As 2014 ended, investors were gearing up to see which stocks would make headlines. Although there are various company stocks that might qualify to catch the eyes of investors, still there are five main ones to watch for the duration of 2015. Here are some leading stocks to watch in 2015.
GoPro
Although GoPro (GPRO, Financial) is relatively new on the market, still it is worth watching because of the positive readings that it gave shareholders in 2014. The company sells cameras, and its products are growing in popularity, which makes the organization’s stocks even more tempting to own.
GoPro made an impressive start on the first market day when it shot up 55%. Currently, shares are trading at 71% while the S&P 500 moves up by 2.8%. The company’s stock went to its highest since opening its doors and traded a high at $98.47.
On Tuesday, GoPro’s stock went down 12.2%. However, at the end of trading on Wednesday, it later picked up and gained about 5%. At the end of Thursday’s trading day, GoPro stock ended the day at $48.58, which is a decrease of 7.2% in comparison to Wednesday’s performance.
While GoPro has had to stand up to strong competition from camera industry giants like Sony (SNE, Financial), Kodak and Polaroid in 2014, the company seems to be able to wade through the treacherous waters by making solid investments decisions. Investors should take this organization seriously if they intend to make a profit on their investment.
Visa
Visa (V, Financial) is a payments company based in Foster City, San Francisco. Over the years, the company has performed well up to standard as expected. In 2014, the company stock laid down a good performance.
The company is currently carrying a bullish sign and is trading at a 52-week high. For the near term, it intends to continue trading bullish at 65.66 under its strength index on the NYSE:V. On November 10, 2011, its stocks volume was standing at $1,084 million, which is a significant difference when compared to September 3, 2014 figure of $686.58.
Visa at times has a tendency to buy back its stocks from the public and this practice is making it clear to the financial community that the company is solidifying itself financially. Shares that the company buys back, however, are placed in the company's stock treasure.
Many investors and consumers still see Visa as a "new kid on the block" in comparison to its competitors. However, all the signs are pointing to the strong influence the company already is making in the industry and as time passes, it will get a bigger piece of the market as well.
Chevron
So far, investors are happy with the output of Chevron (CVX, Financial) since the company usually seems to shine with its dividend payments. As 2015 drags on, oil started a comeback that puts Chevron once more in the public’s eyes.
The company is a C+ rating organization and has multiple strengths in different areas. Some sections that Chevron strengths lie in are continuous net income increases, solid valuation levels and a strong financial position that makes it look attractive to competitors as well as investors.
The company’s net income increase has shown considerable growth over time and in one year outdid the S&P 500 as well as rose above the oil, gas and consumer fuels niche average. In a single year, also, the company’s net income rose 13% above that of the same year’s quarter as it increased from $4,950 million to $5,593 million. Chevron over the years has managed to keep its debt-to-equity at a minimal and presently it is riding at a low of 0.16 below average for the industry.
Clorox
In September 2014, Clorox (CLX, Financial) shares went up to a high, which made many investors want to buy them for the long haul. The Ebola virus allowed the company to enter into new positions of opportunities by selling more products. Thus, the business profit margin moved higher.
So far, some investors are rating the company a buy because of its multiple strengths it has in comparison to its weaknesses. Clorox strengths lie in its ability to make solid investments, to acquire good cash flow movement, continuous revenue growth, strong stock performances and constant increasing profit margins.
So far, Clorox has outpaced the industry average by a margin of 1.2%. Revenue in one-quarter increased by 0.7%, which ran down the company’s bottom line and thus improved the organization’s per share earnings.
Clorox’s stock has risen faster than the S&P 500 and thus is reflecting another positive side of the company’s financial position. Operating net cash flow went up to $243 million (36.51%) in comparison to the previous year’s same quarter.
Apple
With a market cap of $623 billion, Apple’s (AAPL, Financial) popularity is still growing among consumers and investors alike. The company is responsible for bringing to the public new accessories such as smartphones, tablets, music and financial innovations.
Stock tippers are placing enough emphasis on Apple stocks and see it as a potential benchmark topper. IPhone sales have caused the company to make it big and already the industry is worth about $100 billion. Last year, for example, the company sold approximately 170 million iPhones. Their potential future customers may be in the range of 315 million and this figure is helping to send a strong message to investors letting them know that the company has a great future ahead of them. Last year alone, the company climbed 38% with their stock price at that time just under $100.
On Wednesday, Apple’s shares went up to $107.64 or up by 1.3% following reports of plans that in March the public will witness the launching of the company’s long-awaited program known as Apple Watch. Apple also gave their starting price point to be $349, which is an encouragement to some investors who have their eyes glued to the stock.
Recently, Apple gained a valuable patent for their remote control camera section. The company’s patent advance sent one of their main competitors known as GoPro Inc. shares plummeting. So far, gross profit margin stands at a reasonable 42.68%, which is making Apple’s stock a must buy for some investors.
Delta Air Lines
Escalating gas prices gave way to increases in Delta Air Lines (DAL, Financial) profits as the airline’s revenues went up in 2014. Since gas prices fell, Delta has managed to save over $2 billion in 2014; although analysts report that 2015 will be a challenging year, the airline is expected to perform well.
In 2014, Delta stock went up by almost 70%, thanks to low fuel costs. It is reported that shares rose above 7% and this company is one of the top airline companies that investors will be watching in 2015.
Still, with the airline showing good results, the company had to settle for a mishap when it had to undergo a loss in 2014 because of a $1.2 billion fuel-hedging cost. However, investors are more excited about the availability of cheaper fuel cost that they hope will continue to take place in 2015.
The airline industry saw a boost in traveling passengers in 2014 and this gave Delta a rise in profits as well. While fuel costs remain low, still the company is warning passengers that frequent the airline not to expect a decrease in airfares too quickly in 2015 as the market can change suddenly.
As the year 2015 gets deeper, investors will continue to note which stocks look winnable from those that might cause them considerable loss. However, since the US economy seems to be doing well, the stock exchange industry should continue to show the right improvement in a number of company stocks already on the market. It all boils down to which stocks will advance from which ones will decline as investors play a wait and see game.
