Related:
.INX,
AEP,
BMS,
BNI,
CL,
DO,
FCX,
KSS,
LO,
MUR,
NEM,
OI,
ORCL,
PEG,
PFE,
UNP,
VZ,
WAG,
WAT,
WHR,
WPIThe Applied Finance Group (AFG) has a disciplined approach for identifying companies that are expected to outperform and underperform the market by using proprietary metrics and measurements that have been tested and proven through time. Because AFG’s research is fundamentally derived, AFG’s quantitative analysis spans across growth and value stocks, all sectors, industries, and market caps with over 20,000 covered securities globally.
When searching for Large-Cap ideas, AFG’s Buy/Sell list is a good starting place as it has proven to create a significant spread in performance between companies that come up on AFG’s buy list and those on the sell list. Further focusing on companies based on AFG’s proprietary screening criteria (Economic Margin, valuation, quality of earnings, and management’s ability to create shareholder wealth) will save investors time in their research process. The result is a target group of stocks that can help you outperform as well as identify potential torpedoes to avoid in your portfolios.
Below is a list of attractive companies in the S&P 500 from each major AFG sector (excluding financials). It serves as a focus list of companies for investors to begin with as they meet AFG’s criteria to be an attractive opportunity. They are more likely to outperform their sector peers and the S&P 500, the benchmark that AFG’s clients most often compare themselves with.
| |
|
|
Investment |
Rank within Sector |
| Ticker |
Name |
Sector |
Opportunity |
Valuation Signal |
EM Change Signal |
| Attractive Large Caps - S&P 500 |
|
(NYSE:FCX) |
FREEPORT-MCMORAN C & G |
Basic Material |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:BMS) |
BEMIS CO INC |
Basic Material |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:WAT) |
WATERS CORP |
Capital Goods |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:DO) |
DIAMOND OFFSHRE DRILLING |
Capital Goods |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:OI) |
OWENS ILLINOIS INC |
Consumer Durable |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:WHR) |
WHIRLPOOL CORP |
Consumer Durable |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:LO) |
LORILLARD INC |
Consumer Non Durable |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:CL) |
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO |
Consumer Non Durable |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:KSS) |
KOHL'S CORP |
Consumer Services |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:WAG) |
WALGREEN CO |
Consumer Services |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:NEM) |
NEWMONT MINING CORP |
Energy and Extraction |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:MUR) |
MURPHY OIL CORP |
Energy and Extraction |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:PFE) |
PFIZER INC |
Health |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:WPI) |
WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS |
Health |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:VZ) |
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS |
Technology |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NASDAQ:ORCL) |
ORACLE CORP |
Technology |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:UNP) |
UNION PACIFIC CORP |
Transportation |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:BNI) |
BURLINGTON NTH SANTA FE |
Transportation |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:PEG) |
PUBLIC SVC ENTPRS GROUP |
Utilities |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive |
|
(NYSE:AEP) |
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER |
Utilities |
Attractive |
Attractive |
Positive | |
|
| |
|
Source: EconomicMargin.com
AFG's Valuation Metric – Measures the percent to target (deviation between a stock’s current trading price and its AFG current default target price). To derive the intrinsic value of a firm, AFG uses its proprietary Valuation Model (modified discounted cash flow model).
Economic Margin - A corporate performance measurement that addresses the gaps in GAAP, eliminating distortions caused by accounting policies to measure what a company is truly earning above or below their cost of capital.
Management Quality – Assesses management’s ability to make wealth creating decisions.
+View our List of Value Expectations Recommended Articles
AFG Recommendation Performance
9/1998 – 5/2009
Annualized Returns

Source: AFGView client databases from 9/1998 – 5/2009
Universe size: 4,000 to 5,500 firms