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The Best Tech Stocks For Your Portfolio

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Tech stocks have been among the best performing stocks over the last several years. That trend is likely to continue but the simple fact is that there are a handful of names that have dramatically outperformed the market while many names underperform.

Sector rotations in and out of microchips, software and hardware names send investors running for the hills. The volatility is hard to stomach for investors, let alone traders. Still, the sector spawns new hope of the next big thing or an emerging cash cow.

More recently, there have been confusing signals flashed by this market. As we prepare to look at which tech stocks have the best chances for future success, we have to look at some of the recent moves that have investors guessing which way the market will go.


FB slows, AAPL Grows

The most recent earnings season could be characterized by profit-taking near the top and a lack of bullish conviction. If the bulls wanted to chase stocks higher, then new highs would have been a near daily occurrence throughout the recent few months.

When we think of tech stocks, of course FANG comes to mind. In terms of recent earnings performance we see a mixed bag from that select group of names. Netflix led the way with disappointing user growth numbers and Facebook followed that with words of caution surrounding its future growth.

With two heavy hitters coming on the softer side of things, the market weakened. Apple came in with some strong numbers and reports of the higher end devices driving the quarter. This part of the overall signal is what I want to focus on through the rest of the year.


Importance of Earnings

Earnings are what drive stocks. Yes, the charts and timing all play a role in what happens, but at the end of the day it is all about the earnings. We at Zacks have developed a system to tell us which stocks are seeing the best earnings estimate revisions. The Zacks Rank will give you that heads up, but to find the truly best stocks, you have to do more homework than that.

A key to understanding why the estimates are moving up is found in analyst reports. The Rank looks at the estimate changes from all the major brokerages, but the devil is in the details.

Just like the recent moves in AAPL and FB and NFLX, we can make some broader assumptions about the tech space and therefore get into the best position possible to ride this market through year end.


Where Growth Is Great

Not all growth is valued the same by all investors. I know that is sort of a straightforward idea, but the concept really suggests that only the best type of growth is worth investing in. The recent swings in the market tell me that investors are really interested in the growth from only certain tech names.

Stocks with pricing power have seen stronger moves higher than those without. The concept is simply that demand is still very strong across the board, but that pricing power can help the company expand margins and those fatter margins lead to larger profits.

We really start to see the impact of pricing power and strong demand when tech names are more fully addressing the higher end of the customer base they serve. FB and NFLX are simply not in the group, as they look to maintain what they have as opposed to offering a higher end product. AAPL and its $1000 phone, which was panned by many at launch, now looks to be a margin driver for the company.


Be Conscious Of The Comps

Pricing power and addressing the higher end may not be enough to ensure that you have found a lasting investment in the tech space. As we wrap up the 2Q results and begin to look forward to what 3Q will bring, we are reminded of how strong that quarter was as well.

Headline after headline around that earnings season suggested that the bears had one less leg to stand on...and this was among their strongest arguments. The idea was that the solid earnings performance reduced valuations across the board, a long held battle cry of the shorts.

Those strong reports from the past have a way of being a problem in the future. They will present some tough comparisons in the coming quarter, so there could be some "headline shock" coming for multiple stocks. Finding good stocks that don't have this roadblock will be critical to success.


How to Get Started

Over the last several years, some of the biggest gains have been in tech, and that looks like it will continue to be true thanks to strong industrial demand, consumer spending and new innovations in the tech space.

If you want to capitalize on one of the most profitable and fastest-growing S&P 500 sectors, now is a great time to get started.

To help you target promising tech stocks that appear poised for exceptional profits, I invite you to join the investors following my trades in Zacks Technology Innovators portfolio.

We look beyond the Facebooks, Amazons and Googles to find under-the-radar companies that are creating the world of tomorrow. Our goal is triple-digit long-term gains.

I've locked in on an exciting new stock that's a perfect example. This cloud-based company beat Q2 earnings expectations by 240%, and management just announced stronger than expected guidance for Q3. With its fast-growing international client base, I believe this stock is poised for a big move higher.

I'll be adding this new pick on Monday at 10:30 a.m. EST - and you can be among the first to see it.

In addition to checking out Technology Innovators, you are also invited to download our Special Report, Conducting the Future of Technology: Zacks' 4 Best Stocks in the $386 Billion Semiconductor Market. The tech sector is hot, and this industry is the molten core.

Please note: Access to this Special Report ends midnight Sunday, August 19.

Look into Zacks Technology Innovators now >>

Good Investing,

Brian

Brian Bolan is our aggressive growth expert and the editor of the Zacks Technology Innovators portfolio.