Two S&P 500 hidden gems to buy right now

Core Insights - The article highlights two lesser-known S&P 500 stocks, Synopsys and Hologic, that present significant growth potential despite their current market challenges [1]. Synopsys (NASDAQ: SNPS) - Synopsys has shown resilience with an 8% year-to-date increase in stock price, closing at $528, despite a nearly 5% decline over the past year [2][3]. - The company reported revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter ending October 24, marking an 11% year-over-year growth, with earnings per share at $7.15, reflecting a more than 200% increase [3]. - Synopsys is pursuing a $35 billion acquisition of Ansys, expected to close in early 2025, which could enhance its market position pending regulatory approvals [4]. - The increasing complexity of semiconductor design, driven by AI, machine learning, and IoT, is expected to boost demand for Synopsys' Electronic Design Automation tools [5]. - Analysts at TipRanks have set a 12-month price target of $630 for Synopsys, indicating a potential upside of 20%, with targets ranging from $540 to $690 [6]. Hologic (NASDAQ: HOLX) - Hologic operates in the medical technology sector, focusing on breast health and diagnostics, and has a strong portfolio despite being overshadowed by larger healthcare companies [8]. - The company is well-positioned to benefit from an aging population and the growing emphasis on early disease detection and personalized medicine [9]. - Hologic's collaboration with the CDC to develop reagents for detecting H5N1 bird flu highlights its capability to scale testing rapidly during public health crises [10]. - The stock price for Hologic ended at $64.27, down 0.6%, with a year-to-date decline of 10% [11]. - Analysts project a potential rally of over 30% for Hologic, with an average price target of $83.54 within the next 12 months, ranging from $75 to $90 [12].