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The Best Stock to Buy Now in April (2025)
The Motley Fool· 2025-04-04 09:45
Uber (UBER -6.23%) is trading at a relatively cheap valuation because the threat from Tesla's (TSLA -5.40%) driverless car tech is overstated.*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of March 31, 2025. The video was published on April 2, 2025. ...
Nike Stock Is Down 62%. Is It a Buy?
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-30 09:35
Core Insights - Nike's stock has dropped 62% from its peak due to declining sales, reaching new lows after the latest earnings update [1] - Analysts predict a 10% decline in sales for the fiscal year ending in May, indicating continued softness in demand [2] - Despite recent sales challenges, Nike's brand power remains strong, with trailing-12-month revenue of $47 billion [4] Recent Sales Trends - Last quarter, Nike's revenue fell 7% year over year on a constant-currency basis, with declines in both wholesale and Nike Direct revenues [3] - Competitors like Lululemon Athletica and On Holding continue to grow, highlighting Nike's current struggles [3] Strategic Initiatives - New CEO Elliott Hill is focusing on core products and streetwear, with running shoes showing a sales increase, indicating a positive trend [5] - The launch of the new 24.7 collection has exceeded expectations, and Nike is investing to expand capacity to meet demand [6] Valuation and Earnings Potential - Nike's current share price of $65 is the lowest in over five years, with a forward P/E ratio of 31, higher than its 20-year average of 29 [7] - If Nike returns to a profit margin of around 12%, earnings per share could reach approximately $3.80, reducing the P/E to 17 [8] - Analysts forecast earnings of $3.67 by fiscal 2027, with a forward dividend yield of 2.46%, suggesting potential attractive returns [9]
This Technology Stock Might be a Spectacular Buy After the Nasdaq Correction, According to Wall Street Analysts
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-28 08:27
Core Viewpoint - The U.S. stock market, particularly the Nasdaq-100 index, has experienced a significant decline, but historical trends suggest that such downturns often lead to recoveries, presenting potential buying opportunities for investors, especially in high-quality stocks like Netflix [1][2]. Company Performance - Netflix has emerged as a leader in the streaming industry, ending 2024 with 301.6 million paying subscribers, significantly outpacing competitors like Amazon Prime and Disney+ [4]. - The company generated a record $8.7 billion in net income in 2024, a 61% increase from the previous year, on revenues of $39 billion [5]. - Netflix's advertising revenue doubled in 2024, with expectations for it to double again in the current year [8]. Growth Strategies - The introduction of a cheaper ad-supported subscription tier in November 2022 has been pivotal, accounting for 55% of new signups in available markets [6][7]. - Netflix plans to invest $18 billion in content creation and licensing in 2024, with a focus on live programming to enhance subscriber engagement [9][13]. Market Position and Valuation - Netflix's stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 49, which is higher than the Nasdaq-100 average of 29, but its growth potential suggests a forward P/E ratio of 32 based on projected earnings [14][15]. - Analysts remain bullish on Netflix, with 32 out of 54 giving it the highest buy rating, and an average price target of $1,086 indicating an 11% upside potential [17][18]. Long-Term Growth Potential - Netflix estimates it has only captured 6% of its $650 billion total addressable market, indicating substantial room for growth in paid memberships, advertising, and gaming [19].
Costco Stock Sell-Off: Time to Buy the Dip?
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-26 08:33
Core Viewpoint - Costco's stock has experienced a significant decline after reaching a 52-week high, primarily due to disappointing fiscal Q2 earnings and high valuation expectations, raising questions about whether it presents a buying opportunity at a discount [1][2]. Financial Performance - Costco's net sales for fiscal Q2 2025 increased by 9.1% year over year to $62.53 billion, with comparable sales rising by 6.8% [2]. - Paid household memberships grew to 78.4 million, a 6.8% increase from the previous year, while executive memberships rose by 9.1% to 36.9 million [3]. - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $4.02, up from $3.92 a year ago, reflecting an 8.4% growth when excluding a prior year's tax benefit [5]. E-commerce and Growth - E-commerce comparable sales surged by 22.2% year over year, driven by strong demand in various categories, including home furnishings and small electrics [4]. - Membership renewal rates remain high, at 93% in the U.S. and Canada, and 90.5% globally, indicating strong customer loyalty [3]. Valuation Concerns - Costco's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 54, suggesting that investors expect high single-digit sales growth and double-digit EPS growth for the foreseeable future, which may be overly optimistic [6]. - Despite the recent stock price decline, Costco still trades at a significant premium, leaving little room for error in future performance [8][9]. Long-term Outlook - The long-term outlook for Costco remains strong, with continued growth in sales, earnings, and memberships, alongside effective cost management and e-commerce expansion [8]. - However, the current stock valuation may lead to modest returns if growth only meets expectations, prompting investors to consider waiting for a more favorable entry point [9].
BetterInvesting™ Magazine Update on Lowe's Cos. (NYSE: LOW) and ICON PLC (NASDAQ: ICLR)
Prnewswire· 2025-03-24 21:09
Group 1 - Lowe's has been named "Stock to Study" by BetterInvesting Magazine for its June/July 2025 issue, prompting investors to evaluate whether the stock is overvalued or within a buy range [1] - The fundamental data for Lowe's, including sales, earnings, pre-tax profit, and return on equity, is accessible through the National Association of Investors [2] - A full report on Lowe's will be featured in the upcoming June/July 2025 issue of BetterInvesting Magazine [2] Group 2 - The same issue of BetterInvesting Magazine will also include a fundamental review of ICON PLC, which is considered undervalued by the Editorial Advisory and Securities Review Committee [3] - The committee consists of several CFA members, indicating a diverse range of expertise in their evaluations [3]
Cybersecurity Stocks Surge as $32B Deal Reshapes the Industry
MarketBeat· 2025-03-21 12:41
Core Insights - The appetite for buying or selling among leading companies can be gauged through IPO activity and major acquisitions, with IPOs typically indicating peak valuations [1] - Alphabet Inc. announced its acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion, signaling potential attractive valuations in the cybersecurity sector [2] Cybersecurity Sector Analysis - The acquisition by Alphabet suggests that cybersecurity valuations may be at an attractive level, prompting interest in stocks like CrowdStrike, Oracle, and Palo Alto Networks [3] - CrowdStrike has seen a 15.6% increase in institutional holdings from UBS Asset Management, indicating bullish sentiment towards its stock [4] - CrowdStrike's 12-month price forecast is $399.51, representing an 8.26% upside from its current price of $369.03, with a high forecast of $475.00 and a low of $275.00 [5] - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on CrowdStrike with an Overweight rating, while UBS analysts set a price target of $425 for early March 2025 [6] Oracle Stock Insights - Oracle has experienced a 10.1% decline in short interest, indicating bearish capitulation and a favorable risk-to-reward ratio for potential buyers [8] - Oracle's 12-month price forecast is $179.20, indicating a 17.30% upside from its current price of $152.78, with a high forecast of $220.00 and a low of $130.00 [10] - Mackenzie Financial increased its Oracle holdings by 13.1%, reflecting confidence in the stock's valuation [10] Palo Alto Networks Overview - Palo Alto Networks shares are trading at 90% of their 52-week highs, suggesting bullish momentum [13] - The 12-month price forecast for Palo Alto Networks is $205.06, indicating an 11.44% upside from its current price of $184.01, with a high forecast of $240.00 [14] - UBS Asset Management increased its holdings in Palo Alto by 92.7%, reaching a net position of $1.1 billion, indicating strong institutional support [15]
Why Accenture Stock Tumbled on Thursday
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-20 14:57
Core Insights - Accenture's stock fell 8% despite exceeding earnings expectations for Q2 2025, with earnings of $2.82 per share on sales of $16.7 billion compared to analyst forecasts of $2.81 per share on $16.6 billion in sales [1][2] Financial Performance - Revenue grew 5% year over year, but new bookings declined by 3%, indicating potential future revenue challenges [2] - Operating profit margin expanded by 50 basis points to 13.5%, contributing to a 7% year-over-year increase in per-share profits [2] - Free cash flow for the quarter was strong at $2.7 billion, up 35% from the previous year's fiscal Q2 [3] Guidance and Valuation - Accenture narrowed its revenue guidance to a growth range of 5% to 7% for the year, while also narrowing earnings guidance to a full-year profit of $12.55 to $12.79 per share [4] - The midpoint of the earnings guidance is slightly below Wall Street's forecast of $12.72 per share, which has negatively impacted investor sentiment [5] - Accenture's market capitalization stands at $203 billion, with a valuation of over 20 times trailing free cash flow and more than 26 times trailing earnings, while long-term earnings growth is forecasted at only about 9% annually [6]
Opinion: Warren Buffett Is Likely Buying These 2 Stocks During the Latest Nasdaq Sell-Off
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-12 09:15
Group 1: Market Context - The Nasdaq Composite Index has dropped 13% below its previous high, entering correction territory [1] - Many investors are exhibiting fear in the current market environment [1] Group 2: Investment Activities - Berkshire Hathaway initiated a new position in Domino's Pizza, acquiring approximately 1.28 million shares in Q3 2024 and an additional 1.1 million shares in the following quarter [3][4] - Domino's stock has declined roughly 10% from its peak this year, and its current share price is slightly below the average level since Q3 [4] - Domino's Pizza's board repurchased $112 million of its stock in Q4 2024 and has $814.3 million authorized for further buybacks [6] Group 3: Valuation and Investment Rationale - Domino's Pizza trades at a forward earnings multiple of 25.5, which is considered high, but Buffett has previously invested in high-quality businesses with solid growth prospects [5] - Sirius XM Holdings is viewed as a potential favorite for Buffett, with Berkshire owning 35.4% of the company and shares trading below 8x forward earnings [7] - Sirius XM has a price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.66, indicating an attractive valuation [7] Group 4: Dividend and Cash Flow - Sirius XM offers a forward dividend yield of 4.53%, which is appealing to Buffett despite Berkshire not paying dividends [9] - Recent regulatory filings indicate that Buffett has been buying shares of Sirius XM in 2025 [10] Group 5: Investment Strategy - While Buffett is likely purchasing shares of Domino's Pizza and Sirius XM, it is suggested that he is not overly aggressive in deploying Berkshire's cash reserves [11] - Overall stock valuations remain high, and Buffett may wait for more significant market fear before making larger investments [12]
Could the Nasdaq Sell-Off Make This Growth Stock a Buy Again?
The Motley Fool· 2025-03-12 07:09
Core Viewpoint - The current market correction, particularly in the Nasdaq Composite, presents potential buying opportunities for long-term investors, especially in high-quality stocks like Costco, despite its current high valuation [2][4][5]. Company Overview - Costco operates as a club retailer, generating significant revenue from membership fees, which constitute over half of its gross income, allowing it to maintain low retail margins [6][7]. - The company has a strong customer retention strategy, evidenced by a membership renewal rate exceeding 90%, indicating effective customer satisfaction [7]. Financial Performance - In the fiscal second quarter of 2025, Costco reported a 9.1% increase in sales, with same-store sales also rising, alongside a 5.1% increase in traffic and a 3.2% rise in the average ticket size [8]. - Despite a strong operational performance, Costco's quarterly earnings fell slightly short of Wall Street's consensus estimates, leading to some investor disappointment [8]. Valuation Insights - Costco's stock is currently considered expensive, with its price-to-sales, price-to-earnings, and price-to-book ratios all above their five-year averages and near historical highs [3][4]. - If the market downturn continues, Costco's stock may reach more reasonable valuation levels, making it an attractive option for growth-oriented investors [5][9]. Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to prepare a wish list of stocks, including Costco, to capitalize on potential price drops during market corrections [2][10]. - A target for increased interest in Costco's stock would be if its average price-to-earnings ratio aligns with its five-year average of around 40 [11].
Buy Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Stock for Higher Highs?
ZACKS· 2025-03-04 23:30
Core Viewpoint - The market is experiencing a sell-off due to tariff implications and rising geopolitical tensions, yet stocks like Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Eli Lilly (LLY), and Pfizer (PFE) are standing out as potential investment opportunities [1]. Group 1: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Valuation - JNJ is currently trading below its decade-long median of 16.4X forward earnings, with a peak of 20.1X over the last 10 years [2]. - The stock has a beta ratio of 0.47, indicating it is less volatile than the market benchmark [2]. Group 2: Investment Outlook - JNJ stock has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) after a significant year-to-date rally, suggesting that while there may be better buying opportunities near 52-week peaks, further price increases are possible [3]. - The company is viewed as a hedge against recent market volatility due to its steady growth and reasonable valuation [3].