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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Netflix, Stamps.com, Constellation Brands and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Dec 8, 2017 – 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 Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) , Stamps.com Inc. , Constellation Brands (STZ - Free Report) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN - Free Report) .

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Winners: 10 Years Since Great Recession

When the housing market bubble burst in December 2007 causing a credit market crisis, the United States officially entered into its worst recession since the Great Depression. A decade has passed and the American economy has finally recovered from the crash that lasted til June 2009.

In fact, the United States is on the way to accelerated growth, with GDP rising to 3.3% in the third quarter of 2017. In comparison, GDP contracted 4.3% between late 2007 and mid-2009. The growth is being powered by robust job gains, rising wages, increasing consumer spending, recovering housing market and a record level of consumer confidence (read: 5 ETFs to Soar After Solid Q3 GDP Data).

Insights Into Numbers

Employers started adding jobs in 2010 and recovered 8.7 million jobs lost between the start of the recession in December 2007 and early 2010. The economy has added 188,000 jobs per month from March 2010 through October 2017 while the unemployment rate has fallen to a 16-year low to 4.1% from 10% in October 2009. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector, which accounts for about 12% of U.S. economic output, is now much better than what it was 13 years back.

The housing market has shown solid signs of recovery, with home price rising 6.1% in the 12 months ended in August to all-time highs, per the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index. This was the biggest annual increase since June 2014. Low mortgage rates are making homes affordable (read: Homebuilder ETFs in Focus on Upbeat Data).

Additionally, Americans have an optimistic view of the economy with confidence hitting the highest level in more than 17 years. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence soared to 129.5 in November 2017 from 25.3 in February 2009.

Given an improving economy, the stock market is also booming with a series of milestones this year. The S&P 500 is in the midst of the second-largest bull run and even broke the 2,600 milestone last month. The benchmark bottomed out at 676.53 on Mar 9, 2009 (read: S&P 500 Tops 2600: ETFs & Stocks That Deserve Special Thanks).

This year gains were driven by strong corporate earnings, the improving health of economies around the world, the Trump effect, and a rebound in oil price. Additionally, the Fed’s rate hike signals a strengthening economy, which is fueling further growth in the stock market. Notably, corporate earnings have made a strong comeback in the fourth quarter of 2017 reaching an all-time quarterly record with the highest growth in two years.

Winners

While most of the sectors have flourished over the past decade, consumer discretionary and information technology have led the way per Zacks, generating returns of 114.2% and 93.8%, respectively. This was followed by gains of 67% for consumer staples and 44% for healthcare.

We have highlighted the best stocks from these sectors in the same time period and are also expected to continue their uptrend in the coming years for as long as the bullish fundamentals prevail. These have a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold).

Consumer Discretionary

The sector currently has a solid Industry Rank in the top 44% and the best performer is Netflix, the world's leading Internet television network engaged in the Internet delivery of television (TV) shows and movies on various Internet-connected screens. It has skyrocketed more than 5,400% in the past decade. The stock has Zacks Rank #3 and a VGM Score of F.

Information Technology

The sector boasts a solid industry rank in the top 19%. Stamps.com Inc., a leading provider of Internet-based postage services, soared more than 1,200% over the past decade. It has a Zacks Rank #3 and a VGM Score of B.

Consumer Staples

Constellation Brands, with a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of C, gained nearly 807% in the last 10 years. It is a leading producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands, with a broad portfolio across the wine, spirits and imported beer categories, and operates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Italy.

Healthcare

Healthcare also has an ugly Industry Rank in the bottom 31%. However, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the showstopper, having gained more than 1,460% over the past decade. This is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and intends to commercialize therapeutic medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 and a VGM Score of C.

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About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.

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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/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) - free report >>

Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) - free report >>

Constellation Brands Inc (STZ) - free report >>