Hub Group (HUBG) Receives Hold Rating from Cowen

Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reissued by analysts at Cowen in a research note issued on Thursday. They currently have a $53.00 price objective on the transportation company’s stock. Cowen’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 0.57% from the company’s current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. BidaskClub cut Hub Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 26th. Loop Capital upgraded Hub Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets restated a “hold” rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Hub Group in a report on Thursday. ValuEngine upgraded Hub Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 3rd. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded Hub Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.62.

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Hub Group traded up $5.75, reaching $52.70, during midday trading on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. 264,994 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 285,077. The stock has a market cap of $1.59 billion, a PE ratio of 27.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.45. Hub Group has a 1 year low of $33.35 and a 1 year high of $54.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 1st. The transportation company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $1.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.10 billion. Hub Group had a return on equity of 9.48% and a net margin of 3.33%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 27.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.29 EPS. equities analysts predict that Hub Group will post 2.43 EPS for the current year.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HUBG. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Hub Group by 33.3% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 64,797 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,104,000 after purchasing an additional 16,190 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hub Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $7,407,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Hub Group by 86.1% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 123,623 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $5,921,000 after purchasing an additional 57,191 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in shares of Hub Group by 160.1% in the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 12,158 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $582,000 after purchasing an additional 7,483 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hub Group by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC now owns 146,863 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $7,035,000 after purchasing an additional 2,075 shares in the last quarter. 92.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Hub Group

Hub Group, Inc, an asset-light freight transportation management company, provides intermodal, truck brokerage, and logistics services in North America. It operates through two segments, Mode and Hub. Its intermodal services include arranging for the movement of its customers' freight in containers and trailers over long distances.

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CF Industries (CF) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.21 EPS

CF Industries (NYSE:CF) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The basic materials company reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.42 by $0.21, Briefing.com reports. The company had revenue of $1.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.21 billion. CF Industries had a negative return on equity of 0.11% and a net margin of 10.96%. CF Industries’s revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.10 earnings per share.

CF Industries traded down $0.29, reaching $44.13, during midday trading on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The stock had a trading volume of 2,424,700 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,908,798. The firm has a market cap of $10.26 billion, a PE ratio of -176.52, a P/E/G ratio of 7.41 and a beta of 1.06. CF Industries has a 1-year low of $27.77 and a 1-year high of $46.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.65.

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The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 15th will be given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 14th. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently -480.00%.

A number of research firms have recently commented on CF. Scotiabank raised CF Industries from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 28th. Citigroup raised their price target on CF Industries from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 11th. Royal Bank of Canada raised CF Industries from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $38.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 18th. ValuEngine raised CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, June 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on CF Industries from $37.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. CF Industries presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $41.09.

In other CF Industries news, VP Adam L. Hall sold 15,540 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.53, for a total transaction of $629,836.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 39,566 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,603,609.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 41.1% during the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,780,097 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $180,352,000 after purchasing an additional 1,391,605 shares during the last quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLC increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 700.3% during the 2nd quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLC now owns 2,961,421 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $131,485,000 after purchasing an additional 2,591,386 shares during the last quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 53.4% during the 1st quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,491,533 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $94,005,000 after purchasing an additional 867,700 shares during the last quarter. Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,472,545 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $55,560,000 after purchasing an additional 162,271 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 137.4% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,466,777 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $55,342,000 after purchasing an additional 849,036 shares during the last quarter. 99.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About CF Industries

CF Industries Holdings, Inc manufactures and distributes nitrogen fertilizers and other nitrogen products worldwide. The company operates through Ammonia, Granular Urea, UAN, AN, and Other segments. Its principal nitrogen fertilizer products include ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and ammonium nitrate.

Featured Story: What do investors mean by earnings per share?

Here's What Every Investor Needs to Know About the Next Six Months

William Patalon III

A decade has passed since I first met�our Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald�– and from that first day, the big-payoff investing ideas have just kept rolling in.

So I invited Keith to share his best ideas – and best strategies – for the last six months of 2018. It's going to be a challenging stretch – with unforeseen "wild cards" roiling already-turbulent waters.

He shared some incredible stock recommendations. He also offered one of the simplest – but most profound – bits of advice about surviving and thriving in the second half of this year. In fact, I'll share it before we get started:

"Right, now, BP, with all the wild cards, with all the uncertainty, with all the worries folks have – I still don't see this as a time to cut and run," said Keith.

He went on, "To me, the stock market at this time is about playing to strengths – and�not�bowing down to weaknesses. It's about being tactically opportunistic – and�not�'hunkering down.' I say all this for one very good reason: Threats and opportunities are just different sides of the same coin. It's all about how you look at things."

That's a "winner's way" of looking at things, as evidenced by the long list of double- and triple-digit winning stocks he's researched and recommended for his Money Map Report and High Velocity Profits subscribers in the first half of 2018.

Here's how he plans to build on that success in the months ahead…

Join the conversation. Click here to jump to comments…

William Patalon III

About the Author

Browse William's articles | View William's research services

Before he moved into the investment-research business in 2005, William (Bill) Patalon III spent 22 years as an award-winning financial reporter, columnist, and editor. Today he is the Executive Editor and Senior Research Analyst for Money Morning. With his latest project, Private Briefing, Bill takes you "behind the scenes" of his established investment news website for a closer look at the action. Members get all the expert analysis and exclusive scoops he can't publish... and some of the most valuable picks that turn up in Bill's closed-door sessions with editors and experts.

… Read full bio

Why Microsoft Stock Is Worth Buying Before Earnings

In the National Football League, the last twenty yards before the goal line are known as the red zone. This is where some of the grittiest plays can occur. And it’s where the best teams know how to score and prove it over and over. And when you’re in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, being in this red zone is even more challenging.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock has been on a tear so far this year. It has soared from $85.54 up to a high of $105.95 equating a total return so far of 24.05%. That’s 2.74 times the return of the S&P 500 and 47% better than the S&P Information Technology Index.

That’s a great score for shareholders. And for my subscribers to Profitable Investing, that’s just piling it on as they’ve scored an overall return of 355.26% in MSFT stock, which has been in the model portfolio since 2012.

But will it continue to score past the recent highs? After all, Microsoft stock is in the red zone of its trading. And at 10.19 times its book value and 7.6 times sales, the stock is highly valued right now.

But what might push MSFT stock over the top will be how the company’s fourth-quarter’s results play out on Thursday afternoon at 4:09 pm.

MSFT Stock: First & Goal

The company’s revenues are up over the past year by 5.9%. That’s not that spectacular on its own. But if you break down that overall revenue growth by segment, it tells a better story. Over the past three years, the average growth for its personal computing segment is a meager 0.27%. Productivity and Business Processes is running at 4.11%. But the real number to look at relates to Azure, MSFT’s cloud unit, which has revenue growth averaging 8.08%.

The cloud is where the company is focused on to get the score for shareholders.

The CFO, Amy Hood has $132 billion in cash to allocate. And she has not been shy to move money and resources from Windows and PCs toward the faster growth businesses like the cloud.

And she knows along with the rest of the C-Suite, that Microsoft has plenty of competition just from U.S. peers, including Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL), Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) and others.

In the last quarter, the cloud business represented 29.4% of overall revenues compared to 37% for PC and 33.6% for Productivity.

Right now, the estimate consensus that I’m seeing on my Bloomberg Terminal is that the overall revenue number for the Microsoft is expected to come in at $29,219.2 million, which would put it up 14.12% over the same quarter for 2017. And the operating income is expected to come in at $9,542.6 million, which would equate to a gain of 19.46%. This would be good news on two fronts.

First, it would mean that revenues are significantly picking up. But more importantly, it would mean that operating margins are increasing from 31.2% to 32.7%, which means profitability should show improvement, even with the slower growth in the non-cloud units.

Right now, Bloomberg tracks 35 Wall Street analysts; 31 have buy ratings on MSFT stock, which is up from 26 analysts at the start of this year. Meanwhile, only two analysts have hold ratings on the stock (which to me, usually means sell) and two analysts have sell ratings.

And the average price target on Microsoft stock for the next 12 months is up another 7.5% versus the average analysts’ projection for the average stock in the S&P 500 Software Index at 5.5%.

Finally, I’ve seen options trading reports that indicate expectations for the MSFT stock price to pick up 3.9% after the earnings release.

I see Microsoft stock trading higher over the next few months by at least 5.7% against a more range-bound S&P 500. And with recent deals for cloud services from the likes of Walmart (NYSE:WMT) and the beleaguered General Electric (NYSE:GE) among many others, revenue and underlying business values should continue on the rise.

I’d be a buyer ahead of the earnings release and see that Microsoft has a good game plan as it starts the first quarter in great field position.

Neil George is the editor for Profitable Investing and according to company policy, he does not have a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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ONGC Q1 PAT seen up 80.9% YoY to Rs. 7,035 cr: HDFC

HDFC has come out with its first quarter (April-June�� 18) earnings estimates for the Materials sector. The brokerage house expects ONGC to report net profit at Rs. 7,035 crore up 80.9% year-on-year (up 18.9% quarter-on-quarter).

Net Sales are expected to increase by 44.2 percent Y-o-Y (up 14.7 percent Q-o-Q) to Rs. 27,503 crore, according to HDFC.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) are likely to rise by 41 percent Y-o-Y (up 22.4 percent Q-o-Q) to Rs. 13,931 crore.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Read More First Published on Jul 19, 2018 05:57 pm

Alan Davy Acquires 39 Shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock (BATS) Stock

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock (LON:BATS) insider Alan Davy bought 39 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, July 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 3,931 ($52.34) per share, with a total value of 拢1,533.09 ($2,041.13).

Alan Davy also recently made the following trade(s):

Get BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock alerts: On Friday, May 11th, Alan Davy bought 3 shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 3,881 ($51.67) per share, with a total value of 拢116.43 ($155.01).

Shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock opened at GBX 3,927 ($52.28) on Friday, according to Marketbeat Ratings. BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock has a 52-week low of GBX 4,064 ($54.11) and a 52-week high of GBX 5,643.60 ($75.14).

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 28th will be issued a GBX 48.80 ($0.65) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.32%.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Credit Suisse Group restated an “outperform” rating and set a GBX 5,800 ($77.22) target price on shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 28th. Societe Generale set a GBX 4,500 ($59.91) target price on BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, June 29th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 8th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and set a GBX 5,500 ($73.23) target price on shares of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock in a research report on Friday, March 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a GBX 5,185 ($69.03) target price on BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 31st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 5,295.59 ($70.50).

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock Company Profile

British American Tobacco p.l.c. provides cigarettes and other tobacco products worldwide. It manufactures vapour and tobacco heating products; oral tobacco and nicotine products, such as snus and moist snuff; cigars; and e-cigarettes. The company offers its products under the Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, Benson & Hedges, John Player Gold Leaf, State Express 555, and Shuang Xi brands.

Looking for investment ideas as Nifty reclaims 11,000? 10 large, midcap stocks that may return 22-50

After hitting a lifetime high of 11,171 in January, the Nifty corrected sharply to break the 10,000-mark in March. It followed it up with a gradual recovery along with rangebound trade. Trade war tensions between US and China, sharp rupee depreciation versus the dollar, steep increase in crude oil prices along with Karnataka election verdict caused selling pressure as well as volatility in the market.

Now the market has taken all these concerns in its strides and started inching towards that record high again on hopes of an earnings recovery and economic growth this fiscal. Stability in the dollar-rupee and crude oil prices aided the rally, though trade tensions took centre stage after the US threatened 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods.

The Nifty is now trading at a 5-month high of around 11,000 levels and is 150-point away from its earlier record high. The market recovery has been backed by domestic inflows when foreign investors were sellers. The market is likely to continue its upward trajectory, though there could be some volatility due to global cues like trade tensions and any sharp spike in crude oil prices, experts said.

"We expect Indian markets to grind higher, though volatility will remain high. This may induce swings in either direction," Karvy Stock Broking said in its recent note. It sees valuations at more reasonable levels now (compared to January) with Nifty trading at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18 times (Nifty's average has been 16.2 times since 2005). ��At current levels, valuations are not a constraint for the markets to move higher.��

related news Sensex at record high: Sectors which Sundaram Asset Management is betting on 1 largecap, 2 midcaps that could return 7-17 percent return in 6 months

Experts too see limited downside to the market now. For a correction to occur, the stated that oil prices have to stay above $80 a barrel and dollar has to increase sharply against the rupee.

But Pratik Gupta of Deutsche Bank India expects volatility to continue in the short term. ��The market could fall 3-5 percent only if there is a sharp appreciation in the dollar-rupee and crude oil prices spike.��

However, he was quick to counter that this does not mean the upside is unlikely. ��The Sensex and Nifty can end the current calendar year at 37,000 and 11,400, respectively, as the structural growth story is intact for the next 3-5 years with corporate earnings picking up.��

Karvy's year-end target for the Sensex is 37,500, which is 6 percent higher than current levels. "We believe the Sensex will touch 40,500 by December 2020, an upside of 14 percent from the current levels."

The research house suggests investors keep an eye on the dollar-rupee, global trade war, oil prices, ongoing resolution of bad loans in the banking sector and state elections in 4 states (Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh) in the run-up to the general elections to be held in May 2019.

Here is the list of 10 stocks from Karvy Stock Broking that can deliver 22-50 percent return in 1 year:

HCL Technologies: Buy | Target - Rs 1,176 | Return - 27 percent

The FY19 guidance of 5.25 percent organic growth was slightly below estimates and lower than industry average. This led to a sharp correction in the stock. HCLT��s underperformance relative to both broader markets and IT index is overdone. HCLT is likely to surprise positively on the growth front.

On a TTM basis, HCLT is currently trading at a PE of 14.8 and FY20E PE of 12.5. Currently, HCLT is trading at a discount of 46 percent to TCS��s PE vs historical average of 25 percent.

We remain constructive on the stock given industry leading growth rate and stable margins. We value HCLT at FY20 PE of 15.8 and reiterate Buy with a target of Rs 1176, an upside of 27 percent.

Sustained weakness in IMS and margin risk due to higher investments are key downside risks.

ICICI Bank: Buy | Target - Rs 405 | Return - 47 percent

Even though the slippages increased in Q4FY17, the material portion that includes adversely classified accounts including the guided stress list remained unchanged.

This is positive for the company as we expect the bank to be left with the adversely classified exposure of Rs 13,330 crore of which we assess Rs 10,000 crore to slip in FY19E.

Also, the RBI review report didn��t impact the asset quality negatively.

We estimate return on assets (RoAs) to improve to around 1.7 percent in FY20E from around 0.9 percent in FY18. We maintain a Buy on the stock with target price of Rs 405 valuing core banking operations at Rs 300, 1.9x FY19E P/B and subsidiaries at Rs 105 per share.

Key risk could be discovery of new NPAs that can further deteriorate bank��s financials, thus making recovery difficult.

Indiabulls Housing Finance: Buy | Target - Rs 1,519 | Return - 33 percent

The company fundamentals are on strong footing and as per consensus, the operating performance will be strong which derives a valuation of 3.4x price/book value for a target price of Rs 1,519 representing an upside potential of 33 percent.

Larsen & Toubro: Buy | Target - Rs 1,631 | Return - 28 percent

L&T's exposure to various sectors/ geographies coupled with its excellent execution capabilities and its balance sheet strength compared to other peers in the sector has resulted in strong order book build up.

The consensus values the company at 24.0x for a target price of Rs 1,631, representing an upside potential of 28 percent. Delay in capex cycle recovery & order execution may pose threat to the call.

Oil & Gas Natural Gas Corporation: Buy | Target - Rs 192 | Return - 22 percent

Synergies in ONGC's business and likely consolidation in downstream business with merger of HPCL and MRPL will ensure uptick in growth for the company.

We have valued the stock at PE 8x of FY20E EPS and have arrived at a target price of Rs 192 which gives potential upside of 22 percent. However, subsidy sharing will be detrimental to ONGC's performance.

State Bank of India: Buy | Target - Rs 334 | Return - 29 percent

SBI with its focus on loan book growth, CASA share in deposits, sustained NIMs of 2.7 percent, reducing non-performing assets (NPAs) and fresh slippages augur well in the long term.

Merged SBI presents a case for a diversified balance sheet that mirrors the domestic economy available at bargain valuations from a long term investment perspective.

We value the stock at 1.2x FY20 BVPS with a Buy rating for a target price of Rs 334.

Tata Motors: Buy | Target - Rs 405 | Return - 50 percent

Around GBP 13.5 billion has been lined up for investments for the next three years on technology, new launches and capacity expansion which works out to be around GBP 4.5 billion per annum out of which around 78 percent is expected to be spent on technology and product development.

The technology involved is called Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) which is compatible with Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) making it a flexible design. This is expected to bring about some operational benefits and will be fully implemented by FY25E.

The Bloomberg consensus target price for Tata Motors is Rs 405 which is valued at P/E 8.9x for FY20E EPS based on future growth prospects. However, slowdown in the UK and European markets for JLR can be viewed as the possible downside risks to the call.

Titan Company: Buy | Target - Rs 1,058 | Return - 20 percent

Under jewellery segment, 'Tanishq' is the most successful and leading brand for the company in India. Now the company is planning to enter into international markets in jewellery segment by the end of FY19.

Titan, with its improving operational efficiencies and expansion strategies in retail network, is moving up the value chain and capturing more market share.

The stock is valued at 52.0x on Bloomberg consensus FY20E EPS with Buy rating to arrive at target price of Rs 1,058 with an upside of 20 percent.

However, government regulations on gold purchases, competition from regional jewellery players, gold price volatility, revival in consumer spending & competition from e-commerce players will be the key risks to the earning of the company.

UPL: Buy | Target - Rs 934 | Return - 51 percent

The favorable weather forecasts for key agricultural regions, constructive government policies, and possibility of price increase (given stock-to-use ratios of key grain commodities expected to fall in certain regions) should speak well.

Crop diversity and gaining traction in biological nutrition portfolio will further drive growth for UPL and help in mitigating risk. We recommend Buy for a target of Rs 934 valuing at 17.4x FY20E EPS representing an upside potential of 51 percent.

Yes Bank: Buy | Target - Rs 472 | Return - 39 percent

Volatility in asset quality is a cause of concern.

In the past five years, the bank has consistently delivered 1.5 percent+ return on assets and 18 percent+ return on equity. Liabilities have been managed well with CASA as well as retail deposits improving and its target of 40 percent by FY19 looks achievable.

It has ambitious target for NIM of 4 percent by FY20. Expansion of branches and employee addition will keep costs elevated.

Supported by strong earnings and the ability to raise capital at a good price, its book value accretion has been the strongest among peers with a five-year CAGR of +30 percent. We maintain a Buy on the stock with target price of Rs 472, an upside of 39 percent.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by brokerage house on Moneycontrol are its own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published on Jul 12, 2018 11:10 am

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now

tags:EMR,RCII,KSS,GD, Get to Florida and buy a house. Now.   I'm not kidding. If you wait any longer, you might miss this opportunity. And believe me, you don't want to miss it.   I've personally been buying real estate for years... But the opportunity isn't over. Not even close.   I know what you're thinking...   "Steve, real estate prices have skyrocketed since 2011... Can prices really keep climbing higher?"   The answer is yes. In fact, where I live in northern Florida, houses are downright cheap. And that makes this an opportunity you do not want to miss.   Let me explain...   The median home value in Orlando, Florida is around $161,000, according to Zillow.com. And the median home value in Jacksonville, Florida is $144,000.   I can't tell you that the median home in either of these places is the right home for you, but my point is that Florida real estate is still CHEAP. When I travel the world, I'm stunned by housing prices...

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Here are some of the headlines that may have effected Accern Sentiment Analysis’s analysis:

  Get Emerson Electric alerts: Stocks This Week: Wells Fargo, Emerson Electric and CSX (finance.yahoo.com) Emerson Electric (EMR) & Philips (PHG) Financial Review (americanbankingnews.com) Emerson Electric (EMR) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages (americanbankingnews.com) Is It Time To Buy Emerson Electric Co (NYSE:EMR)? (finance.yahoo.com) Emerson Electric: An Autonomous Future (seekingalpha.com)

  EMR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Emerson Electric from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $78.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. UBS initiated coverage on shares of Emerson Electric in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $73.26 price objective on the stock. Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $78.00 price objective on shares of Emerson Electric in a research note on Wednesday, April 18th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Emerson Electric from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised shares of Emerson Electric from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $69.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 24th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Emerson Electric has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $73.00.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Flippin Bruce & Porter Inc. decreased its holdings in Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) by 33.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 66,251 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 33,574 shares during the quarter. Flippin Bruce & Porter Inc.’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $4,525,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its position in shares of Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) by 1.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 574,584 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 7,640 shares during the period. Emerson Electric makes up about 0.8% of D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $39,244,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. reduced its stake in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) by 4.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 80,915 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 3,534 shares during the quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc.’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $5,527,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  COPYRIGHT VIOLATION NOTICE: “Q1 2018 EPS Estimates for Rent-A-Center Increased by KeyCorp (RCII)” was first reported by Ticker Report and is the sole property of of Ticker Report. If you are viewing this article on another publication, it was illegally stolen and reposted in violation of United States and international trademark & copyright laws. The legal version of this article can be read at https://www.tickerreport.com/banking-finance/3350595/q1-2018-eps-estimates-for-rent-a-center-increased-by-keycorp-rcii.html.

• [By Timothy Green]

  Shares of rent-to-own retailer Rent-A-Center Inc. (NASDAQ:RCII) soared on Monday after the company agreed to be acquired for $15 per share. This comes less than a week after Rent-A-Center received a lower buyout offer following the completion of its strategic review. The stock was up about 22.2% at 11:30 a.m. EDT.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Rent-A-Center (RCII)

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

• [By Logan Wallace]

  OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Rent-A-Center Inc (NASDAQ:RCII) by 52.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 72,200 shares of the company’s stock after selling 79,200 shares during the period. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp owned about 0.14% of Rent-A-Center worth $623,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Kohl's Corporation(KSS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  The relationship between the P/E ratio and the dividend yield is important to understand here. The lower a company's valuation is, the more valuable the dividend becomes as the dividend yield increases. For instance, with a P/E ratio of about 12,�Kohl's�(NYSE: KSS) could be considered a value stock, and its�dividend yields a respectable 3.9%. Its payout ratio -- the percentage of earnings that go to its dividend or dividend per share divided by earnings per share -- is also modest at 48%. Eighty percent is considered the maximum that dividend stocks should aim for in order to leave adequate cash flow for other needs.

• [By Money Morning Staff Reports]

  Retail stocks have been on a tear lately, causing investors to question whether the retail sector really is doomed. But that could not be farther from the truth, even for a stock like Kohl's Corp. (NYSE: KSS).

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  After years of subpar sales results and declining profitability, Kohl's (NYSE:KSS) executives have started to think outside the box as they work to get the company growing consistently once again. Boosting store traffic has been management's main focus.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: S&P GSCI(GD)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lou Whiteman]

  Scale matters in the government IT business, as larger companies are better able to manage the increasingly large and complex systems customers demand, and a broader cost basis helps in putting together low-cost, competitive bids. In recent years, a wave of mergers and acquisitions has left a clear top two in the market. Industry leader Leidos Holdings (NYSE:LDOS) in 2016 bought the IT business of Lockheed Martin, while General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) vaulted to No. 2 earlier this year via its acquisition of CSRA.

• [By ]

  Only 10% of the companies on the list had female CEOs at the helm, four of which -- Hewlett Packard (HP) , Lockheed Martin (LMT) , General Motors (GM) , and General Dynamics (GD) -- grew significant revenue in five years or less. 

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.4 per share on revenue of $5.63 billion. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $37.16 billion. Twitter, Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.11 per share on revenue of $605.26 million. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.59 per share on revenue of $22.75 billion. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.52 per share on revenue of $7.6 billion. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $2.58 per share on revenue of $22.24 billion. Anthem, Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $4.91 per share on revenue of $22.52 billion. Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $3.04 billion. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.61 per share on revenue of $6.61 billion. Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.81 per share on revenue of $1.66 billion. Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.07 per share on revenue of $2.15 billion. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.46 per share on revenue of $3.82 billion. Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.97 per share on revenue of $1.62 billion. T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TROW) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.71 per share on revenue of $1.29 billion. Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.04 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion. Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SI
• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on General Dynamics (GD)

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

• [By ]

  General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) is diversified across the Aerospace & Defense sector with 25% of sales in information technology, followed by aerospace orders (24%), marine systems (23%), combat systems (16%), and mission systems (12%). The acquisition of CSRA makes it one of the largest IT contractors to the U.S. government.

• [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

  Code Pink takes issue with BlackRock's investments in aerospace and defense companies such as General Dynamics Corp.(NYSE: GD), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC).

Podcast | Stock Picks of the Day: 3 stocks that could return 7-9% in 1-2 months

Hadrien Mendonca

Markets showed immense strength and resilience during the week. The current upswing was seen despite a weakening rupee-dollar and persistent US-China trade war concerns.

The Nifty has once again formed a ��Doji�� kind of pattern on the weekly chart, indicating signs of uncertainty. However, it has still managed to hold above it short term averages.

At the current juncture, the�index is on the verge of a sloping trend line breakout on the daily chart. A close above 10,800 would confirm the same which would then lift the Nifty higher towards 10,930 levels.

related news Like auto, pvt banks for the medium to long term; these 3 stocks could return 14-38% Buy or sell: Top stock trading ideas by market experts which are good short term bets

The Bank Nifty is in the middle of forming a ��Pennant�� pattern on the daily chart. A close above this sloping trend line of 26,700 would confirm the breakout. However, a crucial support on the downside is placed around 26,140 levels.

With midcaps and smallcaps continuing to remain under immense pressure, it would be prudent to stick to quality largecaps.

Here is a list of top 3 stocks that could�return 7-9% in the next 1-2 months:

ACC: Buy| Target: Rs 1,508| Stop Loss: Rs 1,335| Returns 8.5%

The stock has been consolidating for the past one month and has now finally broken out from a Double Bottom breakout on the daily chart.

The price outburst has been accompanied with a smart uptick in traded volumes as well. Positive crossovers on the short-term moving averages and strength in the RSI further accentuates our bullish stance on the stock.

We expect the current momentum to get extended and expect ACC to surge towards its potential target of Rs 1,508 in the medium term.

Hindustan Unilever: Buy| Target: Rs 1,800| Stop Loss Rs 1,635| Returns 6.5%

The stock has been in a strong uptrend in the recent past and our weekly chart analysis indicates that Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has broken out from the rising wedge pattern.

We also have observed consistent volumes uptick during the upswing. In addition, relative strength indicates that the current momentum is likely to get carried forward. Every decline in such a solid up trending stock should be an opportunity to accumulate.

Asian Paints: Buy| Target Rs 1,413| Stop Loss Rs 1,271| Returns 7.2%

After consolidating for the past seven weeks and going through a phase of price correction, the stock has finally broken out from a ��Flag Pattern�� on the weekly chart.

In terms of volumes, the stock has witnessed a constant rise in volumes in the past four weeks which adds strength to the current breakout.

We expect Asian Paints to make an attempt to move higher towards its potential target of Rs 1413 in the medium term.

Disclaimer: The author is a Senior Technical Analyst, IIFL. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published on Jul 6, 2018 08:20 am

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Stock Upgraded: What You Need to Know

Every day, Wall Street analysts upgrade some stocks, downgrade others, and "initiate coverage" on a few more. But do these analysts even know what they're talking about? Today, we're taking one high-profile Wall Street pick and putting it under the microscope...

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) stock is on a runaway train,�rising 72% in price over the past 12 months, even in the face of a looming trade war between its two home bases of Europe and the U.S. In just a few weeks, the car company will report its fiscal Q2 2018 earnings, potentially giving investors a chance to keep on winning.

Today, one analyst on Wall Street says the stock could in fact have more room to run.

Image source: Getty Images.

Upgrading Fiat Chrysler stock

This morning, Jefferies & Co. announced it's upgrading shares of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to buy and assigning the stock a $23 price target, as reported on StreetInsider.com�(subscription required). As the analyst explains, valuation plays a big part in Jefferies' upgrade -- but not the only part.

Over the past 12 months, Fiat has generated $7.3 billion in positive free cash flow from its business which, as Jefferies points out, is equivalent to 24% of the company's $29.3 billion market capitalization -- what the analyst calls a 24% "FCF yield." (Flip your numerator and denominator, and it's also what we'd ordinarily call a price-to-free-cash-flow ratio of 4, which I agree is pretty darn cheap.)

Fiat Chrysler isn't quite as cheap as it looks on the surface, mind you. The company does carry a modest $5 billion in net debt on its balance sheet, which gives it an enterprise value-to-free cash flow ratio of 4.7. But even that valuation is very attractive.

Cheap -- and getting better

Jefferies also notes that in some ways at least, Fiat Chrysler is getting better even as its stock gets cheaper. The analyst cites a "step-up in margin" for one thing. Gross margin at Fiat has inched up 150 basis points over the past five years (to 15.3%), and operating margin has expanded nearly twice as much -- up 290 basis points to 6.4%, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Jefferies believes these improvements are "ongoing," and will permit Fiat to maintain its 24% free cash flow yield in 2018, and create enough cash to keep the yield around 15% in 2019.

Caveats and provisos

No company is perfect of course, and Jefferies does have a few quibbles concerning Fiat Chrysler. "[D]elayed RAM production" is one concern. (Fool.com auto specialist John Rosevear notes�that "FCA has had some trouble getting its all-new 2019 Ram into full production.")

Trade war worries aren't lost on this analyst, either, with Jefferies ruminating about the potential effect of tariffs on "an estimated 30k units imported from the EU into the US ... and c.14k Jeeps exported to China." The analyst also notes that "NAFTA re-negotiation is a risk that remains difficult to quantify."

Still, it's hard to argue with a valuation this cheap, and Jefferies seems to believe that the discount investors are applying to Fiat Chrysler stock is excessive relative to the stock's risks.

Valuing Fiat Chrysler stock

Is Jefferies right about that? According to data from S&P Global, the consensus analyst estimates show that Fiat Chrysler's profitability will pretty much peak in 2018, topping out at $3.94 per share (pro forma) this year, inching up to $3.95 per share next year, but then falling back to $3.60 per share in 2020.

At the same time, the free cash flow that so attracts Jefferies today is expected to fall by more than half over the next two years, to less than $3 billion in 2020. Even at that level, though, Fiat Chrysler stock would be selling for less than 10 times FCF at today's prices, while its P/E ratio (a number more commonly tracked by investors) would be a mere 5.2 at current valuations.

Long story short: Fiat Chrysler is a cheap stock. Jefferies is right to recommend it.

June US wage growth was 2018's strongest

Median base pay for workers in the United States climbed by 1.6 percent in June to $52,052, according to the latest edition of Glassdoor's Local Pay Report. That was the strongest growth in the wage statistic so far in 2018.

"With unemployment hovering around historic lows, employers' need to fill roles climbs," said Glassdoor Chief Economist Andrew Chamberlain in a press release. "What results is that more workers, especially in high demand industries like healthcare, finance, and e-commerce, are in the driver's seat to negotiate for better pay in order to fill these roles."

The Glassdoor data showed that traditional blue-collar jobs -- such as truck driver, warehouse associate, and materials handler -- posted large wage gains. The increases were tied to the increasing demand for manpower in those areas created by growth in e-commerce, and Chamberlain expects that wages for these positions will continue to climb throughout 2018.

More:Looking for a new career? 5 jobs that pay a lot more than you think

More:Wage potential: Highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree

More:Looking for retail job? 3 ways�the industry will change in the next 5 years

Which jobs saw the biggest increases?

As you can see on the chart below, a number of traditionally lower-paying jobs saw increases well above the average. That appears to be a simple case of supply and demand. As the pool of available workers shrinks, companies have to pay more to fill even low-level positions.

Glassdoor tracks 84 different job titles for the study. Below are the 10 with the fastest growth in median base pay for full-time workers, compared to the June 2017.

Job title	Median base pay	YoY % change
Bank Teller	$31,108	8.1%
Truck Driver	$54,659	7.3%
Warehouse Associate	$43,961	6.8%
Design Engineer	$72,261	5.5%
Material Handler	$36,179	5.1%
Tax Manager	$97,213	5.1%
Java Developer	$77,096	5%
Cashier	$28,017	4.9%
Retail Key Holder	$29,746	4.9%
Security Officer	$35,554	4.7%

Data source: Glassdoor

Not all wages are rising

While the tight job market and the growth of e-commerce have boosted workers' pay in some areas, in others, employers have been cutting wages. In some cases, that may be due to high-paying job categories attracting a growing number of applicants for open positions, and thus given those who are offered them less leverage to negotiate salary. In other cases, automation is at least partly to blame.

Job title	Median base pay	�Yoy % change
Network Engineer	$66,257	�(3.7%)
Loan Officer	$43,988	(3.3%)
Physical Therapist	$72,080	(2.3%)
Producer	$51,702	(2.2%)
Web Designer	$50,738	(0.8%)
Communications Manager	$66,321	(0.7%)
Project Manager	$72,583	(0.6%)
Data Scientist	$94,912	(0.2%)
UX Designer	$77,134	(0.1%)
Professor	$87,664	(0.1%)

What does it mean?

Someone who is pursuing a doctorate in their field with an eye toward becoming a college professor is unlikely to give up on their dream because the salary for such jobs has slipped a bit. For workers without advanced degrees -- and those without degrees at all -- this data indicates where demand is greatest.

It may make sense for someone working in retail today to pursue the training needed to become a warehouse associate or truck driver. While the positions topping the wage growth lists may change, the broader need for more workers in areas that support the growing e-commerce segment is unlikely to fade any time soon.

FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn16 states where incomes are booming FullscreenPost to FacebookPosted!

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During the Great Recession, U.S. gross domestic product declined 4.3%. Since then, the economy has rebounded and is now in one of the longest periods of expansion on record. As the economy recovered, the U.S. labor market also began to improve. The unemployment rate dropped from 8.1% in 2012 to 4.4% in 2017, and total employment increased by over five million people. Personal income also grew by 11.2% across the nation in that time frame, while per capita personal income increased by 7.2%. To determine the states where personal incomes are booming, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed total personal income change from the the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal incomes in the 16 states listed here grew by more than the nation��s 11.2% growth rate from 2012 to 2017.  AndreyKrav / iStockFullscreen 16. North Carolina: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +12.5%. North Carolina's population grew at a 5.0% pace between 2012 and 2017 as the state attracted nearly 475,000 new residents. With North Carolina's personal income increasing by 12.5% since 2012, financial prosperity may have been a driving factor in migration.  ThinkstockFullscreen 15. Hawaii: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +12.5%. Though Hawaii is often considered a vacation destination, it is also has one of the best job markets in the country. Hawaii's annual unemployment rate of just 2.4% is the lowest in the nation. As more people in the labor force find work, personal income increases.  ThinkstockFullscreen 14. Michigan: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +12.6%. Michigan's economy has undergone a significant turnaround in recent years. The state's unemployment improved significantly, dropping from 10.4% in 2011 to 4.6% in 2017. This may be partly behind the state's 12.6% increase in personal income since 2012.  ThinkstockFullscreen 13. Delaware: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +12.7%. No state has a higher share of workers in the financial sector than Delaware. Some 10.5% of the state's labor force works in the finance sector, a generally high-paying industry. Employment in Delaware's finance industry grew by 5.7% over the last decade, one of the higher growth rates for the industry nationwide.  ThinkstockFullscreen 12. Tennessee: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +12.8%. Tennessee added over 80,000 professional and business service jobs over the last 10 years, a 25.8% increase. The professional and business service sector is one of the higher-paying industries, and the industry's employment increase likely contributed to the Volunteer State's 12.8% increase in personal income since 2012.  f11photo / ThinkstockFullscreen 11. South Carolina: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +15.8%. Personal income in South Carolina has grown by 15.8% since 2012, likely because more people in the state have become employed. The unemployment rate declined from 9.2% in 2011 to 4.3% in 2017, one of the steepest drops in the nation. Employment in the state increased by 12.2% over that period, one of the larger increases of any state.  ThinkstockFullscreen 10. Florida: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +16.2%. As Florida's population has grown more than any state in the country, personal incomes are also growing faster than most other states. A net of over 1.9 million people have migrated to the Sunshine State since 2010, a 10.3% growth rate. Both figures are higher than any other state.  ThinkstockFullscreen 9. Georgia: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +16.6%. Georgia's personal income grew by 16.6% between 2012 and 2017, largely bolstered by the state's trade, transportation, and utilities industry. The sector accounts for 21.1% of all Georgia jobs and employment in the industry has grown 5.3% over the last 10 years.  ThinkstockFullscreen 8. California: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +16.6%. As home to Silicon Valley, California is the hub of America's high-paying tech jobs. Employment in California's information industry grew 12.0% over the past decade, a time when the American information industry lost 7.8% of its jobs. Though it accounts for just 3.1% of California's employment, the high-paying information sector has likely contributed to rising personal income in California.  ThinkstockFullscreen 7. Oregon: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +17.5%. Personal income rose significantly in Oregon between 2012 and 2017, and it appears that the improvement resulted in a number of state residents exiting poverty. The poverty rate in Oregon dropped from 17.2% in 2012 to 13.3% in 2016 -- the largest percentage point drop of any state during that time.  ThinkstockFullscreen 6. Arizona: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +18.1%. Arizona representatives have convinced several companies to relocate from California, bolstering the state's tech and financial sectors. Over the last 10 years, the number of workers in Arizona's information industry grew 8.7% and its financial industry spiked 14.6% during the same time -- both among the highest growth rates of any state.  miroslav_1 / iStockFullscreen 5. Washington: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +18.2%. Major tech companies like Amazon are likely the key catalysts behind Washington's high personal income growth. Some 3.8% of workers in Washington are employed in the information industry, a higher share than in any other state. The state's tech industry has undergone massive growth over the last decade, with the number of jobs ballooning 23.5% over the last 10 years.  ThinkstockFullscreen 4. Nevada: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +18.5%. Though Nevada is famous for Las Vegas, the state's leisure and hospitality industry grew less than that of every other state since 2007. Nevada's personal income growth was likely helped most by the education and health services sector, which grew its workforce 43.6% since 2007 and now employs 9.9% the state's labor force.  ThinkstockFullscreen 3. Colorado: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +18.7%. Colorado's unemployment rate dropped by more than 5 percentage points since 2012 through 2017, one of the largest drops in the country. The leisure and hospitality sector added 63,000 jobs in the past decade, which likely contributed to the state's rise in personal income. It also helped offset the employment decline in Colorado's information industry, which shrank by 4,700 jobs, or 6.2%, over the same time.  ThinkstockFullscreen 2. Idaho: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +19.0%. Over the past five years, Idaho's employment increased 15.4%, likely contributing to the Gem State's 19.0% personal income growth. The number of manufacturing jobs nationwide declined by more than 10% over the past 10 years. In Idaho, however, the manufacturing industry increased slightly, and it currently makes up 9.3% of the state's workforce.  ThinkstockFullscreen 1. Utah: Personal income growth (2012-2017): +20.9%. Utah's personal income has grown by 20.9% since 2012, the highest rate of growth of all 50 states. This boost has come as the state workforce has also grown faster than any other state. Between 2012 and 2017, state employment grew from or seeking work grew from 1.25 million to 1.47 million. That 17.4% increase was the largest of any state. Utah's growing tech industry, which tends to have growing and high wages, likely helped contribute to the state's nation-leading income growth.   ThinkstockFullscreenInterested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:Replay1 of 172 of 173 of 174 of 175 of 176 of 177 of 178 of 179 of 1710 of 1711 of 1712 of 1713 of 1714 of 1715 of 1716 of 1717 of 17AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide

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