The Tobacco, Diversified Utilities, Leisure Goods, Water Utilities, and Electric Utilities sectors are on the rise this week on the Portfolio Grader database.
Tobacco is thriving this week with 88% of stocks in the sector (7 out of 8) currently rating a “buy.” Altria (NYSE:MO), Universal Corp. (NYSE:UVV), and Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) are paving the way for the sector with A grades. Altria is the best performer in this sector, with a 38.7% increase in the last 12 months. This is better than the S&P 500, which has seen a 16.6% increase for the same period.
The Diversified Utilities sector is thriving on Portfolio Grader this week, with 87% of its stocks (20 out of 23) currently rating a “buy.” With overall grades of A, CH Energy (NYSE:CHG), Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), and Wisconsin Energy (NYSE:WEC) are buoying the sector. Sempra Energy is the best performer in this sector, with a 44.8% increase in the last 12 months.
Leisure Goods stands out with 86% of the sector’s stocks (6 out of 7) rating a “buy.” Among Leisure Goods stocks, Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ:SWHC), Sturm Ruger (NYSE:RGR), and LeapFrog (NYSE:LF) are leading the way with A’s. Smith & Wesson bests the other stocks in its sector, with a 221.1% increase from a year ago.
With 80% of the sector’s stocks (4 out of 5) rating a “buy,” the Water Utilities sector is one of the strongest. Out of the Water Utilities stocks, American States Water (NYSE:AWR), American Water Works (NYSE:AWK), and Aqua America (NYSE:WTR) are out front with A’s. Showing the most overall growth in its sector in the last 12 months, American Water Works is the top stock, with a 37.3% increase.
The Electric Utilities sector’s track record is proving one of the best with 74% of its stocks (28 out of 38) rating a “buy.” NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE), and Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE:HE) are lifting the sector overall, each earning a high grade of A. Over the last 12 months, NextEra Energy is the best performer in this sector, with a 34.2% increase.
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.