Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019

tags:MRO,NDLS,MBFI,QDEL,BPFH,GNTX, What happened

Shares of Alta Mesa Resources (NASDAQ:AMR) are plunging today, down 17.7% as of 11:45 a.m. EDT, after the oil and gas exploration and production company posted second-quarter earnings that fell well short of Wall Street expectations.

So what

Alta Mesa reported a net loss of $0.04 per share compared to analysts' expectations of a per-share profit of $0.10. While the company was able to grow production significantly -- July production was 50% higher than the beginning of the year -- and volumes of gas fracking water were up across its set of pipeline assets, low price realizations because of some unfavorable futures contracts and higher costs ate away at any chance of generating a positive return.

Image source: Getty Images.

Management tried to put its best face forward by raising production guidance for the full year, adding an additional drilling rig to its capital spending plan, and expanding its midstream footprint, but these capital spending plans are more than likely going to outstrip the company's cash-generating ability.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: Marathon Oil Corporation(MRO)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Saudi Aramco's valuation, however, isn't the only one that would benefit from a pop in the price of crude. Many oil producers in the U.S. restructured their operations to run on $50 oil, so if the Saudi strategy is successful, these oil companies would produce a gusher of cash flow, which could fuel high-octane gains for investors. While that rise would likely lift the entire sector, Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) and Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) could outperform in that scenario.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Thursday was a volatile day on Wall Street, as major stock indexes lost a lot of ground early in the day but then rebounded to finished mixed. Gains for the Nasdaq Composite came even as Dow Jones Industrial Average fell modestly, and although investors spent much of the session trying to parse through the implications of the latest economic report on retail sales, earnings played a key role in moving many well-known stocks. Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), and Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) were among the top performers. Here's why they did so well.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) is another oil company built to thrive at lower oil prices. At $50 oil, Marathon can generate enough cash to grow production at a 10% to 14% annual pace for the next several years while living within cash flow. At $60 oil, Marathon's plan would generate about $500 million in free cash flow. With oil above that level even after the recent OPEC chatter, Marathon is on pace to produce a windfall of excess cash this year. 

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) CEO Lee Tillman feels the same way. He stated on the company's first-quarter call that: "Our financial flexibility is at the top of our peer group and was further strengthened by receipt of proceeds from Libya and our final Canadian oil sands payment. This flexibility allows us to pursue multiple high-return uses of free cash, but we are taking a disciplined approach and we are not considering large-scale M&A."

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  That prediction would have been unfathomable just a few months ago. While some oil bulls thought prices could surprise to the upside, the consensus outlook was that crude would be in the low to mid $50s this year thanks to surging U.S. oil production. Because of that, most producers based their budgets on oil averaging $50 a barrel, including EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG), Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), and Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE:APC). In EOG Resources' case, $50 oil would provide it with the cash flow to pay a dividend that was 10.4% higher than 2017's level and drill 690 more wells, which would boost oil production about 18%. Meanwhile, Marathon Oil could produce enough cash at that price point to pay its dividend and fund the new wells needed to boost companywide output 12% compared to last year. Anadarko Petroleum, likewise, could fully fund its dividend and a growth-focused capital plan, which would see it boost oil output 14% this year.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: Noodles & Company(NDLS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Noodles & Co (NDLS)

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

• [By Lisa Levin] Gainers The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTD) jumped 36.2 percent to $71.82 after the company reported upbeat results for its first quarter. The company also issued strong second-quarter and FY18 sales guidance. WideOpenWest, Inc. (NYSE: WOW) jumped 30.4 percent to $8.80 after the company reported Q1 results. MoSys, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOSY) shares surged 28.6 percent to $1.9541 after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 results and issued strong Q2 forecast. Boxlight Corporation (NASDAQ: BOXL) gained 24 percent to $6.39. Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKCA) shares gained 19.1 percent to $24.60. Akcea Therapeutics, an affiliate of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IONS) announced that the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, which met to discuss the safety and efficacy of subcutaneously injected volanesoren solution for patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, voted 12-8 to support its approval. Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: UEPS) shares rose 17 percent to $10.31 after reporting Q3 results. ArcBest Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCB) gained 16.8 percent to $43.1457 after reporting upbeat quarterly earnings. Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS) rose 16.2 percent to $8.60. Amtech posted Q2 earnings of $0.19 per share on sales of $32.783 million. Identiv, Inc (NASDAQ: INVE) surged 14.4 percent to $3.8450 following Q1 results. Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) shares rose 14.3 percent to $18.43 following Q1 results. VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR) gained 11.5 percent to $2.71. Intersections Inc. (NASDAQ: INTX) gained 11.4 percent to $2.55 after reporting Q1 results. Noodles & Company (NASDAQ: NDLS) shares rose 10.9 percent to $8.65 following Q1 results. Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VYGR) climbed 10.6 percent to $18.54 following Q1 results. Blink Charging Co. (NASDAQ: BLNK) rose 10.4 percent to $5.739. Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ: IMMR) gained 9.6 percent to $12.69
• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  It might seem odd that the industry's biggest winner so far this year isn't growing. In fact, Noodles & Co. (NASDAQ:NDLS) recently posted a quarterly net loss while revenue decreased 5%. But that result still shot past investors' expectations by showing surprising progress in the casual-dining chain's recovery efforts. Noodles & Co. has lots of work ahead of it before it can snap out of its four-year stretch of annual net losses. Yet, with shares having fallen by over 80% since 2013, even modestly good news proved to be enough to spark at least a short-term rally in the stock.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Noodles & Co (NASDAQ:NDLS) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors acquired 1,113 put options on the stock. This is an increase of 1,084% compared to the average volume of 94 put options.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: MB Financial Inc.(MBFI)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY increased its holdings in shares of MB Financial Inc (NASDAQ:MBFI) by 2.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 48,744 shares of the bank’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,064 shares during the quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY owned 0.06% of MB Financial worth $2,276,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Breaking news

  Roper Technologies Inc (NYSE: ROP) announced plans to acquire PowerPlan for $1.1 billion in cash. Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) agreed to acquire MB Financial Inc (NASDAQ: MBFI) for $54.70 per share in cash and stock. General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) agreed to merge its transportation unit with Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp (NYSE: WAB). IHS Markit Ltd (NASDAQ: INFO) announced plans to Ipreo for $1.855 billion.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  MB Financial Inc (NASDAQ:MBFI) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the ten analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $48.46.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on MB Financial (MBFI)

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

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: Quidel Corporation(QDEL)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Quidel (QDEL)

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

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Quidel (QDEL)

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

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Quidel (NASDAQ: QDEL) and IPSEN S A/S (OTCMKTS:IPSEY) are both medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Quidel (QDEL)

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

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.(BPFH)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Media stories about Boston Private Financial (NASDAQ:BPFH) have been trending somewhat negative this week, according to Accern Sentiment. Accern identifies positive and negative news coverage by reviewing more than twenty million news and blog sources. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. Boston Private Financial earned a media sentiment score of -0.04 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned media headlines about the bank an impact score of 46.1452934043319 out of 100, meaning that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the immediate future.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Boston Private Financial (NASDAQ:BPFH) was downgraded by equities research analysts at ValuEngine from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Boston Private Financial (NASDAQ:BPFH) was downgraded by stock analysts at BidaskClub from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Boston Private Financial (BPFH)

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

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Boston Private Financial Hldg Inc (NASDAQ:BPFH) – Equities research analysts at SunTrust Banks cut their Q2 2018 earnings estimates for Boston Private Financial in a report released on Sunday, May 20th. SunTrust Banks analyst M. Young now expects that the bank will post earnings per share of $0.10 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.20.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Boston Private Financial (BPFH)

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

Hot Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2019: Gentex Corporation(GNTX)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Dana (NYSE: DAN) and Gentex (NASDAQ:GNTX) are both mid-cap auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and earnings.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Gentex (GNTX)

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

• [By ]

  Even the best-run businesses on the planet would find it difficult to control 92% of their markets, let alone increase that share over time. But auto supplier Gentex (NASDAQ:GNTX) is not most businesses. The company ended 2016 with a 92% market share in automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, then managed to edge that up to 93% one year later. Hardly exciting stuff, but good enough to earn a market cap in excess of $6 billion and deliver enough excess profit to hand shareholders a 1.9% dividend yield.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Gentex (GNTX)

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

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Gentex (NASDAQ: GNTX) is one of 45 publicly-traded companies in the “Motor vehicle parts & accessories” industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Gentex to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk and valuation.