Buy these 3 stocks — whatever the election result, analyst says
As the results of one of the most hotly contested elections in the U.S. come in, investors are scrambling to position for the most likely outcome. But Shelby McFaddin, senior analyst at Motley Fool Asset Management, is looking beyond the end result. She expects volatility this week, but a “limited impact on long-term investments as markets await real policy implications.” Any bets made before the results are final are “pure speculation,” she told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Nov. 5. “Either potential administrations would bring an increase in infrastructure spending and inflation remains a concern.” Kenny Polcari of Slatestone Wealth agrees that politics does “not price stocks in the long term.” “[Elections] create short-term chaos, which then creates opportunities for a long-term investor. But don’t go building your portfolio based around who you think is going to live in the White House,” the chief market strategist at the U.S.-based wealth management firm told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Nov. 5. Investors are also paying close attention to which party takes control of Congress , as a division of power in Washington could make it harder for either presidential candidate to enforce their policies. A clean sweep by either Republicans or Democrats, on the other hand, could result in big changes to spending or tax policy. ‘Success story’ Looking past the election result, McFaddin named three stocks she likes right now, including shipping and parcel delivery giant United Parcel Service . Calling the company “really interesting,” the analyst said it has “been a little bit of a success story,” with a rebound in earnings and revenue. UPS’ third-quarter results surpassed Wall Street’s expectations as volumes bounced back following a post-lockdown slump. The company also increased its full-year operating margin forecast to 9.6%. Aside from its improved financials, McFaddin likes UPS’ management team who have done “everything that they could to deliver on margins, even when they really could not control everything about their top line.” “That’s just been one of our favorite management stories … It’s not necessarily the world’s fastest grower, but it is a really reliable company with really strong management,” she added. Shares in UPS are down around 14.9% year to date and analysts are divided on the company. Some 15 give it a buy or overweight rating, while 14 give it a hold or sell rating and three have a sell call, according to FactSet data. The analysts’ average target price on the stock is $149.96, giving it 12% upside potential. CRH Building materials company CRH is another “really interesting pick” for McFaddin, who expects it to benefit from an increase in infrastructure spending over the next decade. She also sees the company benefiting from the laying of asphalt and concrete to build communities as more people move out of coastal areas. “Recent weather disasters further highlight the urgent need for infrastructure rebuilding, underscoring the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure over the next decade,” McFaddin added in notes to CNBC. Shares in CRH are up around 40% year-to-date. Of 25 analysts covering the stock, 21 give it a buy or overweight rating, three have a hold rating, while one has an underweight call, according to FactSet data. The analysts have an average price target of $104.02 for the stock, giving it 7.3% upside potential. Mastercard Also on McFaddin’s radar is payments giant Mastercard . “Mastercard is crucial to payment infrastructure … In tough market conditions, major players have flexibility,” the analyst wrote in notes to CNBC. McFaddin also likes that the stock is “well-insulated” from a weakening in consumer spending, especially on big-ticket items. Her bullish call comes despite the stock’s current valuation, trading at almost 35 times forward earnings. Shares in Mastercard are up around 18.5% year-to-date. Of 39 analysts covering the stock, 31 give it a buy or overweight rating, while the remaining eight have a hold rating, according to FactSet data. The analysts have an average price target of $558.19 for the stock, giving it 10.4% upside potential. — CNBC’s Sawdah
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