth rate of a 39.2%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Weibo Corporation (WB - Free Report) operates as a social media platform for people to create, distribute and discover Chinese-language content. The stock saw positive earnings estimate revision of 2 cents for this year over the past 60 days, with an expected growth rate of a 157.3%. The stock, with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has gained 24.6% year to date, faring much better than the Zacks Internet Content industry’s 8.8% rise.
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (GNK - Free Report) is a ship owning company which transports iron ore, coal, grain, steel products and other drybulk cargoes along shipping routes. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has rallied 91% so far this year, outperforming the Zacks Transportation – Shipping industry‘s 12.9% increase. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is expected to register 90.9% EPS growth in the current year and 72% in the next.
Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, Everi Holdings Inc. (EVRI - Free Report) provides video and mechanical reel gaming content and technology solutions, integrated gaming payment solutions, and compliance and efficiency software solutions.
The stock soared 153.9% so far this year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Business Services industry’s 8.1% dip. The company holds a Zacks Rank #2. Its estimates for current year earnings moved 24.6% north over the last 60 days, reflecting 70.7% year-over-year growth. Its expected EPS growth rate for 3–5 years is pegged at 20%.
Willdan Group Inc. (WLDN - Free Report) is a provider of professional technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government.
This Zacks Rank #3 stock sports a VGM Score of “A” and has climbed 40.3% year to date, while the Zacks categorized Engineering/R&D Services industry fell 1.3%. The company posted an average positive earnings surprise of 33.10% in the trailing four quarters and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.7% for this year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free »
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5 Stocks to Play on New Analyst Coverage
As analysts are the most important information intermediaries in capital markets, initiation of coverage by them creates value for companies.
It is to be borne in mind that that the lack of consistency in information creates inefficiencies that might result in misinterpretation of stocks (over- or under-valued). Thus, initiation of coverage by analysts offers critical information on a stock which is of great value to investors.
Coverage initiation on a stock by analyst(s) usually depicts increased investor inclination. Investors, on their part, often assume that there is something in the stock that has attracted analyst attention. In other words, they believe that the company coming under the radar definitely has some value which can be tapped into.
Obviously, stocks are not arbitrarily chosen to cover. New coverage on a stock usually reflects an encouraging future envisioned by the analyst(s). At times, increased investor focus on a stock motivates analysts to take a closer look at it.
However, we have noticed that the average change in broker recommendation is preferred over a single recommendation change.
Analyst Coverage & Price Movement
Interestingly, the price movement is generally a function of the recommendations from new analysts. Stocks typically see an upward price movement with a new analyst coverage compared to what they witness with a rating upgrade under an existing coverage. Positive recommendations – Buy and Strong Buy – generally lead to a significantly positive price reaction than Hold recommendations. On the contrary, analysts hardly initiate coverage with a Strong Sell or Sell recommendation.
Now, if an analyst gives a new recommendation on a company that has limited or no existing coverage, investors start paying more attention to it. Also, any new information attracts portfolio managers to build a position in the stock.
So, it’s a good strategy to bet on stocks that have seen increased analyst coverage over the last few weeks.
Screening Criteria
Number of Broker Ratings now greater than the Number of Broker Ratings four weeks ago (This will shortlist stocks that have recent new coverage).
Average Broker Rating less than Average Broker Rating four weeks ago ('Less than' means 'better than' four weeks ago).
Increased analyst coverage and improving average rating are the primary criteria of this strategy but one should consider other relevant parameters to make the strategy foolproof.
Here are the other screening parameters:
Price greater than or equal to $5 (as a stock below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most investors).
Average Daily Volume greater than or equal to 100,000 shares (if volume isn’t enough, it will not attract individual investors).
Here are five of the 13 stocks that passed the screen:
Based in South San Francisco, CA, Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (CALA - Free Report) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company. The stock skyrocketed 237% year to date, significantly outperforming the Zacks classified Medical-Drugs industry’s 0.1% dip. It has an expected 3–5 year earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 75%. The stock saw positive earnings estimate revision of 44 cents for this year over the past 60 days, with an expected growth rate of a 39.2%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Weibo Corporation (WB - Free Report) operates as a social media platform for people to create, distribute and discover Chinese-language content. The stock saw positive earnings estimate revision of 2 cents for this year over the past 60 days, with an expected growth rate of a 157.3%. The stock, with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has gained 24.6% year to date, faring much better than the Zacks Internet Content industry’s 8.8% rise.
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (GNK - Free Report) is a ship owning company which transports iron ore, coal, grain, steel products and other drybulk cargoes along shipping routes. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has rallied 91% so far this year, outperforming the Zacks Transportation – Shipping industry‘s 12.9% increase. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is expected to register 90.9% EPS growth in the current year and 72% in the next.
Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, Everi Holdings Inc. (EVRI - Free Report) provides video and mechanical reel gaming content and technology solutions, integrated gaming payment solutions, and compliance and efficiency software solutions.
The stock soared 153.9% so far this year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Business Services industry’s 8.1% dip. The company holds a Zacks Rank #2. Its estimates for current year earnings moved 24.6% north over the last 60 days, reflecting 70.7% year-over-year growth. Its expected EPS growth rate for 3–5 years is pegged at 20%.
Willdan Group Inc. (WLDN - Free Report) is a provider of professional technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government.
This Zacks Rank #3 stock sports a VGM Score of “A” and has climbed 40.3% year to date, while the Zacks categorized Engineering/R&D Services industry fell 1.3%. The company posted an average positive earnings surprise of 33.10% in the trailing four quarters and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.7% for this year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance
Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free »