This week, commercial banking, aerospace and defense, biotechnology, life science and auto parts are the best sectors on the Portfolio Grader database.
Commercial banking stands out with 100% of the sector’s stocks (5 out of 5) rating a “buy”. 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.
The aerospace and defense sector is thriving on Portfolio Grader this week, with 74% of its stocks (31 out of 42) currently rating a “buy”. With overall grades of A, Alliant Techsystem (ATK), Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) and TASER International, Inc. (TASR) are buoying the sector. The best performer in this sector is Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., which saw its price jump up 213.9% in the last 12 months.
With 71% of the sector’s stocks (60 out of 84) rating a “buy,” the biotechnology sector is one of the strongest. Out of the biotechnology stocks, Gentium S.p.A. Sponsored ADR (GENT), Repligen Corporation (RGEN) and Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (INSY) are out front with A’s. Over the last 12 months, Insys Therapeutics, Inc. is the best performer in this sector, with a 605.4% increase.
The life science sector’s track record is proving one of the best with 70% of its stocks (16 out of 23) rating a “buy”. Wuxi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Sponsored ADR (WX), Covance (CVD) and Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) are all currently earning A’s. 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 226.9% increase.
Auto parts is thriving this week with 68% of stocks in the sector (17 out of 25) currently rating a “buy”. Magna International (MGA), Dorman Products, Inc. (DORM) and Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS) are lifting the sector overall, each earning a high grade of A. Magna International is the top stock in its sector, with a 199.7% increase from 12 months 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.
