Jim Lebenthal

He sold Nike last week. It's a turnaround story, and the last quarterly report said that was indeed in place. But he doubts that now based on the earnings call. First, no signs of help from China (a big customer), but also softening demand in North America. It's dead money for at least months and has to show at least two good quarters to see a lift.

Likes the CEO, though the market didn't give her credit for 18 months when she started. Now, she's cutting unprofitable business and expenses. It's becoming lean and analysts are noticing it.

Simple: they make money on fees through assets-under-management. Expects in 2024 a strong financial market, so earnings will rise.

Price target was raised today. This peaked in 2020-1 then was hit with a lot of bad news, like doubts over Signify and Oak Street acquisitions. But that negative sentiment has reversed, like their Medicare Advantage stars rating has gone up, and the street sees profitability rising in their pharmacy benefits management system, based on a new model last month. Trades under a cheap PE and pays a 3% dividend. He targets over $100 in 12 months. Is underloved and over-owned.

Is undeterred by last week's allegations that the company faked or exaggerated its AI demo. This remains a cheap stock at 20x forward PE. In fact, this is a growth stock.

Likes it. Reasonable at 24x PE, and they're selling something that everybody wants. That gives this stocks a lot of cushion on the downside.

He bought it after its last earnings report. It was in a major downtrend, then reported a good quarter. It's up 25% in 3 months and traded at an expensive 31x PE. But the momentum and sentiment is positive. He's not looking so much at China's recovery being a factory, but rather whether inventory and pricing are under control in the U.S. 

A few weeks ago, it gave disappointing guidance, so shares declined. Now that the reset is done, shares are rebounding with nice momentum. This remains a steady-eddy dividend payer.

Barring a sharp contraction in the global economy, the more cyclical semis should perform well going forward including QCOM.

Happy about the news. It's gravy. The CEO finally addressed the low ROE by cutting costs, by cutting five layers of management. She also got rid of most international operations, which he agrees with. He likes her decisions. He'd like to see shares surge.

Why is this a battleground stock? They ripped the band-aid off their last report and set future earnings at a proper level, but see a low bar in their forecast: 12x forward PE. Crop prices have been weak for a while, but that's the best time to buy Deere.

XOM is clearly tracking the price of oil, which has been in a trading range of high-60s to high-80s. We're in a stage of curtailed production by OPEC+ and shale producers. Then, the price will rise again. Can China's demand get worse? If the US economy avoids a hard landing, then oil and XOM will pick up in price.

They just had a good investor day. If this breaks $76, it will rocket.

Analyst upgraded it today and the high price target is fair unless there's an operational mistake. Shares are up lately given their order book, a recovery in China's economy and increasing production. But if you see a recession coming, don't buy this.

Upgraded today. It generates a lot of free cash flow and it's paying down debt which they need to complete before there's a recession. He sees upside.