Today I’m recommending the sale of Applied Materials (AMAT – yield 1.1%). The stock is up about 35% since joining the Growth Portfolio in August 2016. I tend to focus on both current-year and next-year earnings expectations because stock prices will eventually reflect the future numbers. In the case of AMAT, EPS are expected to grow 39.4% in fiscal 2017 (October year-end), then just 7.0% in 2018, with a corresponding P/E of 13.5. AMAT is overvalued based on 2018 EPS estimates.
I’m left to make a determination on how to proceed with an overvalued stock that’s been rising, but in an industry that the market’s embracing. AMAT is going to report first-quarter 2017 results on the afternoon of February 15. I’m not here to gamble. I want to be out of the stock prior to that moment, in case the market uses a good or bad earnings report as an excuse to trigger a correction in the share price.
If you want to keep AMAT to capitalize on potential near-term price gains, you can easily use stop-loss orders to squeeze out a little more profit. Sell.
Here are some reinvestment ideas:
Molina Healthcare (MOH), Quanta Services (PWR) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) all appear on the verge of breaking past upside price resistance.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) is trading very low within a solid range. I love this stock for its balance sheet, earnings growth, dividend and low price.
Schnitzer Steel (SCHN) is rising toward upside price resistance at 30. Traders could buy for a short-term hold.
Total (TOT) looks very attractive this year for growth investors and dividend investors.
Whirlpool (WHR) is trading low within its range and appears ready to rise.