This week, the commercial banking, aerospace and defense, life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors are gathering momentum on the Portfolio Grader database.
With 100% of the sector’s stocks (5 out of 5) rating a “buy,” the commercial banking sector is one of the strongest. Out of the commercial banking stocks, StellarOne Corporation (STEL) and Citizens Republic Bancorp (CRBC) are out front with B’s. Pacific Capital Bancorp (PCBC) also ranks a solid A.
Aerospace and defense is excelling, with 74% of stocks in the sector (31 out of 42) rating a “buy”. Out of the aerospace and defense stocks, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII), Alliant Techsystem (ATK) and TASER International, Inc. (TASR) are out front with A’s. The best performer in this sector is Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., which saw its price rise 243.4% in the last 12 months.
Life science is thriving this week with 71% of stocks in the sector (17 out of 24) currently rating a “buy”. Wuxi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Sponsored ADR (WX), Covance (CVD) and Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) are lifting the sector overall, each earning a high grade of A. Showing the most overall growth in its sector in the last 12 months, Wuxi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Sponsored ADR is the top stock, with a 232.5% increase.
Biotechnology stands out with 70% of the sector’s stocks (69 out of 99) rating a “buy”. Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ENTA), Gentium S.p.A. Sponsored ADR (GENT) and Repligen Corporation (RGEN) are all currently earning A’s. Over the last 12 months, Repligen Corporation is the best performer in this sector, with a 564.4% increase.
The pharmaceutical sector’s track record is proving one of the best with 67% of its stocks (41 out of 61) rating a “buy”. Among pharmaceutical stocks, Lannett Company, Inc. (LCI), Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR) and Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) are leading the way with A’s. Lannett Company, Inc. is the best performer in this sector, with a 63.2% increase in the last 12 months.
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.
