Unemployment is high, investors are jittery over Greek debt fears and market volatility seems to be the norm. Where can you turn, then, for stock picks? To big-name blue chips, that’s where.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I’m tracking seven big large-cap stocks that are standing tall amid the turmoil.
Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets a “A” grade according to my research, meaning it is a strong buy:
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a worldwide technology mogul with products ranging from personal computers to networking solutions. Apple has had a strong 2011, gaining nearly 28% and currently is at a 52-week high.
Chevron (NYSE:CVX) provides support to its subsidiaries in the following fields: petroleum operations, chemicals operations, mining operations, power generation and energy services. While many stocks on the NYSE have underperformed in 2011, Chevron stock is up 8% year to date.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) is a staple of consumer products, selling its oral, personal, home care and pet nutrition products in over 200 countries. A nice year-to-date return of 16% has helped keep Colgate stock holders happy all year.
IBM (NYSE:IBM) is an international IT company made famous by its line of personal computers and various IT services. A year-to-date gain of 18% shows IBM stock has a lot to offer.
McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) is a pioneer of the fast-food industry, operating restaurants in 100 countries. Furthermore, burgers seem recession-proof as MCD stock has soared 20% since the start of 2011.
Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) is involved with the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in over 180 countries across the globe. Year to date, PM stock is up 16%, compared to a loss of nearly 2% for the Dow Jones.
Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly-traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.
