The commercial banking, electric utilities, infrastructure, household products and gas utilities sectors are showing strength this week, according to Portfolio Grader.
Commercial banking is excelling, with 100% of stocks in the sector (5 out of 5) rating a “buy”. With a grade of B, StellarOne Corporation (STEL) and Citizens Republic Bancorp (CRBC) are buoying the sector. Pacific Capital Bancorp (PCBC) also ranks a solid A.
Electric utilities is thriving this week with 85% of stocks in the sector (35 out of 41) currently rating a “buy”. Edison International (EIX), Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE) and Xcel Energy (XEL) are all currently earning A’s. Showing the most overall growth in its sector in the last 12 months, Edison International is the top stock, with a 51.4% increase.
Infrastructure is excelling, with 80% of stocks in the sector (4 out of 5) rating a “buy”. Out of the infrastructure stocks, Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation (MIC), Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV Sponsored ADR Class B (OMAB) and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV Sponsored ADR Class B (PAC) are out front with A’s. Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation is performing the best overall in the sector, with a 184.3% increase from 12 months ago.
With 78% of the sector’s stocks (7 out of 9) rating a “buy,” the household products sector is one of the strongest. Among household products stocks, Clorox Company (CLX), Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) are leading the way with A’s. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is the top stock in its sector, with a 96.6% increase from 12 months ago.
The gas utilities sector’s track record is proving one of the best with 76% of its stocks (13 out of 17) rating a “buy”. WGL Holdings, Inc. (WGL), New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) and ONE Gas Inc. (OGS) are lifting the sector overall, each earning a high grade of A. ONE Gas Inc. beats the other stocks in its sector, with a 34.1% increase from a year ago.
Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.
