Chicago, IL – April 30, 2018 – 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 ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) , Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS) , Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (NYSE:OEC) , Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) plc RDS.A and Globant S.A. (NYSE:GLOB) .
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
ECB Sticks to Accommodative Policy: 5 Top Picks
Recently released economic data have given rise to some concern over Eurozone’s economic growth. Reacting to this fact, the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to keep benchmark interest rates unchanged for an indefinite time period after its latest meeting on Apr 26.
Accommodative monetary policy is likely to spur growth in the Eurozone over the medium term. At this stage, investment in Eurozone stocks with favorable Zacks Rank will be lucrative.
Economic Data Provides Mixed Signals
A slew of data released in April gives mixed signals about the region’s economic health.
The Ifo Business Climate Index for Germany, the largest economy of the Eurozone, decreased to 102.1 in April from 103.3 in March, indicating deterioration of business confidence. The business climate worsened for manufacturing sector for the third consecutive month.
Meanwhile, the IHS Markit Eurozone Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was steady at 55.2 in April in line with March reading. Notably, readings above 50 signal expansion of the broad-based economy of the Eurozone.
Also, per IHS Markit data, factory output growth slowed to a 17-month low. Inflows of new orders rose at the weakest rate for 15 months in April while service sector’s growth rate was marginally faster than March's seven-month low level.
However, the ECB and International Monetary Fund expect the Eurozone’s economy to expand 2.4% in 2018.
ECB to Extend Stimulus Measures
On Apr 26, the ECB announced post its Governing Council’s meeting that it has decided to keep interest rate steady for an extended period of time. The central bank of the 19-member Eurozone has also reasserted its stance on the monetary stimulus program which it intends to continue till September.
The ECB president Mario Draghi stated that the reason for maintaining easy monetary policy stems from the agency’s concern about some moderation of Eurozone’s growth in April. However, the central bank remains confident about the region’s broad-based economic expansion.
The ECB kept its main refinancing rate, and rates on marginal lending facility and deposit facility at unchanged at 0%, 0.258% and -0.4%, respectively. Moreover, the ECB will continue buying €30 billion of government and corporate bonds per month under the Quantitative Easing program.
Our Top Picks
The overall economic conditions of the Eurozone remain solid. On Apr 26, the closely watched Ifo index of business confidence rose to 90.4 from last month's low of 89.7. Additionally, several economists are hopeful that the Eurozone will be back on growth trajectory in the second half of 2018. Consequently, investment in Eurozone stocks will aid strengthen your portfolio. However, picking winning stocks can be a difficult task
This is where our VGM Score comes in. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. However, it is important to keep in mind that each Style Score will carry a different weight while arriving at a VGM Score.
We have narrowed down our search to the following stocks, each of which has either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and a good VGM Score.
The chart below shows price performance of our five picks in last six months.
ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company. With a presence in more than 60 countries, it operates a balanced portfolio of cost competitive steel plants across both the developed and developing world. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg.
ArcelorMittal has a VGM Score A and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year has improved by 4.6% over the last 60 days.
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA provides a range of products for treatment modalities, hemmo-dialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and is a full service provider of dialysis care. The company is headquartered in Germany.
Fresenius Medical Care has a VGM Score A and a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year has improved by 7.8% over the last 60 days.
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. operates as a supplier of Carbon Black. It offers products for coatings, printing inks, polymers, rubber and other applications. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg.
Orion Engineered Carbons has a VGM Score A and a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year has improved by 3% over the last 60 days.
Royal Dutch Shell plc is involved in all phases of the petroleum industry from exploration to final processing and delivery. The company is headquartered in The Netherlands.
Royal Dutch Shell has a VGM Score A and a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year has improved by 2.5% over the last 60 days.
Globant S.A. is a technology services provider. The company provides engineering, design, and innovation services for clients. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg.
Globant has a VGM Score B and a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year has improved by 2.5% over the last 60 days.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.
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 >>.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook (NASDAQ:FB): https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
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.
Globant S.A. (GLOB): Free Stock Analysis Report
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A (OEC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report
ArcelorMittal (MT): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post
Zacks Investment Research