Sharp investors are usually looking for true bargains in the stock market. Finding these stocks can help give the stock portfolio a boost. Shares of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) have come into focus recently. Checking in on the stock, we can see that it has been trading near the $77.41 level. Going forward, the investment community will be closely monitoring shares looking for signs of positive momentum. Investors will often follow the current stock price relative to its 52-week high and low levels. The 52-week high is presently 135.44, and the 52-week low is sitting at 72.69. When the stock is trading near the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may pay increased attention to see if there will be a move through that level. Scanning back over the past 12 weeks, the stock has moved -19.09%. Heading back to the beginning of the calendar year, we can see that shares have changed 0.44%. Over the last 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of -11.97%. Over the last 5 sessions, the stock has moved 6.49%.
Investors may be doing a portfolio evaluation as we head into the second half of the calendar year. Assessing results from the first half may help identify what went right, and what went wrong. Many investors may have missed the charge, and they keep hoping for stocks to retreat to go on a buying spree. Gaining a solid grasp on the markets may take years to truly figure out. Combining technical analysis and tracking fundamentals may provide a large boost of confidence to the investor. Being able to sift through the countless chatter may take some perseverance and extreme focus. Creating a winning portfolio might only be a few sharp trades away.
Sell-side analysts have the capability of providing stock ratings for companies that they cover. According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current average broker rating on shares of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) is 1.91. This average rating includes analysts who have offered Sell, Buy and Hold ratings on the stock. This rating falls on a numeric scale from 1 to 5. A score of 1 would indicate a Buy recommendation, and a score of 5 would represent a Sell recommendation. Out of all the analysts offering ratings, 9 have pegged the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, based on data provided by Zacks Research.
Tracking the current quarter consensus EPS estimate for Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB), we have noted that the number is currently 1.42. This estimate is using 1 contributing analysts polled by Zacks Research. For the last quarter, the company posted a quarterly EPS of 1.31. Sell-side Wall Street analysts study companies and provide their opinions of where the stock might be going in the future. A lot of weight is given to analyst estimates, and earnings beats or misses revolve around these predictions. Sometimes these estimates are very close to the actual, and other times they are not. When a company announces actual earnings results, a large surprise factor can result in increased volatility. If a company beats estimates and posts a positive earnings surprise, the stock may see a near-term bump in price. On the flip side, a negative surprise may move the stock lower. Based on the unknown, many investors may choose to trade with caution around earnings releases.
Analysts have set a target price on shares of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB). The current consensus price target is $118.35. Wall Street analysts often provide price target projections on stocks that they cover. Price target projections can be created using a wide variety of methods. Many investors will closely track stock target prices, especially when analysts make updates. A thorough research report will generally offer detailed reasoning for a certain target projection. Some investors may watch sell-side targets very closely and use the information to help with their own stock research.
One of the most famous sayings in the stock market is “buy low, sell high”. This may seem like an oversimplified statement, but there are many novice investors who often do the complete opposite. Many investors may be looking too closely at stocks that have been on the rise, and they might not be checking on the underlying fundamental data. They may be hoping to ride the wave higher, but may end up shaking their heads. On the flip side, many investors may hold onto stocks for far too long after they have slipped drastically. Waiting for a bounce that may never come can cause frustration and plenty of second guessing. Successful investors are typically able to locate stocks that are undervalued at a certain price. This may take a lot of practice and dedication, but it may do wonders for the health of the portfolio.
