The Outlook: Tech Knowledge
The Outlook: Tech Knowledge
The Outlook: Tech Knowledge
Whats Inside
Intelligencer
ETF Strategies
Sub-Industry Outlook
Focus Stock
Master List
Observatory
Tech Knowledge
Foreign exchange weighs on tech, but opportunities still exist
After crossing the psychologically significant
5,000 mark for the first time in 15 years on
March 2, the tech-filled Nasdaq composite
index traded lower the following two weeks,
closed above the 5,000 level on March 20
and March 23, and has since moved lower.
Extreme U.S. dollar appreciation has been
cited as a key contributor to the tech sectors
sudden loss of price momentum. The U.S.
dollar index, which compares the U.S. dollar
with a basket of currencies, has risen 7.9%
year-to-date through March 26, with a nearly
50% appreciation happening in just the first
half of March.
Many tech companies anticipated a negative impact from exchange rates when they
provided 2015 guidance in January and
February. In fact, 2015 S&P 500 tech sector
earnings estimates have declined while the
dollar has strengthened. In mid-January, as
the fourth quarter earnings season kicked
off, analysts were anticipating 2015 calendar
year tech earnings growth of 10.3%, compared with current expectations of just 5.3%.
However, the swift move in currencies has
investors and analysts concerned that the
2015 EPS
GROWTH (%)
12-MONTH
FORWARD P/E
10-YEAR
AVERAGE P/E
35.50
48.40
56.40
42.94
3.1
4.3
9.2
5.3
14.4
18.7
13.7
16.2
21.5
16.8
14.8
15.9
Source: S&P Capital IQ. EPS-earnings per share. P/E-price/earnings ratio. All data as of March 26, 2015.
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Intelligencer
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Poors, S&P, S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and
S&P SmallCap 600 are registered trademarks
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mechanical error by S&Ps sources, S&P, or others,
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or completeness of any information and is not
responsible for any errors or omissions or for the
results obtained from the use of such information.
GOOGLES INCOMING CFO COULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR INVESTORS: Google (GOOGL
563.64 ) announced that May 26 will be the start date for its new chief
financial officer, Ruth Porat, currently CFO at Morgan Stanley. Porat will replace
CFO Patrick Pichette, who announced his planned retirement three weeks ago.
Porat has been CFO of Morgan Stanley for more than five years, and was the
lead investment banker for a number of technology-related companies, including Amazon, eBay, and Netscape. We wonder if Porats arrival will lead to more
shareholder-friendly capital allocation actions, perhaps related to stock repurchases and dividends, says S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst Scott Kessler.
S&P CAPITAL IQ STARTS AMERICAN AIRLINES OFF WITH A BUY: Based on our posi-
tive industry view and a favorable view on valuation, we find shares of American
Airlines (AAL 51.27 ) attractive, says S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst Jim
Corridore. S&P Capital IQ has initiated EPS estimates for 2015 and 2016 at
$10.34 and $9.97, respectively, with a 12-month target price of $70. American
Airlines deserves to trade at a modest discount to the group based on a slower revenue growth rate and higher debt levels,
but we see the current valuation gap versus peers as too high, says Corridore.
TENET HEALHCARE ENTERS $2.6 BILLION JOINT VENTURE DEAL: Tenet Healthcare (THC 49.61 ) has entered into a deal
with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe to merge Tenet Healthcares short-stay surgery and imaging centers with United
Surgical Partners International in a joint venture valued at $2.6 billion. Tenet will own 50.1% of the joint venture, with an
option to buy the rest within five years. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. We view the deal
positively, as we see outpatient admissions growing faster than inpatient admissions, says S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst
Jeffrey Loo. We are keeping our 12-month target price at $68.
GROWTH IS FORECAST IN AMEX BUSINESS LINES: S&P Capital IQ is lowering its 12-month target price on shares of American
Express (AXP 78.48 ) by $3 to $87. Reflecting foreign exchange headwinds and company guidance, S&P Capital IQ is
also cutting its 2015 EPS estimate to $5.50 from $6.00, and the 2016 EPS estimate to $5.80 from $6.65. However, we see
good growth in many of American Expresss business lines, and we expect the company to transform itself so it can outperform in an increasingly competitive environment, says S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst Erik Oja.
S&P CAPITAL IQ EVALUATION SYMBOLS
STARS Rankings
A+
A
A-
Highest
High
Above Avg.
B+ Average
B Below Avg.
B- Lower
C Lowest
D In reorganization
NR Not Ranked
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ETF
STRATEGIES
Todd Rosenbluth
S&P Capital IQ
Director of ETF
Research
RANK
CURRENT
PRICE ($)
OW
OW
83.05
91.89
YIELD
(%)
1-YEAR
3-YEAR*
5-YEAR*
EXPENSE
RATIO (%)
ASSETS
($ MLNS)
2.20
2.12
11.82
10.95
16.48
15.47
13.64
13.04
0.09
0.18
18,226
8,246
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SUBINDUSTRY
OUTLOOK
Erik Oja
S&P Capital IQ
Equity Analyst
Consumer Finance
Outlook: Positive
S&P Capital IQs fundamental
outlook for the consumer finance
sub-industry for 2015 is positive,
as we think companies in this
sub-industry are positioned well to
reap the rewards of an improving
economic environment.
A dramatic improvement in
credit quality that began in 2011
has continued through 2015 due
to tight underwriting standards
employed through the downturn.
S&P Capital IQ thinks overall credit
quality trends will be stable in
2015, and we expect card spending to grow at a faster rate than
consumer loans.
While the industry is now under
a higher level of regulatory scrutiny
than in the past, we think companies will act prudently. And with
credit at historically strong levels,
company managements have
time to focus on strategic growth
initiatives.
Of the types of consumer loans
offered by companies within this
sub-industry, credit cards are the
biggest segment, as auto finance
RECOMMENDED STOCKS
STARS
QUALITY
RANKING
CURRENT
PRICE ($)
12-MONTH
TARGET
PRICE ($)
STYLE
P/E
RATIO*
YIELD (%)
B+
77.89
87
Growth
14.6
1.4
B+
78.89
93
Blend
10.6
1.5
NR
56.82
65
Growth
11.8
1.7
Navient / NAVI
B-
20.32
23
Blend
7.7
3.1
B+
54.31
69
Growth
15.8
Nil
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FOCUS
STOCK
Efraim Levy
S&P Capital IQ
Equity Analyst
Magna International
This auto components firm set to benefit from expected rise in vehicle production
The Focus Stock for the week
ended March 29 is Magna International Inc., which carries S&P
Capital IQs highest investment
recommendation of 5-STARS, or
strong buy. Based in Aurora, Ontario, Magna is one of the worlds
largest automotive components
manufacturers and the biggest in
Canada. We expect the company
to generate about $34.3 billion in
revenues in 2015, and $36.4 billion
in 2016. Our recommendation is
based on our expectation that
Magna will benefit from rising
global vehicle production, led by
growth in the U.S., despite lower
total revenues expected in 2015,
and that the stock has attractive
total return potential.
Magnas operations include
producing body, chassis, interior,
exterior, seating, power train,
electronic, vision, closure of roof
systems and modules, as well
as complete vehicle engineering
and contract manufacturing. The
company is focusing its product
strategy on becoming a full
systems supplier or integrator for
large automotive body systems.
Magna also plans to
pursue strategic acquisitions
that provide access to new
technologies, entry into new
markets, and diversification of its
customer base.
Sales in North America
accounted for almost 52% of
2014 revenues, with Europe at
42%, and other international at
6.2%. This excludes revenues
from complete vehicle assembly
and tooling, engineering and
other.
MAGNA INTERNATIONAL
Ticker: MGA
S&P Ranking:
Current Price: $51.71
12-Month Target Price: $64
Market Capitalization ($ Blns): $22.05
Price/Earnings Ratio: 11.09
Yield: 1.64%
Source: S&P Capital IQ.
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ENTRY
DATE
37.21
12/19/2011
CURRENT
PRICE ($)
12-MONTH
TARGET
PRICE ($)
STARS
QUALITY
RANK
B+
SYMBOL
COMPANY NAME
ATW
Atwood Oceanics
CLW
Clearwater Paper
61.89
04/07/2014
63.74
70
NR
CY
Cypress Semiconductor
14.32
02/09/2015
14.12
18
B-
28.58
39
DAL
HAR
Harman International
8.03
12/03/2008
44.09
62
NR
44.48
03/25/2013
133.02
140
HLX
26.79
07/28/2014
14.54
19
B-
ICLR
ICON Plc
28.51
01/22/2013
69.61
86
NR
KELYA
Kelly Services
17.03
06/24/2013
17.01
19
B-
NICE
NICE-Systems
54.97
02/17/2015
58.64
78
NR
PRXL
Parexel International
67.87
03/30/2015
67.87
78
B+
SBAC
SBA Communications
29.62
09/15/2008
119.23
135
SBGI
34.71
12/30/2013
30.70
30
SUNE
SunEdison
7.52
06/24/2013
23.76
28
SWFT
Swift Transportation
24.75
11/03/2014
26.27
37
NR
UNFI
67.99
11/03/2014
73.56
83
B+
Performance calculations do not take into account reinvestment of dividends, capital gains taxes or brokerage commissions and fees. If the foregoing had been factored into the portfolios
investment performance, it would have been lower. This performance calculation also does not take into account timing differences between the portfolio selections and purchases made
based on those selection by actual investors. Over certain periods, the portfolio incurred losses and over time the portfolio is expected to continue to pose a risk of negative investment
returns. Because the portfolio has a high turnover rate, it is best suited for tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs and is less suited for other accounts. Investors should seek financial advice
before investing based on the portfolio. This portfolio does not address the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any person. Stocks in the portfolio will not
be suitable for all investors. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
LEADERS
NAME
LAGGARDS
YTD GAIN / LOSS
NAME
ICON Plc
39.81%
Harman International
27.94%
-34.88%
SunEdison
25.47%
Clearwater Paper
-3.57%
Sinclair Broadcast
14.11%
-2.00%
Atwood Oceanics
-0.67%
-3.60%
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Current portfolio members only. Performance is based on the year to date through 3/20/2015, or, if the security was added after the start of the year, for
the time it has been a portfolio member.
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STARS
12-MONTH
TARGET
PRICE ($)
49.55
108
0.59
68
114.81
47.14
125
56.80
6.35
65
-6.78
110
180.57
86
ENTRY
PRICE ($)
CURRENT
PRICE ($)
PRICE
CHANGE (%)
SYMBOL
COMPANY NAME
AET
Aetna
04/11/2014
70.82
105.91
CBS
CBS
04/17/2014
60.64
61.00
STZ
Constellation Brands
04/11/2014
78.03
DFS
Discover Financial
01/17/2014
53.41
EOG
EOG Resources
04/30/2014
98.00
91.36
ICLR
ICON Plc
10/18/2012
24.81
69.61
QRVO
Qorvo
01/29/2015
75.76
77.19
1.89
80
SAVE
Spirit Airlines
02/07/2014
46.00
73.67
60.15
100
SUNE
SunEdison
02/26/2015
22.49
23.76
5.65
28
TROW
06/14/2013
73.40
81.16
10.57
92
Performance calculations do not take into account reinvestment of dividends, capital gains taxes or brokerage commissions and fees. If the foregoing had been factored into the portfolios
investment performance, it would have been lower. This performance calculation also does not take into account timing differences between the portfolio selections and purchases made
based on those selection by actual investors. Over certain periods, the portfolio incurred losses and over time the portfolio is expected to continue to pose a risk of negative investment
returns. Because the portfolio has a high turnover rate, it is best suited for tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs and is less suited for other accounts. Investors should seek financial advice
before investing based on the portfolio. This portfolio does not address the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any person. Stocks in the portfolio will not
be suitable for all investors. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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The Observatory
Selected actions for March 23 to March 27
NEW
STARS
OLD
STARS
STARS
RANKING
DATE
ADTRAN / ADTN
3/23/2015
18.32
NR
3/25/2015
12 MONTH
TARGET
PRICE ($)
QUALITY
RANK
FAIR VALUE
RANK
20
B+
NR
215.14
237
3/23/2015
4.41
NR
3/25/2015
51.27
70
NR
NR
3/23/2015
78.51
93
B+
3/23/2015
87.20
99
A+
NR
3/25/2015
16.08
17
NR
NR
HollyFrontier / HFC
3/25/2015
40.53
42
3/24/2015
10.88
13
B-
3/26/2015
19.10
14
B-
NR
Starbucks / SBUX
3/26/2015
95.08
98
B+
3/23/2015
27.79
33
B-
PRICE ($)
For intraday STARS changes, subscribers can visit www.spoutlook.com and click on the STOCKS tab.
The Observatory provides a selection of analytical actions upgrades, downgrades, initiations from S&P Capital IQ. Stocks featured in the Observatory are
selected by The Outlook according to factors including, but not limited to, newsworthiness, capitalization, and inclusion in a portfolio published by The Outlook.
Please note that all investments carry risks. Investors should seek nancial advice before investing.
All of the views expressed in this research report accurately reect the research analysts personal views regarding any and all of the subject securities or issuers.
No part of the analysts compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specic recommendations or views expressed in this research report.