MarketBeat: Week in Review 9/28 – 10/2

Investors bid September goodbye and not a moment too soon. The market still was looking for additional stimulus measures that could stem the tide of layoffs that may be in order after October 1. A presidential debate was “entertaining” but didn’t really provide any clarity on the presidential election. And then of course, the week ended with the markets digesting the jobs report on one hand and the news that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus. This convergence of the virus, stimulus, and the election are likely to dictate the narrative next week. In the meantime, the MarketBeat team of writers is cutting through the clutter and pointing you to stocks and sectors that deserve your attention. Here’s a look at some of the articles our staff picked to help make you a better investor.

Articles by Sean Sechler

Sean Sechler was pointing investors in the direction of three stocks to buy in October. And it shouldn’t surprise anybody that all three are companies that benefited from the pandemic. The novel coronavirus has changed our habits, and those changes are likely to last even after the pandemic ends. And the companies that Sechler writes about are well positioned for whichever way the market moves. Plus, Sechler was also advising investors on three things investors needed to know about Asana (NYSE:ASAN), the latest cloud startup to go public via an initial public offering. Finally, Sechler was looking at the increase in new home construction and analyzing the bullish case for Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL).

Articles by Jea Yu

2020 has been good for semiconductor stocks. But not every company has benefited equally. Jea Yu wrote about one of those laggards, Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT). The company saw some softening in specific sectors that were affected by the pandemic. However with those sectors recovering, Applied Materials looks like a buy. Turning his eyes toward the retail sector, Yu analyzed the beleaguered retail stock, Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) and explained why it may have reached a price where it’s so low it may be a bargain. Yu also cautioned investors that despite the fact that restaurants continue their measured reopening plans, it may be time to take profits on the casual dining chain owner, Brinker International (NYSE:EAT).

Articles by Thomas Hughes

Thomas Hughes was in a particularly bullish mood this week. In general, an analyst upgrade is a strong buying signal. And Hughes writes about an array of stocks that have recently received upgrades from analysts. Hughes also was looking at Micron (NASDAQ:MU). Micron is another of the semiconductor stocks that has underperformed the sector this year, but has a strong long-term outlook. And Hughes also had a bullish take on Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). Analysts are warming up to the stock and it shows that although the company is not the high-flying growth stock it once was, it still has a compelling growth story.

Articles by Sam Quirke                                                                                          

E-commerce stocks have been some of the biggest winners during the pandemic. But really it’s just an extension of how well these stocks were doing for the last couple of years. As Sam Quirke notes, this is creating a strong bullish story for Shopify (NYSE:SHOP). Rather than believe that the rally in SHOP is over, Quirk believes it may have just begun. Quirke was also bullish on the cloud-based application provider Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY). The company’s stock was surging after a strong earnings report, but was not immune from the September sell-off. But Quirke notes that the charts are showing that WDAY stock looks ready for a breakout. And Quirke was also taking a fresh look at cruise stocks. Or rather, Quirke is suggesting that analysts are becoming more bullish on the sector.

Articles by Nick Vasco

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) looks like it may be the first company to have an approved Covid-19 vaccine candidate. And if it does, Nick Vasco is telling investors that this would be great news for owners of JNJ stock. Vasco was also bullish about Target (NYSE:TGT). The retailer has stood out among retail stocks, and was rallying in the last few days of September, has a good valuation and is looking to be aggressive in its promotions for the fourth quarter. And Vasco ventured into the tech sector and was giving investors a bullish outlook on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). The stock has seen a pullback in recent days, but Vasco points out three reasons why Apple stock should close out the year on a high note.

Articles by Chris Markoch

Chris Markoch was looking at two very attractive consumer discretionary stocks that look like good buys in the fourth quarter. Markoch was writing about Pepsi (NASDAQ:PEP) which has been a steady growth stock as consumers stocked their pantries. This helped to offset the reality that many of the company’s on-premise markets being closed. Another stock that benefited from pantry stuffing is McCormick (NYSE:MKC). However, Markoch agrees with analysts that McCormick is looking a little overweight right now and may be testing levels of support soon.

Articles by Steve Anderson

Amidst the rally in electric vehicle stocks, Nikola (NASDAQ:NKLA) has been one of the most controversial stocks. The recent news that the company’s founder Trevor Milton was leaving the country roiled the stock and Steve Anderson wrote that GE (NYSE:GE) may be reconsidering its investment. Anderson was also taking another look at Shake Shack (NYSE:SHAK). The fast-casual icon was looking shaky during the lockdown, but has since recovered nicely and Anderson explains the moves the company has made that are starting to pay off for the company.