Latest Top Picks

Stock Opinions by Degas Wright, CEO, Decatur Capital

COMMENT
Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto vs. Fortinet The cybersecurity business is growing 9% annually. Palo is moving towards a higher-margin subscription business, which translates into 25% earnings growth each year. A concern though is that Palo became profitable only in the last quarter. So, he prefers Fortinet which has been profitable since 2016.
0
BUY
Fortinet Inc
Palo Alto vs. Fortinet The cybersecurity business is growing 9% annually. Palo is moving towards a higher-margin subscription business, which translates into 25% earnings growth each year. A concern though is that Palo became profitable only in the last quarter. So, he prefers Fortinet which has been profitable since 2016.
Technology
SELL
Block Inc
He sold it. He graded it a D for its high 266x earnings. Also, he didn't like that 57% of their revenue comes from crypto fees; he expects these fees to decline. Third, their long-term debt increased from $2.6 million to $4.6 billion in one year. Four, earnings expectations are declining.
Technology
BUY
It beat revenues and met earnings today, but shares are falling today. Trades at an 11x PE. Revenues will grow at 9%. Really likes it. Now is the time to buy. Market sentiment today is to blame.
telephone utilities
BUY
Kimberly Clark
It's rallying today. A quality income stock, paying 4% trading at 18x earnings. They beat on earnings by 10% and revenues by 4%. Consumers will buy staples like toilet paper even with inflation and rising rates. KC plans to grown in emerging markets.
misc consumer products
BUY
Likes their strategy of selling discount products to customers seeking value and convenience.
department stores
COMMENT
Q4-2021 saw GDP growth of 7%. Q1-2022 is projected at 1.3%. This means the economy is slowing down and a lot of interest rate moves happened in that time period. So, this sets us up well for the market to continue to rise. He's fully invested, and he was not scared by the slump.
Unknown
BUY
Apple Inc
Apple still boasts strong fundamentals, demand for their products and services, and catalysts. Nothing has changed, except negative sentiment which hit all tech names. Now, Apple is back up. The market is returning to a focus on fundamentals. He held onto his Apple shares in its recent dip. He's positive Apple.
electrical / electronic
BUY
BP PLC
It pays a yield of 4%, high in this space, and is returning more capital to shareholders. Also likes it for divesting $20 billion from Russia. They have a great pipeline of properties. Also like that they have an aggressive plan to transition to alternative energies which is growing in focus for them.
integrated oils
BUY
Adobe Systems
He continues to hold it. Russia and Belarus (from which Adobe has pulled out) amounts to less than 1% of their revenues. Today, the market is reacting to the lack of long-term guidance--it's an overreaction. ADBE is oversold today.
computer software / processing
COMMENT
The healthcare sector. Question was about Abbvie. Healthcare is a great place to be--it's defensive and they have pricing power, demand for treatments and drugs. Companies also have patent protection. Barriers to entry are high.
Unknown
BUY
Lockheed Martin
The world's largest defence contractor. They produce 150 of the F-35 plane annually, and they sell 71% to US Defence plus 29% international sales. Unfortunately with the Russian war, Germany will increase their defence spending from $30 billion up to $100 billion.
Transportation
BUY
They make design tools that make microchips. Earnings are growing at 20%.
Technology
BUY
They make design tools that make microchips. Earnings are growing at 20%.
Technology
COMMENT
Russian invasion of Ukraine Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and that had little impact on the US impact. Today, Russia has little impact on US markets, though perhaps it could impact energy globally, certainly Germany. The real driver is inflation. He's seeking stocks that are impacted by interest rates. Look at how discount rates impact company cash flows (well into the future) and the companies' growth? So, look at shorter-term duration stocks.
Unknown
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