The commercial banking, aerospace and defense, life science, biotechnology and auto parts sectors are rising to the top this week on the Portfolio Grader database.
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.
The aerospace and defense sector’s track record is proving one of the best with 74% of its stocks (31 out of 42) rating a “buy”. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII), Alliant Techsystem (ATK) and TASER International, Inc. (TASR) are lifting the sector overall, each earning a high grade of A. Over the last 12 months, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is the best performer in this sector, with a 232.7% increase.
Life science stands out with 71% of the sector’s stocks (17 out of 24) rating a “buy”. Out of the life science stocks, Wuxi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Sponsored ADR (WX), Covance (CVD) and Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) are out front with A’s. Wuxi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Sponsored ADR is the top stock in its sector, with a 249.3% increase from 12 months ago.
Biotechnology is thriving this week with 70% of stocks in the sector (68 out of 97) currently rating a “buy”. Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ENTA), Gentium S.p.A. Sponsored ADR (GENT) and Repligen Corporation (RGEN) are all currently earning A’s. Repligen Corporation is performing the best overall in the sector, with a 592.9% increase from 12 months ago.
With 67% of the sector’s stocks (16 out of 24) rating a “buy,” the auto parts sector is one of the strongest. Among auto parts stocks, Dorman Products, Inc. (DORM), Magna International (MGA) and Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS) are leading the way with A’s. Showing the most overall growth in its sector in the last 12 months, Magna International is the top stock, with a 231.1% 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.
