Most companies have reported fourth quarter earnings. The biggest takeaway for investors? This is a stock picker’s market. Some companies are thriving while their competitors are not.
Just look at how Disney (DIS) posted blockbuster numbers while Netflix (NFLX) disappointed investors. And the recent stumbles for Facebook owner Meta Platforms (FB) weren’t a sign of broader tech weakness. Google owner Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) all posted extremely strong results. With that in mind, we figured it’s time to bring back the CNN Business Stocks We Love feature.
Using screening software from data provider Refinitiv, we looked for companies in the main three S&P indexes that trade at reasonable valuations, have strong earnings growth prospects, healthy sales, high returns on equity and little debt. We started with 1,500 companies and whittled down the list from there. Here’s a closer look at nine companies that made the cut.
Interestingly, Meta looks attractive. The stock is certainly cheaper now following its massive drop after its earnings report. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is still posting solid profit and revenue growth. So investors may be overreacting to concerns about the company’s metaverse pivot. Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs (GS), which fell after its latest earnings report when the investment bank disclosed a big increase in worker pay, is also on the list. The company continues to benefit from the boom in mergers and initial public offerings.