Author: therawinformant

  • Nio’s Resurgence Highlights the Emerging Global Electric-Vehicle Market

    Nio’s Resurgence Highlights the Emerging Global Electric-Vehicle MarketIf you believe in the future of the global movement towards electric-powered vehicles, Nio (NYSE:NIO) is a company that should be on your radar. As an investor, you'll find that Nio stock is easily affordable and the company has strong growth potential.Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com Don't get me wrong: there is always risk involved if you're investing in a start-up company. That being said, it's undeniable that the electric-vehicle market is disrupting the automotive industry as we know it. And as a business enterprise, Nio is still in the first innings of the game.It is true that the novel-coronavirus crisis took a serious toll on the global automotive market. But that actually provided an opportunity to accumulate shares of Nio stock while panic was setting in. Today, the data suggests that the fears were overstated. The electric-vehicle market is here to stay, and so is Nio.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Nio Stock at a GlanceA look back at the historical price action shows that Nio stock has been above $10 not just onec, but twice. The shares first broke above that level in 2018. Then, the buyers pushed Nio shares above $10 again in 2019. * 7 Great Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Now The stock could easily have breached that level again in the first half of 2020, but the novel coronavirus crash delayed any prospects of a sustained breakout. What the buyers needed to see was a sign of hope that the electric-vehicle market would recover.Thankfully, there was data to provide encouragement to struggling Nio stockholders, which we'll talk about in just a moment. And now the trend is clearly to the upside, with a real possibility of Nio shares attaining all-time high prices before the year is over. Marking an Inflection PointWhile the global pandemic dented the electric-vehicle market, and the automotive market generally, this shouldn't dissuade anyone considering an investment today. We can't expect the transition from gasoline- and diesel-powered cars to electric vehicles to be perfectly smooth.Despite the bumps in the road, the outlook for the electric-vehicle industry looks bright. Bernstein analyst Mark Newman estimates that the production of electric vehicles will achieve a range between 1.3 million and 1.5 million, depending on this year's market conditions.Moreover, research conducted by Cairn Energy Research Advisors suggests that electric-vehicle sales will surge in 2021. This pickup in sales will likely be driven, at least in part, by various nations' initiatives encouraging people to buy battery-powered automobiles.According to Cairn's estimates, the global sales of electric vehicles next year will increase by 36%. Not only that, but for the very first time, electric-vehicle sales in 2021 will exceed 3 million vehicles.Sam Jaffe, the managing director of Cairn Energy Research Advisors, even seemed to suggest that next year will be a watershed year for the electric-vehicle market: "There's pent-up demand for electric vehicles … We will see a combination of factors make 2021 an inflection point for the sale of electric vehicles." An Outstanding Month for NioAll of the foregoing should benefit Nio's business, of course. But there's also company-specific data that should boost the spirits of any current or prospective Nio shareholder.In the month of May, Nio delivered 3,436 vehicles. That represents astounding year-over-year growth of 215.5%. It's also a record for Nio in terms of monthly vehicle deliveries.In addition, Nio projects an "all-time high in quarterly deliveries" for the second quarter. The company expects up to 158% quarter-on-quarter growth, which would translate to roughly 10,000 cars.In other words, as far as Nio's vehicle sales are concerned, the speed bumps are in the rearview mirror now. The Final Word on Nio StockThe coronavirus slowed down the electric-vehicle industry, but couldn't stop it permanently. Nio is part of this fast-emerging industry, and Nio stockholders can hold their shares in anticipation of a steadily improving market.Louis Navellier had an unconventional start, as a grad student who accidentally built a market-beating stock system — with returns rivaling even Warren Buffett. In his latest feat, Louis discovered the "Master Key" to profiting from the biggest tech revolution of this (or any) generation. Louis Navellier may hold some of the aforementioned securities in one or more of his newsletters. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own * Look What America's Richest Family Is Investing in Now The post Nio's Resurgence Highlights the Emerging Global Electric-Vehicle Market appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • Michael Cola Is The CEO, President & Director of Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ:CERC) And They Just Picked Up 132% More Shares

    Michael Cola Is The CEO, President & Director of Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ:CERC) And They Just Picked Up 132% More SharesInvestors who take an interest in Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ:CERC) should definitely note that the CEO, President…

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  • AstraZeneca Inks Europe Deal For 400M Covid-19 Vaccine Doses

    AstraZeneca Inks Europe Deal For 400M Covid-19 Vaccine DosesAstraZeneca (AZN) has agreed to supply up to 400 million doses of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222, to Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), with deliveries starting by the end of 2020.Total manufacturing capacity for AZD1222 now stands at two billion doses, says AZN.Spearheaded by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, the IVA says it aims to accelerate the supply of the vaccine and to make it available to other European countries that wish to participate in the initiative.At the same time, UK-based AstraZeneca continues to build several global supply chains, including for Europe. “The company is seeking to expand manufacturing capacity further and is open to collaborating with other companies in order to meet its commitment to support access to the vaccine at no profit during the pandemic” AZN states.Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, commented: “With our European supply chain due to begin production soon, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly.”Indeed, the company recently entered similar agreements with the UK, US, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses. It has also agreed a license with the Serum Institute of India for the supply of an additional one billion doses for low and middle-income countries.Oxford University last month announced the start of a Phase II/III UK trial of AZD1222 in about 10,000 adult volunteers. Other late-stage trials are due to begin in a number of countries. AstraZeneca recognizes that the vaccine may not work but is nonetheless progressing the clinical program with speed and scaling up manufacturing at risk.AZD1222 uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body.Shares in AstraZeneca are up 3% year-to-date, and analysts are, on average, predicting that 20% further upside potential lies ahead. This comes with a Strong Buy consensus based on 4 recent buy ratings. (See AstraZeneca stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Oxford Biomedica Clinches Manufacturing Deal For AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Vaccine 5 Promising Covid-19 Vaccines Picked For Trump’s Operation Warp Speed What Would a Merger Mean for Gilead? Top Analyst Weighs In More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Medtronic Succeeds In Critical US Trial For New Insulin Pump * American Express Scores China Go-Ahead In Milestone Moment * Sorrento Edges Higher On Debt Repayment As Top Analyst Says Buy * Activist Investor Jana Partners Builds 5.9% Stake in Perspecta; Stock Jumps 9% In Pre-Market

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  • The most explosive ASX tech shares you can buy today

    tech shares

    On Saturday I looked at the healthcare sector and revealed how it has vastly outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the last five years.

    It isn’t the only side of the market to have outperformed the index over the period. Another area which has been on fire has been the tech sector.

    During this time the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology index has gained a sizeable 84.6%.

    But don’t worry if you missed these gains, because I believe the sector can continue to outperform over the next five years.

    But which shares should you buy? I believe the three ASX tech shares listed below have the potential to generate market beating returns for investors. Here’s why:

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    I think this payments company is an ASX tech share to buy with a long term view. Although its shares have been on fire this year, I still believe they can go materially higher in the future. This is due to the growing popularity of buy now pay later with consumers and retailers, its US$5 trillion opportunity in the United States, and expansion opportunities in mainland Europe and Asia. The latter could be supported by US$500 billion WeChat owner, Tencent Holdings. It recently became a substantial shareholder of Afterpay.

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    Another ASX tech share to consider buying is Altium. It is a printed circuit board design software company which is benefiting greatly from the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) market. The explosion of connected devices globally has been driving increasing demand for its Altium Designer software. So much so, this year Altium expects to achieve 50,000 subscribers. After which, it is aiming for 100,000 subscribers by FY 2025. Together with its other promising businesses such as NEXUS and Octopart, I feel Altium is well-placed to deliver strong long term earnings growth.

    Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

    I final ASX tech share to look at is Appen. The artificial intelligence (AI) company has a million-plus team of crowd-sourced experts which prepare the data to go into the AI and machine learning models of some of the world’s largest tech companies. This includes the likes of Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple. In respect to Apple, Appen helped the tech behemoth develop its intelligent assistant, Siri. The good news is that AI is growing in importance for businesses. I believe this means demand for its services will continue to grow over the next decade and underpin strong earnings growth.

    And here are more exciting shares which could be destined for big things…

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO and Altium. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Appen Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why the Healius share price will be in the spotlight tomorrow morning

    Looking through magnifying glass

    The Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) share price will be in the spotlight tomorrow morning on reports that it sealed a $500 million deal on the weekend.

    The medical facilities operator agreed to sell its 70-odd medical centres to Australian private equity firm BGH Capital, reported the Australian Financial Review.

    The agreement, which is understood to be binding and fully funded, will make BGH the largest operator of general practice clinics in the country.

    Takeover defense

    These medical centres generated $183 million in revenue and $30 in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the six months to end December 2019, according to the AFR.

    The divestment is seen as a defensive strategy to impede the takeover of Healius by Partners Group, which offered $3.40 a share for all of the company back in February.

    Healius rejected the non-binding offer and it’s been a one-way street for its share price since as it slumped to $2.53 on Friday.

    Can Healius shares outperform?

    Management will be hoping for a big boost in the stock to justify the snub to shareholders. While it remains to be seen how the stock trades on Monday morning, history is on its side.

    ASX stocks that undertake a divestment tend to outperform and recent transactions, such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) cutting the apron strings of Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), could put Healius shareholders in a good mood.

    Healthcare sector underperformer

    That would be a refreshing change as there isn’t much goodwill floating about for Healius. The stock crashed 20% over the past year when its peers have been faring a lot better.

    The Ramsay Health Care Limited Fully Paid Ord. Shrs (ASX: RHC) share price gained around 2% while the Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL) share price dipped 8% over the same period.

    In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) lost 11% of its value, no thanks to the COVID-19 global market meltdown.

    Foolish takeaway

    I can’t help feeling that BGH got a better deal than Healius, assuming the centres are being acquired on a 10 times EBITDA multiple.

    While that’s within a reasonable range for acquisitions, some might argue that defensive assets in this ultra-low interest rate environment would be worth more.

    Healius is likely to use the proceeds from the asset sale to repay debt and to focus its resources on growing its pathology and diagnostic imaging business.

    The group had been trying to sell its medical centres since the start of the year before the coronavirus pandemic scared off some potential bidders.

    It may not be a big surprise that BGH emerged as the victor given that it raised a lot of capital in 2018 for its takeover fund and it already holds medical facilities in its portfolio.

    The acquisitive firm also owns now-delisted educational services group Navitas Limited (ASX: NVT) and is reported to be in talks with Village Roadshow Ltd (ASX: VRL) to acquire its theme parks.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon three under-the-radar stock picks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    He’s so confident in their future prospects that he has issued “double down” buy alerts on each of these three stocks to members of his Motley Fool Extreme Opportunities stock picking service.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ramsay Health Care Limited and Sonic Healthcare Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Sorrento Edges Higher On Debt Repayment As Top Analyst Says Buy

    Sorrento Edges Higher On Debt Repayment As Top Analyst Says BuyShares in Sorrento Therapeutics (SRNE) edged 5% higher in Friday’s after-hours trading, after the company announced that it has now prepaid in full its outstanding term loans on June 12, 2020.The debt, comprised of an initial $100 million term loan and an additional $20 million term loan from funds affiliated with Oaktree Capital Management, L.P, was entered into in November 2018.The news follows the biopharma’s filing of a prospectus supplement dated April 27 for a public offering of up to $250 million of its common stock. Shares are being sold via Alliance Global Partners, alongside a 36-month purchase agreement with Arnaki Ltd, a British Virgin Islands corporation for up to $250 million.At the same time, Sorrento exited an equity distribution agreement, dated October 1, 2019 with JMP Securities LLC relating to shares worth up to $75 million. During the term of the agreement, the company ultimately raised $7.4 million.Shares in Sorrento are currently trading up 37% on a year-to-date basis, and analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus on the stock’s outlook. The $24 average analyst price target indicates significant upside potential from current levels. (See SRNE stock analysis on TipRanks).Sorrento recently disclosed that in preclinical trials, the company’s monoclonal antibody (MaB), STI-4938, code named COVIDTRAP, inhibited SARS-CoV-2 viral infection in vitro.Sorrento also has another antibody in development, STI-1499 (COVI-SHIELD), which recently demonstrated promising in vitro results as it was able to completely block the SARS-CoV-2 virus.While it is still early on for both antibodies, H.C. Wainwright analyst Ram Selvaraju is encouraged by the positive results. “We continue to believe that Sorrento may be positioning itself as a leader in addressing the pandemic, with multiple potential therapeutic approaches in its pipeline alongside the COVI-TRACK IVD antibody test,” the analyst said.Indeed, its COVI-TRACK in vitro diagnostic test kit enables the independent detection of antibodies in patients exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In eight minutes or less SRNE says its test reveals whether someone has been exposed to or potentially had coronavirus, and subsequently created antibodies to combat the infection.Related News: 5 Promising Covid-19 Vaccines Picked For Trump’s Operation Warp Speed What Would a Merger Mean for Gilead? Top Analyst Weighs In Sorrento Soars 17% In Pre-Market On Covid-19 Test Application More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * AstraZeneca Inks Europe Deal For 400M Covid-19 Vaccine Doses * Boeing (BA) Stock Probably Rallied Too Far, Too Fast * Latam Airlines' Shares Could Be Heading Further South; Top Analyst Says 'Sell' * Starbucks’ (SBUX) Road to Recovery Will Take Longer Than Anticipated, Says Analyst

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  • Inovio Stock Still Has Strong Technicals – Here’s the Trade

    Inovio Stock Still Has Strong Technicals – Here’s the TradeFrom a fundamental perspective, I have not been a big fan of Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO). However, INO stock has continued to sport very solid technicals.Source: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com I have long believed that combining the two studies can yield superior results. When a stock has excellent fundamentals and excellent technicals, it can be a potent recipe for a higher stock price.Inovio may not have the fundamentals that we want, but it's chart sure looks good. Let's look at this one from a trading perspective first.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Trading INO Stock Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com This stock erupted in March, bursting from $4 to almost $20 in just a few days. After pulling back and settling in, it was clear that $9.50 was resistance for INO stock. * 7 Great Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Now While the stock struggled to break out over this mark, it continued to put in a series of higher lows, riding uptrend support higher (blue line). In mid-April, shares finally broke through, rallying to $16 — what is now current resistance — before pulling back.This part is important, because on that pullback, shares found support at prior resistance near $9.50. That's a key bullish development that has continued to play out.With the 50-day moving average and uptrend support still buoying INO stock, investors can stay long this name so long as that observation remains true. If Inovio can reclaim its 20-day moving average, it puts $16 resistance back in play. On a move over $16, the 52-week high up at $19.36 is possible.This will be key for bulls, too. Should INO stock break below the 50-day moving average and close below the month's current low at $11.13, it puts the $9.50 level back in play. Below $9.50 and a larger decline could be in store for the stock.Like I said, if we back out the fundamentals for a minute and focus solely on the technicals, this one looks pretty good. For now, the dips are being bought and bulls remain in control. Valuing Inovio StockMy biggest problem with Inovio is the fundamentals. For a trade, I don't mind discarding the fundamentals and only focusing on the technicals. However, for an investment, I need the fundamentals to work. In that sense, it depends on how you're looking to utilize INO stock.If it's an investment you're after, Inovio may not be your top candidate.The company has essentially no revenue at the moment. While it did have $30.4 million and $42.2 million in sales in 2018 and 2017, respectively, it has virtually none now, with just $4.1 million generated in 2019.The lack of revenue hardly matters though, with Inovio doling out a net loss in each of those years. In 2019, it lost almost $120 million. In this situation, it should go without saying that INO stock also does not generate positive free cash flow.So forget a minute about actual growth, and realize that this company barely has any revenue at all, and thus, does not generate positive cash flow or profit.After boosting its cash position, INO stock does have about $270 million in cash and short-term investments, which will certainly buy it some time. Particularly as it only has current liabilities of $32.3 million and as total assets outweigh total liabilities $338.9 million to $151 million.That said, if we are investing in a company for its balance sheet strength, we'll take Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) or Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG) over INO stock.At the end of the day, Inovio is a play on the novel coronavirus. If it cracks the code on finding the cure, the stock will explode. If it doesn't, the stock could very well go right back to where it started from. That's too binary of a situation for me and therefore, Inovio only remains a trade candidate.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long GOOGL. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own * Look What America's Richest Family Is Investing in Now The post Inovio Stock Still Has Strong Technicals – Herea€™s the Trade appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • Bankruptcy Is the Best Bailout for Delta Stock

    Bankruptcy Is the Best Bailout for Delta StockI'm not flying until this pandemic is over. Are you? If you aren't, then why are you buying airline stocks?Source: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com That's the thought that ran through my head the week of June 8, as Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) stock dropped one-third of its value, from $36.97 per share to $27.20, in four trading sessions.There was little change in the fundamentals. Investors knew revenues for the second quarter might be down 90% from a year earlier. They should have suspected that some rearrangement of its debt would be necessary to avoid default, assuming the pandemic goes into 2021.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBut with trillions of dollars in Federal Reserve funny money around, anything is possible. Shares bounced back off the lows in pre-market trading June 12, opening at nearly $30 each. An Unhealthy RallyFor those who believe in fundamentals, this is a tough market to invest in. What works has been bid to the skies. What doesn't work has followed it.DAL stock doesn't work right now. * 7 Great Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Now Without the virus, the June 12 price is super cheap. Delta is selling at just five times last year's earnings of $5.39 per share. The market capitalization of $20 billion is just 42% of last year's revenue.But there is the virus. Passenger volumes are down 90%. Operating expenses will be down only 50%.In normal times Delta's long-term debt of $17.9 billion, including $5.2 billion in capitalized leases, would not be a problem. But the novel coronavirus is real, and it's going to be around for a while.Delta shares began rising in early April after it agreed to take $5.4 billion in aid under the CARES Act. That was $3.8 billion in cash and a $1.6 billion loan that came with a warrant to buy 1% of its common at $24.39 per share. At the time, CEO Ed Bastian said the money would prevent furloughs and pay reductions through the end of September.But wake me up when September ends. Passengers aren't rushing back. Employees face a hard choice between taking voluntary severance now or being laid off in October. Demand did pick up slightly in June, reducing cash burn from $100 million per day to about $40 million.That may not be enough. Even a burn rate of $40 million per day, over the third quarter, comes to a loss of $3.6 billion. That burn will continue into fall unless tough action is taken. The Final BailoutThere is a final bailout available to all airlines. Delta took it in 2005.It's called bankruptcy. Shareholders are wiped out, loans are written down, routes are dropped. The Delta that emerged in 2007 was different from the one that went into bankruptcy. During bankruptcy, Delta rejected a buyout from U.S. Airways, now part of American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL).It eventually bought Northwest for $2.6 billion. That looks to have been a bargain. Today's airline is a global giant.But it's a giant that may need to go bankrupt again in 2021 if it's to see 2022. The Bottom Line on DAL StockThe CARES Act bailout did DAL stock no favors.If the airlines were bankrupt right now, Delta would be in position to do more than just delay $300 million in payments. It could threaten to walk away entirely.It's the threat of going out of business that forces creditors and employees to create a viable reorganization. The harder today's negotiations, the more likely future shareholders will prosper. Between its purchase of Northwest and the pandemic, Delta stock rose 500%. It also delivered six years of dividends that rose from 6 cents per share to 40 cents.To get those gains tomorrow, today's shareholders would have to be sacrificed. But it would be the right bailout to take.Dana Blankenhorn has been a financial and technology journalist since 1978. He is the author of the environmental thriller Bridget O'Flynn and the Bear, available at the Amazon Kindle store. Follow him on Twitter at @danablankenhorn. As of this writing, he owned no shares in companies mentioned in this story. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own * Look What America's Richest Family Is Investing in Now The post Bankruptcy Is the Best Bailout for Delta Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • The 7 Best Semiconductor Stocks on the Market Now

    The 7 Best Semiconductor Stocks on the Market NowMoore's Law says that the number of transistors on a silicon chip will double every two years. That premise of ever-expanding computing power has been the driving force behind the modern digital revolution. It has also meant that semiconductor stocks have been a force to be reckoned with. * The InvestorPlace Q&A: ProShares Pet Care ETF Is a Treat for Investors But not every company that has built its business around silicon is worth investing in. The road is littered with failures like 3dfx Interactive. To stay safe and reap big gains, these seven picks should be at the top of your list if you want a piece of the semiconductor action: * Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) * Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) * Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ:MXIM) * Qorvo (NASDAQ:QRVO) * Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ:SWKS) * Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI) * Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO)Some have been in business since the PC era began, while several of these companies are relative newcomers. What they all share in common is a focus on silicon chips, and stocks that are going to continue to be strong performers.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Best Semiconductor Stocks: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com First up is a stellar performer among semiconductor stocks. Advanced Micro Devices was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2019, posting 148% growth. AMD stock is up 9% so far in 2020, despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.AMD has been all but written off twice. First, after the 2000 dot-com crash, and again in 2008, when PC shipments began to stall, and AMD's processors and graphics cards just weren't competitive. All of that has changed in recent years. Under the direction of CEO Lisa Su, AMD has been relentless in its development of new chip architecture. Its Ryzen processors have been taking market share from Intel in the PC space, including an aggressive push into laptops for 2020. The company's EPYC processors are winning marketshare in the lucrative data center market. Its Radeon graphics cards are giving market leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) fits. And both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 video game consoles will be powered by custom AMD chips when they launch later this year. Above all, as I wrote earlier this year, AMD maintains an ambitious vision for the future. Look for that vision to continue powering the company's success. Intel (INTC)Source: Kate Krav-Rude / Shutterstock.com Intel is the senior statesman among these semiconductor stocks. It has been focused on silicon chips since 1968. In fact Gordon Moore of Moore's Law fame is Intel's cofounder.One of Intel's key strengths is its resilience. Intel has faced challenges over the past five years that would hobble many other companies. Even as Intel's core PC market continues to shrink, AMD has been winning over consumers and manufacturers with its Ryzen processors. Intel has faced crippling chip shortages plus fallout from the Meltdown and Spectre chip vulnerabilities. It abandoned the smartphone processor market, and last year dropped its smartphone modem business, selling it to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Adding to the gloomy news, it has been reported that Apple is on the verge of ditching Intel processors in its Mac PCs.So why the nod to Intel? Despite the many challenges, Intel remains a dominant force. Its new 10nm chips are beginning to hit the market, and production delays are expected to be resolved. Intel Xeon processors remain the chip of choice in the data center market, and that market is growing. Last year, Intel showed off its own Xe graphics cards, which will position it to take on AMD and Nvidia in that market. Intel is also dominant in the growing Internet of Things (IoT) sector — a key component of smart home and self-driving car technologies.Perhaps the strongest argument is that despite the many challenges, INTC stock continues to perform. Over the past five years, it's up 105%. * 7 Oil Stocks That Are Struggling to Survive In addition, Intel is generous with its dividends. Its latest quarterly dividend was 33 cents per share, paid on June 1. Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM)Source: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com Maxim Integrated is another of those semiconductor stocks with a long history. This company dates back to the 1980s and specializes in integrated circuits (ICs). These are the embedded chips used in a huge variety of products, ranging from cars to heath trackers to automated factory equipment.Maxim Integrated is positioned to benefit from some of the most promising areas of technology growth, including wearables, 5G wireless, automotive IoT, solar cells, military, aerospace and smart building automation.MXIM stock has posted growth of 79% over the past five years. Although it's still under water for 2020, it has been recovering from the March market selloff. At its current price, MXIM stock is up nearly 40% from its March 16 close. Qorvo (QRVO)Source: Piotr Swat / Shutterstock.com Qorvo is a relative newcomer among the semiconductor stocks scene. Founded in 2015, Qorvo describes itself as providing: "the industry's broadest portfolio of critical enabling technologies with expertise in mobile devices, complex infrastructure and global aerospace and defense applications."The RF business encompasses 5G and Wi-Fi 6, the latest tech in a red-hot communication sector. In 2019, Qorvo announced it had shipped 100 million RF devices for use in 5G infrastructure. On the foundry side, Qorvo specializes in custom solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense. That's a market that is always growing, no matter what the economic situation. Power management includes battery management components and power loss protection. Qorvo is growing through acquisition as well. Its latest purchase took place earlier this year, when it completed the purchase of Decawave — a company specializing in ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.QRVO stock was up an impressive 91% in 2019. It has been hit hard in 2020, but since bottoming out in March has re-gained nearly 66%. * The 9 Best Cryptocurrencies to Watch for the Rest of 2020 Expect that recovery to continue, based on the company's latest guidance: "While our June quarter guidance reflects the ongoing demand and supply effects of COVID-19, we are encouraged by continued growth in 5G handsets and infrastructure, and we remain confident in the long-term growth drivers of our business." Skyworks Solutions (SWKS)Source: madamF / Shutterstock.com Skyworks Solutions' primary product is radio frequency semiconductors used by smartphones to communicate with wireless networks. From 2002 through 2008, SWKS stock bounced around below the $10 level, but since 2009 it has been on a growth path. That's no surprise, given that Apple is Skyworks' largest customer, and the iPhone was the hottest-selling smartphone on the planet. That relationship can have its downside — 2018 saw SWKS stock slide, a reaction blamed on lower iPhone demand.However, 5G adoption is expected to spur iPhone demand this fall. That prospect helped to once again light a fuse under SWKS, starting in October. Before the coronavirus pandemic spooked the markets and spoiled the party, Skyworks' stock had gained 70% since the start of October. Even after a March plummet, the prospect of 5G iPhones boosting revenue for the at least the next few years has helped SWKS to recover and more. Now at the $132 level, it's up nearly 9% so far in 2020. Analog Devices (ADI)Source: Shutterstock This Massachusetts-based semiconductor company specializes in analog, mixed-signal and digital signal (DSP) integrated circuits.Its ICs can be found in products that are on the leading edge of technology, sectors that are all expected to see massive growth in coming years. This includes electric cars, self-driving vehicles, 5G infrastructure, industrial automation and smart sensors (Industry 4.0) and digital health solutions. Analog Devices claims over 100,000 customers, worldwide. The widespread use of its products, combined with a big presence in new technology sectors has served the company and its investors well. In addition, ADI has been rewarding investors with dividends and share buybacks — to the tune of $340 million last quarter. * 7 Great Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Now ADI stock is up 85% over the past five years, and has even managed to stay afloat in 2020. Broadcom (AVGO)Source: Sasima / Shutterstock.com Finally, another instantly recognizable semiconductor giant: Broadcom. The Singapore-based company is known for its presence in the data center and network infrastructure sectors. While other tech companies have taken a hit from the coronavirus pandemic, the move to working from home has boosted Broadcom's balance sheet. In its most recent quarter, earnings of $5.74 billion were up 4% year-over-year.Broadcom is not content to sit on its own semiconductor IP. Acquisitions are a key part of its strategy. It even took a shot at purchasing Qualcomm (NASAQ:QCOM) at the height of that company's fight with Apple. The proposed $117 billion deal would have been the biggest ever tech merger. However, in 2018, President Trump blocked it, citing security concerns.The company moved on quickly. In 2019, Broadcom snapped up enterprise security provider Symantec, for $10.7 billion. The move bolstered Broadcom's cloud offerings and helped to diversify from its reliance on hardware.AVGO stock is still down slightly for 2020, but it's well on the path of recovery. With 126% growth over the past five years and a proven track record of thinking big, Broadcom is a winner among semiconductor stocks.Louis Navellier had an unconventional start, as a grad student who accidentally built a market-beating stock system — with returns rivaling even Warren Buffett. In his latest feat, Louis discovered the "Master Key" to profiting from the biggest tech revolution of this (or any) generation. Louis Navellier may hold some of the aforementioned securities in one or more of his newsletters. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own * Look What America's Richest Family Is Investing in Now The post The 7 Best Semiconductor Stocks on the Market Now appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • Avoid United Airlines Stock After 120% Rally From the Lows

    Avoid United Airlines Stock After 120% Rally From the LowsThe airline industry has been on fire, surging higher as American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) stock led the rally. United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) didn't miss out either, with UAL stock ripping 169% from the May lows.Source: NextNewMedia / Shutterstock.com While the stock is pulling back, shares are still up about 120% from those lows, as investor optimism climbed considerably in a short period of time. Helping to fuel that optimism has been part of the "reopening America" trade.I have been noting this trade for a few weeks now, as everything from cruise operators to restaurant stocks have come roaring back to life. But that's what this is — a trade — not an investment. There is still a lot of negativity and uncertainty surrounding these stocks.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsUnfortunately, UAL stock isn't excluded from that observation. Let's take a closer look at the business. Sizing Up AirlinesWhen Warren Buffett sold his airline positions, many investors wondered why the Oracle had taken so long to exit. I'm pretty neutral toward Buffett. I don't hang on his every word and move, but I have a ton of respect for one of the market's greatest investors. * 7 Great Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Now He exited his four airline positions — United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) — as he explained during Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B) annual meeting. But Buffett wasn't looking at the next two to three weeks or even the next couple of months. He was looking years down the road.Some have predicted that airlines won't recover 25% of their prior traffic by September. However, American Air said it plans for 50% of July 2019's schedule to fly in July 2020. America is reopening and the public is not hesitating to book trips, pack into restaurants, and put the novel coronavirus behind them. That's even as we're seeing cases on the rise again. Valuing United AirlinesEven with the recent rise in enthusiasm, the recovery to pre-coronavirus levels will take a while. And even then, remember that airlines stocks did not command a premium valuation. Do you think they will now, given the rather dire circumstances we're seeing?Remember, this isn't Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), where the companies have robust balance sheets and delayed revenue from a dip in iPhone sales. U.S. airport traffic decreased by about 90% at the peak and is still more than 80% off year-over-year levels.DAL and LUV are the balance-sheet leaders, putting UAL stock in a tough spot. The company will weather the storm, but it's burning $40 million to $45 million in cash per day. United's balance sheet will also feel the pressure, as it borrows to stay afloat.Analysts expect United to see a 56% decline in revenue this year, with sales falling from $43.26 billion in 2019 to just $19 billion this year. In 2021, estimates call for a 65% rebound, but to just $31.73 billion. Like I said, this isn't likely to be fast recovery.After earning $12.05 per share last year, United is forecast to lose an incredible $19.49 per share in fiscal 2020. While that figure is sure to change, it shows the astronomical impact to the business. 2021 forecasts call for essentially break-even operations, with profit just $1.68 per share. That's still down 86% from 2019. Trading UAL Stock Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com While the return to normalcy will benefit airlines stocks in obvious ways, it's hard to argue that the decline was an overreaction. Revenue was crushed, as expenses dragged on and the companies burned through cash. With the prospect of a slow return to flying, who is left to buy the stocks when they have rallied so much?UAL stock climbed almost 170% from the May low. The reopening of the country was more robust than expected, so a rally is deserved. However, this seems like too much, too fast.Should uptrend support fail to buoy United, look to see if the 23.6% retracement near $33 can support the stock. This level had been resistance for several months before United broke out above this mark. If it fails as support, see how UAL stock does with the 50-day moving average, currently near $28.On the upside, see if UAL can reclaim the 38.2% retracement and 100-day moving average. If it can, it puts $50 and the 50% retracement in play.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long AAPL. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own * Look What America's Richest Family Is Investing in Now The post Avoid United Airlines Stock After 120% Rally From the Lows appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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