Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019

tags:KSS,CMP,EMR,IBM,SIRI,RCII,UNH,WEN,PH,USG,

By Oisin Breen, Research

In line with previous articles we've written, and paraphrasing Buffett, it's always interesting to consider investing behind the things you know. This article, motivated by a curiosity into firms supporting the deep-sea cable infrastructure that drives the internet, focuses on technological infrastructure firm TE Connectivity (TEL) that does just that, and a whole lot more. TE is a components manufacturer operating in a range of industries. 2017 has been a good year for the firm, and as investors continue to seek both value and growth in the market, unheralded infrastructure stocks available cheaply, relative to earnings, may continue to see their share prices climb in 2018.

TE share price on the up. Source: Bloomberg

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Kohl's Corporation(KSS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ]

  1. Kohl's (NYSE: KSS)
  This $10 billion-plus market cap department store chain's stock is higher by over 17% in 2018. The company operates over 1100 department stores, an online commerce platform, 12 Fila Outlets, and three "Off/Aisle" clearance stores.

• [By JJ Kinahan]

  Adding to positive sentiment, Kohl’s Corporatrion (NYSE: KSS) reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue, and same-store sales were up 3.6 percent. It’s interesting that the company was able to do this despite wintery weather, particularly in areas where Kohl’s stores are concentrated. The company’s  shares were up more than 5 percent in premarket trading. 

• [By Rich Duprey]

  This isn't even the first time Sears has paired itself with Amazon, agreeing last year to sell its Kenmore brand directly on the site. This put it on par with retailers like Best Buy, Calvin Klein, Chico's FAS, Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), and Nike�in seeking to ride the e-tailer's coattails to higher sales.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Compass Minerals Intl Inc(CMP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) was downgraded by investment analysts at ValuEngine from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Analysts at Berenberg upgraded Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR) from Sell to Hold.

  Emerson Electric shares fell 0.43 percent to close at $69.90 on Monday.

• [By Lee Samaha]

  In common with many other industrial companies, like Danaher, Pentair has been taking action to become a more focused investment proposition for investors. The sale of its valves and controls business to Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) in the spring of 2017 turned out to be well-timed for Emerson, as it occurred precisely at the time when oil and gas capital spending started picking up.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. cut its stake in shares of Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) by 1.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 111,625 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 2,015 shares during the quarter. Emerson Electric makes up approximately 2.4% of Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $7,624,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Lee Samaha]

  While long-term secular growth looks assured, it's the cyclical part of its growth that has come under scrutiny in 2018. It hasn't been an easy year for Rockwell shareholders, not least because they watched on as management rejected a $225 bid from Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) in the fall, and then watched on as its peer significantly outperformed while Rockwell's stock has declined in 2018.

• [By Benzinga News Desk]

  Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized in Houston with an infection, just after attending the funeral of his wife, Barbara, a spokesman said Monday: Link

  ECONOMIC DATA Redbook Reports US Retail Sales During First 2 Weeks Of Apr. Up 0.3% MoM, Up 2.8% YoY USA S&P/CaseShiller House Price Index (MoM) for Feb Up 0.7% MoM New home sales report for March will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Conference Board’s consumer sentiment index for April is schedule for release at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Richmond Fed manufacturing index for April will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Treasury is set to auction 4-and 52-week bills at 11:30 a.m. ET. The Treasury will auction 2-year notes at 1:00 p.m. ET. ANALYST RATINGS Leerink upgraded Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) from Market Perform to Outperform Berenberg upgraded Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) from Sell to Hold Mizuho downgraded Skyworks (NASDAQ: SWKS) from Buy to Neutral BMO downgraded Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH) from Outperform to Market Perform

  This is a tool used by the Benzinga News Desk each trading day — it's a look at everything happening in the market, in five minutes. To get the full version of this note every morning, click here.

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  The first list of Dividend Aristocrats published in 1989 comprised 26 stocks. Remarkably, nine of the 26 stocks are still part of the Dividend Aristocrat group.

  Dividend Aristocrat No. of Years of Consecutive Dividend Increases Payout Ratio (Last 12 Months) Current Dividend Yield Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) 55 67.6% 2.7% Dover Corp. (NYSE: DOV) 62 37.4% 2% Emerson Electric�(NYSE: EMR) 60 69% 2.62% Genuine Parts Company�(NYSE: GPC) 62 62.7% 3.12% Johnson & Johnson�(NYSE: JNJ) 55 724.9% 2.57% Coca-Cola�(NYSE: KO) 55 440.7% 3.5% Lowe's Companies�(NYSE: LOW) 55 37.4% 1.97% 3M Company�(NYSE: MMM) 60 70.4% 2.65% Procter & Gamble�(NYSE: PG) 62 72.2% 3.94%

  Data source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, company financials, Yahoo Finance. Table by author.�

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel B. Kline]

  IoT-powered devices also can work on a broader level. IBM's (NYSE:IBM) Watson -- the company's AI platform -- powers a slew of health-related services. This includes everything from allowing for more precise cancer treatments to using data to target alternate uses for drugs and helping government better manage healthcare programs.

• [By ]

  On Tuesday, he'll be tuning into UnitedHealth Group (UNH) , Goldman Sachs (GS) , Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and IBM (IBM) . Cramer had great things to say about all four companies.

• [By Billy Duberstein]

  IBM (NYSE:IBM) recently reported its first-quarter earnings results, which came in ahead of analyst expectations. Still, shares were sold off after the release, and the stock remains down about 10% from its pre-earnings price, as the mere reiteration of full-year guidance was less than investors were hoping for.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Sirius XM Radio Inc.(SIRI)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Sirius XM
  The more than 206.74 million Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) shares that were short after the last two weeks of this month amounted to just 0.1% or so more than on the previous settlement date. This was the third-lowest level of short interest in the past year, and it totaled 15.8% of the available float. The average daily volume has shrunk in seven of the past eight periods, and the number of days to cover inched up to nearly 13. Sirius’ stock price was $7.22 at the trading day’s close yesterday. Its 52-week low is $5.09 and the 52-week high is $7.33, a multiyear high posted this week.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Toronto Dominion Bank raised its position in shares of Sirius XM Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI) by 36.7% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 130,110 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 34,955 shares during the quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank’s holdings in Sirius XM were worth $812,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  There are two ways to buy into the country's lone provider of satellite radio, and one Wall Street pro thinks you should consider the road less traveled. Buckingham analyst Matthew Harrigan is downgrading shares of Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ:SIRI) on Monday, lowering his rating from buy to neutral.�

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.4 per share on revenue of $5.63 billion. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $37.16 billion. Twitter, Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.11 per share on revenue of $605.26 million. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.59 per share on revenue of $22.75 billion. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.52 per share on revenue of $7.6 billion. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $2.58 per share on revenue of $22.24 billion. Anthem, Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $4.91 per share on revenue of $22.52 billion. Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $3.04 billion. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.61 per share on revenue of $6.61 billion. Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.81 per share on revenue of $1.66 billion. Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.07 per share on revenue of $2.15 billion. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.46 per share on revenue of $3.82 billion. Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.97 per share on revenue of $1.62 billion. T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TROW) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.71 per share on revenue of $1.29 billion. Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.04 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion. Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SI
• [By Daniel B. Kline]

  When Sirius and XM merged in 2008 to become Sirius XM Holdings Inc.�(NASDAQ:SIRI), the combined company still filled a need. It offered depth and niche choices in music that conventional radio did not. In addition, the service had talk offerings led by Howard Stern that were unlike anything found on terrestrial radio, and an impressive array of sports broadcasting rights.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Rent-A-Center (RCII)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII) gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $9.36, but opened at $9.43. Rent-A-Center shares last traded at $9.54, with a volume of 375675 shares changing hands.

• [By ]

  Engaged Capital maintained large positions in Rent-A-Center (RCII) , TiVo (TIVO) , Hain Celestial (HAIN) , SunOpta and Jamba Inc. (JMBA) , all companies that have either previously been targeted by Welling or currently are in his cross-hairs.

• [By Chris Lange]

  Rent-A-Center Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) shares made an incredible gain on Monday after the company announced that it would be taken private by Vintage Rodeo Parent, an affiliate of Vintage Capital Management.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Rent-A-Center Inc (NASDAQ:RCII) by 52.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 72,200 shares of the company’s stock after selling 79,200 shares during the period. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp owned about 0.14% of Rent-A-Center worth $623,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Monday was a weak day for the stock market, with most major benchmarks losing ground. Further concerns about the potential for a deepening divide between the U.S. and China weighed on sentiment, and some also fear that steadily rising interest rates could eventually put pressure on stocks. Yet some companies still had good news that sent their individual shares higher. Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII), PTC Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTCT), and Dropbox (NASDAQ:DBX) were among the best performers on the day. Here's why they did so well.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated(UNH)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Heading into 2018, Avalere estimated that 41% of all U.S. counties were expected to have just one insurer offering a health plan. This comes after UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), the nation's largest insurer, pulled out of 31 of 34 states in 2017. After UnitedHealth Group lost $475 million from Obamacare in 2015 and predicted $650 million in ACA losses in 2016, it was no surprise to see the nation's largest health insurer critical of the ACA.�

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Here are some of the news stories that may have effected Accern Sentiment Analysis’s rankings:

  Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Medical Software Rallies As Health Care’s Tech Conversion Accelerates (investors.com) What Are UnitedHealth��s Key Sources of Revenue? (trefis.com) Humana (HUM) and Monida Ink Deal, Enhances In-Network Access (finance.yahoo.com) Is UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Outperforming Other Medical Stocks This Year? (finance.yahoo.com) UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Price Target Increased to $285.00 by Analysts at BMO Capital Markets (americanbankingnews.com)

  A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $278.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $275.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Piper Jaffray Companies reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Twenty-seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.58.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Here are some of the media headlines that may have impacted Accern Sentiment Analysis’s analysis:

  Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth strikes two long-term deals with lab giants (bizjournals.com) LabCorp Extends UnitedHealthcare Pact, Lifts Diagnostics Arm (finance.yahoo.com) UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Director Sells $3,732,300.00 in Stock (americanbankingnews.com) Is UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Stock Outpacing Its Medical Peers This Year? (nasdaq.com) Brief Overview on Stock’s Performances �� UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) (financerater.com)

  Several research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Barclays started coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, March 8th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $265.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-six have given a buy rating to the stock. UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $254.66.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc.(WEN)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  The chart below shows how McDonald's compares with some of its closest peers based on its valuation and expected growth rate.

  Company P/E Ratio 2-Year Expected EPS Growth Rate McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) 26.2 23.6% Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) 26.2 27.3% Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) 21.8 58.1% Restaurant Brands International�(NYSE:QSR) 21.4 41.9% Yum! Brands�(NYSE:YUM) 23.2 29.7%

  Data source: Yahoo! Finance. EPS = earnings per share.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) major shareholder Edward P. Garden sold 764,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.53, for a total value of $12,628,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 240,365 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,973,233.45. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a company’s shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

• [By ]

  Throughout its history, Starbucks has mostly had a company-owned model for its retail locations, a strategy that is at odds with a trend of activist investors pushing fast food, restaurant and coffee companies to franchise locations out to raise cash for stock buybacks and debt reduction. In recent years, activists have targeted Jamba Juice (JMBA) , Potbelly (PBPB) , Jack in the Box (JACK) , Wendys Co. (WEN) , McDonald's (MCD) and elsewhere. In addition, Starbucks has a one-share, one-vote structure, which can make it vulnerable to an activist investor seeking to elect dissident director candidates as it pursued the strategy.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) and Empire Resorts (NASDAQ:NYNY) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations and risk.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  A.R.T. Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Wendys Co (NASDAQ:WEN) by 19.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 150,664 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after selling 36,036 shares during the period. A.R.T. Advisors LLC owned 0.06% of Wendys worth $2,644,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Cannae (NYSE: CNNE) and Wendys (NASDAQ:WEN) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: S&P Smallcap 600(PH)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reaffirmed by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. They currently have a $169.00 price objective on the industrial products company’s stock. Deutsche Bank’s price target suggests a potential upside of 6.52% from the stock’s current price.

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  In terms of dividend growth, only four of the above stocks -- 3M, Colgate-Palmolive, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble -- feature among the 10 fastest dividend-growth kings. In other words, there are six other stocks from the dividend kings list that have grown their dividends at a faster pace than most stocks in the above table in the past decade, some even at double-digits.��

  Six top dividend kings by dividend growth Dividend King 10-Year Dividend CAGR Current Dividend Yield Payout Ratio (TTM) Lowe's Companies� 18.5% 2% 34.5% Hormel Foods� 16.3% 2.1% 39.2% Parker-Hannifin Corp�(NYSE:PH) 14% 1.7% 35.2% Nordson Corporation� 12.2% 0.9% 13.3% Dover Corp (NYSE:DOV) 9% 2% 37.4% American States Water�(NYSE:AWR) 7.6% 1.9% 54.8%

  TTM: Trailing 12 months. Data sources: YCharts and Yahoo! Finance. Table by author.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Barings LLC decreased its holdings in Parker Hannifin (NYSE:PH) by 36.4% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 26,064 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 14,937 shares during the period. Barings LLC’s holdings in Parker Hannifin were worth $4,458,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2019: USG Corporation(USG)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Warren Buffett likes to hold his stock positions for the long run, and his experience with USG (NYSE:USG) has been typical of his other long-term investments. The Oracle of Omaha started buying shares of the manufacturer of Sheetrock drywall and other building materials back in 2000, accumulating a sizable stake that has ballooned to more than 30% of the company. USG ended up going through bankruptcy in order to get a handle on its asbestos liability claims, but thanks largely to Buffett's involvement, the building materials company not only survived bankruptcy but also saw share prices soar briefly on hopes that USG would once again fully participate in the then-strong housing boom.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  USG Co. (NYSE:USG) – Equities research analysts at SunTrust Banks reduced their Q3 2018 earnings per share estimates for shares of USG in a report issued on Monday, July 9th. SunTrust Banks analyst K. Hughes now forecasts that the construction company will post earnings of $0.57 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.61. SunTrust Banks currently has a “Hold” rating and a $44.00 price target on the stock. SunTrust Banks also issued estimates for USG’s FY2018 earnings at $2.05 EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at $0.71 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $2.53 EPS.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  ValuEngine upgraded shares of USG (NYSE:USG) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Tuesday.

  A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of USG from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the company from $35.00 to $24.00 in a research note on Friday, April 27th. Jefferies Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a $40.00 target price on shares of USG in a research note on Monday, April 23rd. SunTrust Banks boosted their target price on shares of USG from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 17th. Buckingham Research boosted their target price on shares of USG from $34.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, April 16th. Finally, Nomura boosted their target price on shares of USG from $39.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.00.

• [By Jordan Wathen]

  As USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) drags its feet on an offer to sell the company for $42 per share, Berkshire intends to use its 30.8% ownership stake to motivate its top brass to make a deal. Berkshire told Bloomberg it intends to vote its shares against USG's board members who are up for re-election at this year's annual meeting, a clear message that Buffett is ready to cash in, even if USG's management and board are not.

• [By Jason Hall, George Budwell, and Chuck Saletta]

  And while it may not always work out well to simply copy the moves other investors make, it can pay off to use their buying and selling moves as jumping-off points in your own research. We asked three real-world investors for their insight, and they wrote about two recent Buffett buys of�Apple Inc.�(NASDAQ:AAPL) and�USG Corporation�(NYSE:USG), and a recent Baker Brothers buy of�Heron Therapeutics Inc�(NASDAQ:HRTX).�

If You're Worried About Social Security, Do These 4 Things Instead

If you're an older worker who's worried about whether Social Security�will be around for you in retirement, you're in good company. In a recent Gallup poll, more than half of pre-retirees expressed concern that benefits won't be available when the time comes to claim them.

Now the good news is that contrary to rumors, Social Security is not, in fact, going broke. What the program is facing, however, is an impending revenue shortage that will cause it to most likely deplete its trust funds by 2034. Once that happens, Social Security will only manage to pay about 79% of its scheduled benefits unless Congress steps in and comes up with a fix. And while that's not as dire as completely running out of money, it is a frightening prospect for the millions of seniors who rely on those benefits to provide most of their income today, and for those who will one day land in the same situation.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

If you're an older worker who's concerned about Social Security, you may want to come up with a backup plan in case your benefits do end up getting reduced. Here are a few routes you can take.

1. Build a stronger nest egg

The more money you have saved going into retirement, the less you'll end up relying on Social Security. So if you still have a number of working years ahead of you, take the opportunity to pad your nest egg while you can.

At present, workers 50 and older are allowed to contribute up to $24,500 a year to a 401(k) and $6,500 a year to an IRA. Max out the former for 10 years, and you'll add $338,000 to your savings if your investments bring in a 7% average annual return during that time. Max out the latter, and you'll boost your savings by about $90,000, all other things being equal.

Keep in mind that 401(k) and IRA yearly contribution limits can rise over time, and that the above numbers work with the current limits only. In other words, if you commit to maxing out your retirement plan for the duration of your career, and your investments do well, you might pad your nest egg even more.

2. Work longer

If there's not a lot of time to boost your nest egg between now and retirement, a good bet is to extend your career past your originally anticipated quit date. Doing so will achieve a number of purposes. First, it will give you additional time to contribute to your retirement plan. Second, it will prevent you from dipping into your nest egg for longer, thereby stretching whatever savings you've managed to accumulate. Finally, it'll potentially help boost your Social Security income by allowing you to hold off on taking benefits past your full retirement age (FRA).

Your full retirement age is a function of your year of birth, and for today's workers, it's either 66, 67, or 66 and a certain number of months. For each year you delay benefits past FRA, those payments will increase by 8% until you turn 70. That means that working until 70 and filing then when your FRA is 67 will boost your monthly benefits by 24% -- for life.

3. Plan to work part-time as a senior

Retiring doesn't have to mean not working at all. If you're concerned about losing some Social Security income, you can compensate by getting a part-time job during your golden years. The options here are virtually limitless -- you can turn a hobby into a job, consult in your former field, or kick off an entirely new venture. Not only will working part-time allow you to earn money, but you'll most likely save money on entertainment by virtue of having fewer hours to occupy.

4. Reduce your senior living costs

While you can't control what happens to Social Security, you can control the amount of money you spend as a senior. If you're worried your income will be lower than anticipated, you can offset that loss by lowering your living costs during your golden years.

Though certain expenses, like healthcare, may be non-negotiable, you can aim to keep other big-ticket items, like housing and entertainment, to a minimum. That could mean downsizing your current living space in retirement, relocating to a less expensive part of the country, and getting creative about scoring senior discounts. Cooking at home will also help save you a bundle, so if income is an issue, steer clear of those early bird specials, tempting as they might be.

It's too soon to tell what will happen to Social Security benefits in the coming years, but one thing's for sure: The less reliant you are on those payments, the better off you'll be in retirement. So rather than spend your time worrying about Social Security, focus on boosting your savings and employing other strategies to increase your income. With any luck, that'll do the trick in compensating if Social Security does indeed come to slash benefits in the future.

Financial Contrast: Maiden (MHLD) and Mercury General (MCY)

Maiden (NASDAQ: MHLD) and Mercury General (NYSE:MCY) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings and risk.

Profitability

Get Maiden alerts:

This table compares Maiden and Mercury General’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Maiden	-6.01%	-19.36%	-2.47%
Mercury General	2.25%	4.77%	1.65%

Risk & Volatility

Maiden has a beta of 1.17, meaning that its share price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mercury General has a beta of 0.46, meaning that its share price is 54% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Maiden and Mercury General, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Maiden	0	4	0	0	2.00
Mercury General	0	0	0	0	N/A

Maiden currently has a consensus target price of $9.00, suggesting a potential upside of 9.09%. Given Maiden’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Maiden is more favorable than Mercury General.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

61.9% of Maiden shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 44.4% of Mercury General shares are owned by institutional investors. 10.5% of Maiden shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 34.2% of Mercury General shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Maiden and Mercury General’s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Maiden	$2.92 billion	0.23	-$169.89 million	($2.16)	-3.82
Mercury General	$3.42 billion	0.73	$144.87 million	$1.64	27.55

Mercury General has higher revenue and earnings than Maiden. Maiden is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mercury General, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Maiden pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.3%. Mercury General pays an annual dividend of $2.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.5%. Maiden pays out -27.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Mercury General pays out 152.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Maiden has raised its dividend for 4 consecutive years and Mercury General has raised its dividend for 32 consecutive years. Maiden is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Mercury General beats Maiden on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

Maiden Company Profile

Maiden Holdings, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance solutions to regional and specialty insurers in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance. The Diversified Reinsurance segment offers property and casualty reinsurance, including the writing of treaties on a quota share or excess of loss basis; and facultative risks, which are marketed through third-party intermediaries and on a direct basis. The AmTrust Reinsurance segment provides small commercial business insurance, including workers' compensation, commercial package, and other property and casualty insurance products; and specialty risk and extended warranty coverage for consumer and commercial goods, as well as custom designed coverages, such as accidental damage plans and payment protection plans related to the sale of consumer and commercial goods. This segment also offers specialty program comprising package products, general liability, commercial auto liability, excess and surplus lines programs, and other specialty commercial property and casualty insurance to small and middle market companies. In addition, the company offers auto and credit life insurance products through its insurer partners to retail clients. Maiden Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

Mercury General Company Profile

Mercury General Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in writing personal automobile insurance in the United States. The company also writes homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial property, mechanical protection, fire, and umbrella insurance. Its automobile insurance products cover collision, property damage, bodily injury, comprehensive, personal injury protection, underinsured and uninsured motorist, and other hazards; and homeowners insurance products cover dwelling, liability, personal property, fire, and other hazards. The company sells its policies through a network of independent agents, 100% owned insurance agents, and direct channels in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. Mercury General Corporation was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

$0.04 Earnings Per Share Expected for NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO) This Quarter

Brokerages predict that NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEO) will report earnings of $0.04 per share for the current quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Two analysts have made estimates for NeoGenomics’ earnings. The highest EPS estimate is $0.05 and the lowest is $0.04. NeoGenomics also reported earnings of $0.04 per share during the same quarter last year. The business is scheduled to issue its next earnings report before the market opens on Tuesday, July 24th.

According to Zacks, analysts expect that NeoGenomics will report full-year earnings of $0.18 per share for the current fiscal year, with EPS estimates ranging from $0.16 to $0.19. For the next year, analysts expect that the firm will post earnings of $0.26 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $0.24 to $0.30. Zacks’ earnings per share averages are a mean average based on a survey of sell-side analysts that follow NeoGenomics.

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NeoGenomics (NASDAQ:NEO) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 1st. The medical research company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.01. NeoGenomics had a negative net margin of 0.86% and a positive return on equity of 3.19%. The business had revenue of $63.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $62.31 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.03 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. ValuEngine upgraded shares of NeoGenomics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 17th. First Analysis lowered shares of NeoGenomics from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $11.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of NeoGenomics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday. BidaskClub upgraded shares of NeoGenomics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 18th. Finally, Stephens restated a “buy” rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of NeoGenomics in a research report on Tuesday, June 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $17.50.

NeoGenomics traded up $0.07, reaching $14.12, on Friday, according to Marketbeat Ratings. 473,998 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 451,635. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.13 billion, a PE ratio of 235.33, a PEG ratio of 6.69 and a beta of 0.52. NeoGenomics has a twelve month low of $7.08 and a twelve month high of $14.61. The company has a current ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53.

In other NeoGenomics news, insider Robert J. Shovlin sold 12,941 shares of NeoGenomics stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.12, for a total transaction of $169,785.92. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 39,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $523,278.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Jennifer Balliet sold 13,000 shares of NeoGenomics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.24, for a total transaction of $146,120.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $146,120. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 708,707 shares of company stock worth $8,692,086 over the last 90 days. 12.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NeoGenomics in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $528,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of NeoGenomics in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $338,000. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC raised its stake in shares of NeoGenomics by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 441,380 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $3,602,000 after acquiring an additional 6,952 shares during the period. First Light Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of NeoGenomics by 23.7% in the 1st quarter. First Light Asset Management LLC now owns 4,760,332 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $38,844,000 after acquiring an additional 912,730 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of NeoGenomics by 385.3% in the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 53,295 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $435,000 after acquiring an additional 42,314 shares during the period. 83.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About NeoGenomics

NeoGenomics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a network of cancer-focused genetic testing laboratories in the United States. It operates through Clinical Services and Pharma Services segments. The company laboratories provide genetic and molecular testing services to hospitals, pathologists, oncologists, urologists, other clinicians and researchers, pharmaceutical firms, and other clinical laboratories.

Further Reading: Are Wall Street analysts’ stock ratings worth following?

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For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Gluskin Sheff + Associates (GS) Price Target Raised to C$19.00

Gluskin Sheff + Associates (TSE:GS) had its target price hoisted by CIBC from C$17.00 to C$19.00 in a research report report published on Friday.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on GS. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Gluskin Sheff + Associates from C$16.00 to C$17.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 15th. Desjardins reiterated a hold rating on shares of Gluskin Sheff + Associates in a research report on Monday, May 14th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on Gluskin Sheff + Associates from C$18.00 to C$19.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 16th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, The stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$17.70.

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Gluskin Sheff + Associates traded up C$0.45, reaching C$17.41, during mid-day trading on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. 239,400 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 100,749. Gluskin Sheff + Associates has a 1-year low of C$14.15 and a 1-year high of C$19.20.

Gluskin Sheff + Associates (TSE:GS) last released its earnings results on Monday, May 14th. The company reported C$0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of C$0.20 by C$0.02. The firm had revenue of C$28.69 million for the quarter. Gluskin Sheff + Associates had a return on equity of 70.32% and a net margin of 33.66%.

In related news, Director Wilfred Arthur Gobert purchased 9,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$16.54 per share, for a total transaction of C$148,860.00.

About Gluskin Sheff + Associates

Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm also provides wealth management services. It primarily provides its services to high net worth investors, including entrepreneurs, professionals, family trusts, private charitable foundations, pension and profit sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations , corporations, institutions, insurance companies, and estates.

See Also: What do investors mean by earnings per share?

Positive ��price drift�� suggests bitcoin has room to move higher

Bitcoin showed further resilience Thursday, building on sharp gains made earlier in the week.

Often in the past, sharp moves higher in the price of the No. 1 digital currency have been followed by pullbacks, or at the least, consolidation. This time, bitcoin has recorded five consecutive winning days and the ��price drift,�� when an asset continues in the same direction after a sharp move, suggests there��s more to come for world��s biggest digital currency, analysts say.

��All in all, we believe that when we see signs of price drift that it indicates that the current price may not be the fair value price. All the information that is relevant may not be fully priced in,�� wrote Thejas Nalval, portfolio director, and Kevin Lu, director of quantitative research, at Element Asset Management, in a note.

��And in the case of positive price drift, it means that bullish market sentiment has not been fully realized in the supply-demand equilibrium and that the price likely has more room to go,�� they said.

A single bitcoin BTCUSD, +0.18% was last valued at $7,416.27, up 1.1% since 5 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday on the Kraken crypto exchange.

The seasons are changing for bitcoin

Speaking on a webinar conference hosted by private capital markets firm SharesPost, Tom Lee, head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors said the wintry start to 2018 for crypto investors could be coming to an end. ��We should think about when the season is going to change,�� said Lee, when posed the question has the bitcoin winter ended.

��There��s a reasonable argument that spring has already begun, Lee added��

Lee said the adoption of bitcoin will be generational, highlighting the importance of millennials for the future of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, the distributed ledger technology that underpins bitcoin. ��Every technology change relies on a generational shift,�� Lee said.

��Millennials will be the most important to the crypto space.��

Read: Barry Silbert says bitcoin put in its 2018 low, but 99% of cryptos are worthless

We should ban bitcoin mining: California congressman

During a Wednesday hearing hosted by the House Financial Services Committee, a notable cryptocurrency detractor, California Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman, said the U.S. should ban the buying and mining of cryptocurrencies.

"We should prohibit U.S. persons from buying or mining cryptocurrencies," says Rep. Brad Sherman, a senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee.

— Colin Wilhelm (@colinwilhelm) July 18, 2018

Sherman in the past called cryptocurrencies a ��crock,�� saying they are popular with guys who sit around in their pajamas and tell their wives they��re going to be millionaires.

Read: Fed��s Powell says cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value

Altcoins bucking the trend Thursday

Coins other than bitcoin, colloquially known as altcoins, are underperforming bitcoin in afternoon trading. Ether ETHUSD, +0.44% is down 1.1% at $468.40, Bitcoin Cash BCHUSD, +0.24% has lost 0.7%, trading at $816.50, Litecoin LTCUSD, +0.14% is in the red to the tune of 2.1%, last trading at $86.34 and Ripple��s XRP coin XRPUSD, +0.53% was trading at 48 cents, down 0.8%.

Bitcoin futures markets followed spot markets higher. The Cboe Global Markets Inc. for August XBTQ8, +2.10% closed up 2.5% at $7,465 and the CME Inc. July contract BTCN8, +0.47% finished the day up 0.8% to $7,450.

CryptoWatch: Check bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices, performance and market capitalization��all on one

Aaron Hankin

Aaron Hankin is a MarketWatch reporter in New York who covers cryptocurrency and financial markets.

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Comment Quote References BTCUSD +13.39 +0.18% ETHUSD +2.06 +0.44% BCHUSD +2.00 +0.24% LTCUSD +0.12 +0.14% XRPUSD +0.00 +0.53% XBTQ8 +152.50 +2.10% BTCN8 +35.00 +0.47% Show all references MarketWatch Partner Center Most Popular Chase and Southwest have a new travel credit card, but is it a good deal? One chart puts mega tech��s trillions of market value into eye-popping perspective Why Trump isn��t backing down in the trade fight �� in one chart

Why owning a home in retirement could be a mistake

We all have our own respective visions of what life in retirement will look like. For the bulk of Americans, however, that means owning a home.

In fact, 85% of current workers say they plan to own during their golden years, according to new data from Voya Financial, while 79% of current retirees are property owners. But while owning during retirement has its benefits, there's one major drawback to also be aware of.

Why own during retirement?

There are several good reasons to own a home during retirement. For one thing, ownership still offers a host of tax breaks, such as the mortgage interest and property tax deduction, which is currently capped but very much still in play.

Additionally, owning a home gives you a potential source of equity you can use to your advantage later in life. If cash flow becomes an issue, for example, you can get a reverse mortgage (though proceed with caution before you do) or home equity line of credit to buy yourself more options for paying the bills. And that's something renters can't do.

Homeownership in retirement can be a dangerous prospect

Despite the aforementioned benefits, there's one huge drawback to owning property in retirement, and it's committing yourself to a variable expense while living on a fixed income. Even if your mortgage itself is paid off by the time you enter retirement, you'll still have property taxes to contend with. And those have a tendency to rise over time, even during periods when home values don't follow suit.

There's also maintenance and repairs to think about, and that's where a lot of retirees who own homes get into trouble. The average homeowner spends 1% to 4% of his or her home's value on standard annual upkeep. Now being a retiree doesn't automatically mean you'll own an aging home. But if yours is on the older side, you should plan on hitting the top end of that range, which could really eat into your limited budget.

Furthermore, while that 1% to 4% range applies to regular maintenance, it doesn't include major repairs that could spring up on you without notice. I'm talking about things like your heating system going kaput or a pipe bursting in your basement -- expenses that could really hurt you financially when your income doesn't allow for too many surprises.

And there lies the danger of owning a home in retirement: You just don't know what to expect. And while renting certainly isn't without risk -- you could see your rent go up from year to year or find yourself suddenly on the hunt for a new home when your landlord unexpectedly decides to sell -- when you rent, you lock yourself into a fixed cost for the duration of your lease. Sign a series of long-term, affordable leases, and you eliminate much of the worry that comes with owning.

Related links:

�� Motley Fool Issues Rare Triple-Buy Alert

�� This Stock Could Be Like Buying Amazon in 1997

�� 7 of 8 People Are Clueless About This Trillion-Dollar Market

Ultimately, the decision to own a home during retirement boils down to how much risk you're willing to take on.

If you love your home, adore your neighborhood, and don't want to deal with the hassle and uncertainly of renting, then by all means, stay in your home. Just make sure you have a decent chunk of savings -- both emergency and otherwise -- to protect yourself from the various unknowns involved.

$106.24 Million in Sales Expected for Summit Midstream Partners LP (SMLP) This Quarter

Wall Street brokerages expect Summit Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:SMLP) to report $106.24 million in sales for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks reports. Two analysts have issued estimates for Summit Midstream Partners’ earnings, with the highest sales estimate coming in at $109.48 million and the lowest estimate coming in at $103.00 million. Summit Midstream Partners posted sales of $101.79 million in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year-over-year growth rate of 4.4%. The company is scheduled to issue its next earnings results on Thursday, August 2nd.

On average, analysts expect that Summit Midstream Partners will report full-year sales of $451.05 million for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $428.40 million to $470.00 million. For the next financial year, analysts anticipate that the firm will report sales of $477.01 million per share, with estimates ranging from $454.10 million to $504.00 million. Zacks’ sales averages are an average based on a survey of sell-side research firms that follow Summit Midstream Partners.

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Summit Midstream Partners (NYSE:SMLP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 3rd. The pipeline company reported ($0.18) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.12 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $117.32 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $106.68 million. Summit Midstream Partners had a net margin of 17.59% and a return on equity of 13.23%.

Several research firms have recently commented on SMLP. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Summit Midstream Partners from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, May 10th. Wells Fargo & Co downgraded shares of Summit Midstream Partners from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $16.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, May 7th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Summit Midstream Partners from $21.00 to $15.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank began coverage on shares of Summit Midstream Partners in a report on Thursday, April 19th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $17.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, ValuEngine downgraded shares of Summit Midstream Partners from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Summit Midstream Partners currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $19.22.

SMLP stock opened at $16.30 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.22 billion, a PE ratio of 9.94 and a beta of 1.83. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. Summit Midstream Partners has a 12 month low of $13.10 and a 12 month high of $24.75.

In related news, insider Brad N. Graves sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.53, for a total value of $77,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 61,225 shares in the company, valued at approximately $950,824.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Brock M. Degeyter sold 9,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.06, for a total transaction of $144,540.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 63,744 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,023,728.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 24,000 shares of company stock valued at $377,140.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Summit Midstream Partners during the fourth quarter worth $29,625,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Summit Midstream Partners during the fourth quarter worth $211,000. Penbrook Management LLC acquired a new position in Summit Midstream Partners during the fourth quarter worth $646,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its position in Summit Midstream Partners by 62.1% during the fourth quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 71,385 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,463,000 after acquiring an additional 27,337 shares during the period. Finally, Citigroup Inc. raised its position in Summit Midstream Partners by 94.4% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 190,110 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $2,671,000 after acquiring an additional 92,316 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.76% of the company’s stock.

Summit Midstream Partners Company Profile

Summit Midstream Partners, LP focuses on owning, developing, and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets primarily shale formations in the continental United States. The company provides natural gas gathering, treating, and processing services, as well as crude oil and produced water gathering services.

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For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Can Traditional Retailers Survive the "Fast Fashion" Clothing Trend?

It is no secret by now that consumers, especially millennials and younger generations, increasingly desire products that are more convenient, up-to-date with currents trends, and reasonably priced. That is especially evident in the fast-paced and dynamic fashion retail industry, as shown by “fast fashion” and its effects on the entire business.

The term fast fashion is defined by retailers that attempt to mimic current fashion trends as quickly as possible—at a price that general consumers in the clothing sector can afford. Companies are able to keep up with fluctuating trends and produce the products in a cost-efficient manner through the use of extremely advanced supply chains and dedicated market research.

The Rise of Fast Fashion

The move towards fast fashion was initially lead by innovation-focused companies like Zara (IDEXY ) and H&M. These European brands were able to revolutionize the fashion retail industry in the early parts of the 21st Century and become household names.

An example of a company that has more recently been able to take advantage of the trend towards fast fashion is lifestyle brand Urban Outfitters (URBN ) , which is known for catering to a mainly young adult demographic through hip and stylish merchandise.  The stock has soared since this time last year, with prices climbing up over 150% to its current position at around $44.

One of the key drivers in the company’s progress has been its ability to accurately adapt to the newest fashion trends, and it is only expected to continue doing so in the future, according to analysts.  Increased analyst bullishness is one part of why Urban Outfitters currently holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Another recent victory for fast fashion was Japanese company Uniqlo partnering with tennis legend Roger Federer. The $300 million deal made headlines due to the shock value of someone as well-known as Federer leaving sports apparel giant Nike (NKE ) for the lesser known Uniqlo.

The tennis star’s new sponsor doesn’t even focus mainly on sports like Nike does, but instead would be labeled as a fast fashion brand that tracks the world’s latest trends. Although it may not be a major hit for Nike right now, the move showed the power of fast fashion and its potential for even greater growth in the future.

Traditional Retail’s Response

Caught right in the middle of the fast fashion and online shopping storm are traditional retailers that have been staples in the clothing sector for a long time, including Nordstrom (JWN ) and Kohl’s (KSS ) .

In order to survive, these major companies are forced to make decisions on how to respond to the changes in today’s retailing and clothing landscape. It comes with no surprise that both companies have already made moves in attempts to maintain their positions in the industry.

On Tuesday, Nordstrom laid out a new five-year growth plan that was clearly influenced by the fast fashion movement. The plan centered on boosting the company’s e-commerce presence as foot traffic at malls has continued to decline.  However, the announcement was mainly met with negative reactions due to the costs associated with implementing all of the initiatives. It seems as if the company may have adjusted to consumer trends too and will now have to fight to catch up.

While it’s still unclear as to how Nordstrom’s initial moves will play out, its apparel retailing counterpart, Kohl’s, struck gold with its own solution. The company signed a deal with Amazon (AMZN ) in September of 2017, and the massive partnership has paid off big time, with the stock rising 64% since the move was announced.  Kohl’s teaming up with Amazon tremendously bolstered the retailer’s evolution towards becoming more convenient and faster.

Bottom Line

There is no denying the shift towards clothing that is easily accessible and consistent with the latest fashion trends. Investors should take note of fast fashion brands, like Urban Outfitters, which are perfectly suited to the new fast-paced environment in retailing.

On the other side, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, and similar traditional retailers should be looked at with greater caution as they continue to deal with how to adapt to fast fashion. These companies will have to pursue innovation and continue making strategic initiatives to stay at the forefront of retailing. Clothing retailers like Kohl’s that make successful changes should see growth, while others could be left behind.

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All

Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.

See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>

European stocks rise for 6th day as focus turns to earnings season

European stocks rose on Tuesday, heading for a sixth straight session of gains as traders put aside trade war concerns for now and instead looked ahead to what is expected to be a positive earnings season.

U.K. politics were still in focus a day after two high-profile resignations from the cabinet sparked speculation about a fresh general election.

What are markets doing?

The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.48% �rose 0.2% to 385.51, on track for its highest close since June 18, according to FactSet data. A win on Tuesday would mark a sixth gain in a row, for the longest winning streak since mid-March.

The U.K.��s FTSE 100 index UKX, +0.11% �added 0.1% to 7,695.91, while France��s CAC 40 index PX1, +0.62% �put on 0.4% to 5,416.97.

Germany��s DAX 30 index DAX, +0.62% �was up 0.1% at 12,553.58.

The euro EURUSD, -0.2301% �traded at $1.1725, down from $1.1733 on Monday, while the GBPUSD, -0.0830% �fell to $1.3247 from $1.3258.

What is driving the market?

Tuesday��s advance was seen as a continuation of recent trading action, as investors put the U.S.-China trade spat on the back burner for now. Instead, investors are gearing up for the second-quarter earnings season, looking to U.S. corporates for a steer. The season there kicks off in earnest this week, with PepsiCo Inc. PEP, -1.64% �reporting on Tuesday and major banks JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, +3.09% �and Citigroup Inc. C, +2.68% �reporting on Friday.

In Europe, the recent political turmoil in the U.K. was still in focus after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister David Davis resigned on Monday. The moves were seen as making it more likely that Prime Minister Theresa May could face a leadership challenge and send U.K. voters to the polls at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations with Brussels.

A general election in 2018 looked more likely after the resignations, with Betfair��s odds now implying a 40% probability of a vote this year compared with 17% before the weekend.

Read: Brexit turmoil: 4 things investors need to know

What are strategists saying?

��Solid gains across markets yesterday have certainly set the tone for the week, and today��s mixed session thus far, with markets alternating between small gains and losses, suggests we are in for a ��digestion day�� as markets pause before moving higher,�� said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, in a note.

��For a second day the big worry of late, trade wars, has been mercifully quiet, which has certainly helped to buoy risk appetite,�� he added.

Economic news

Eurozone house prices rose at the fastest pace in 11 years during the first three months of 2018, a development that is seen as further strengthening the case for the European Central Bank to end its massive easing program at the end of the year.

Meanwhile in the U.K., the Office for National Statistics for the first time ever released a monthly GDP figure instead of its usual quarterly numbers. The report showed the U.K. economy expanded 0.2% in the three months to May, up from flat growth in the three months to April.

Industrial production in France fell 0.2% in May from April, statistics agency Insee said, compared with forecasts for a 0.6% rise.

Stock movers

Shares of Danske Bank AS DANSKE, +1.43% �climbed 1.5% after Berenberg lifted the Danish lender to hold from sell, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

BMW AG BMW, +0.26% �slipped 0.4% after the German car maker said it will team up with Baidu Inc. K3SD, +0.00% �to develop autonomous-driving technology in China.

In the same vein, Continental AG CON, +0.48% �and Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing said they have formed a partnership to research and develop intelligent and connected vehicles. Continental shares were down 0.8%.

Volkswagen AG VOW3, -0.10% �fell 1% as the German car maker late Monday named Stefan Sommer to its management board as head of procurement.

Shares of TP ICAP PLC TCAP, -34.65% �sank 32% after the interdealer broker issued a profit warning for 2018 and said Chief Executive John Phizackerley has stepped down with immediate effect.

Tesco PLC TSCO, -1.58% TSCDY, +0.19% �dropped 1.2% after the U.K. supermarkets giant said its chief executive of Tesco U.K. & Republic of Ireland Charles Wilson will step down from the board due to health reasons.

Sara Sjolin

Sara Sjolin is a MarketWatch reporter based in London. Follow her on Twitter @sarasjolin.

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Comment Related Topics European Markets Europe Investing Stocks European Central Bank Quote References SXXP +1.84 +0.48% UKX +8.57 +0.11% PX1 +33.62 +0.62% DAX +78.15 +0.62% EURUSD -0.0027 -0.2301% GBPUSD -0.0011 -0.0830% PEP -1.80 -1.64% JPM +3.22 +3.09% C +1.80 +2.68% DANSKE +2.75 +1.43% BMW +0.21 +0.26% K3SD +0.00 +0.00% CON +0.95 +0.48% VOW3 -0.14 -0.10% TCAP -145.60 -34.65% TSCO -4.10 -1.58% TSCDY +0.02 +0.19% Show all references MarketWatch Partner Center Most Popular ��This rally in stocks is a last hurrah!�� warns Guggenheim��s Minerd This reliable indicator of a bear market in stocks �� and a recession �� just flashed a warning The spectacular rise and fall of MoviePass I paid for my girlfriend��s rent, food, vacations and utilities while she was in college��now we��re breaking up These five ��mega trends�� are producing soaring stocks regardless of Trump, tariffs or the economy Community Guidelines �� FAQs BACK TO TOP MarketWatch Site Index Topics Help Feedback Newsroom Roster Media Archive Premium Products Mobile Company Company Info Code of Conduct Corrections Advertising Media Kit Advertise Locally Reprints & Licensing Your Ad Choices   Dow Jones Network WSJ.com Barron's Online BigCharts Virtual Stock Exchange Financial News London WSJ.com Small Business realtor.com Mansion Global

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Twitter Inc (TWTR) Receives $28.96 Average Target Price from Analysts

Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) has received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the forty ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, twenty have given a hold recommendation, eleven have given a buy recommendation and three have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $29.64.

TWTR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Investment Research raised Twitter from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $32.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley raised Twitter from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $29.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 17th. Pivotal Research dropped their price target on Twitter from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 2nd. Vetr raised Twitter from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $35.33 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 26th. Finally, UBS Group raised Twitter from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 25th.

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Twitter traded down $4.02, hitting $42.63, during trading hours on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. 4,501,852 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,238,454. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 710.33, a PEG ratio of 5.72 and a beta of 0.87. Twitter has a twelve month low of $15.67 and a twelve month high of $47.79. The company has a current ratio of 10.23, a quick ratio of 10.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 25th. The social networking company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $665.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $607.56 million. Twitter had a return on equity of 2.81% and a net margin of 0.57%. Twitter’s quarterly revenue was up 21.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.07 earnings per share. equities analysts forecast that Twitter will post 0.35 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, Director Evan Clark Williams sold 539,027 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.00, for a total transaction of $15,631,783.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 2,074,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,155,570. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Robert Kaiden sold 3,676 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.71, for a total value of $112,889.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,330,918 shares of company stock valued at $121,697,325. 6.62% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in TWTR. IFM Investors Pty Ltd raised its holdings in Twitter by 55.5% in the 2nd quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 30,852 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,347,000 after acquiring an additional 11,007 shares in the last quarter. DnB Asset Management AS acquired a new position in Twitter in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,533,000. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd raised its holdings in Twitter by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd now owns 216,887 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $9,471,000 after acquiring an additional 19,600 shares in the last quarter. Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc. acquired a new position in Twitter in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $312,000. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Twitter by 2,102.8% in the 1st quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 2,146,516 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,147,000 after acquiring an additional 2,049,071 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.57% of the company’s stock.

Twitter Company Profile

Twitter, Inc operates as a platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time. The company offers various products and services, including Twitter that allows users to consume, create, distribute, and discover content; and Periscope, a mobile application that enables user to broadcast and watch video live with others.