Latest news with #LaurenGoodwin
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) the Best Dow Stock for the Next 12 Months?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) stands against other best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the Dow, is a price-weighted index that has long been seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy. After touching all-time highs in late November 2024, the index has corrected nearly 7% in 2025 (as of April 23) and is down 12% from its highs. Rightly so, the correction reflects several unfavourable developments, including economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions weighing on economic growth. The market is expected to remain volatile as the trade and other aspects of the US administration's policy agenda play out. Amid this volatility, based on the potential for share price appreciation in the next 12 months, we have created a selection of the best and worst Dow stocks from the 30 Dow constituent stocks. If we analyse its trackable history from 1899, the Dow has fallen 7% or more on a single day twenty times. Of those, only seven occurred after the year 2000, and the 5.5% decline on April 5, 2025, doesn't count as one of those seven, or not even in the historical top twenty. So, technically, this correction was not as severe as earlier. From corrections post 2000, the sharp declines when Covid-19 struck were the most noticeable – Dow fell 7.8%, 10%, and 12% on 9, 12, and 16th March, respectively, and saw further significant declines in that year. That said, the current period remains one of the most confusing times for market participants, even for the larger players in the equity market, who remain uncertain about their estimates for the broader markets, such as the Dow. In a recent interview, Lauren Goodwin, Chief Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, emphasized that the fundamental picture remains cloudy and investors are still looking for clarity in macroeconomic fundamentals. Despite some positive economic data recently, policy uncertainty is limiting visibility. As more data is released, she believes markets are entering a sustained period of elevated volatility across equities and fixed income. In these testing times, investors should examine fundamentals more critically, preferring Dow stocks with earnings resilience, clear competitive advantages, and exposure to long-term, secular growth themes. On April 28, Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors' chief investment strategist, shared her positive outlook on the stock market in an interview on CNBC. With major tech companies, consumer, and financial companies set to announce results, she believes that if corporate earnings remain strong, the recent market rebound could continue. Since early April, the market has recovered significantly, and she attributed the rally to better-than-expected profit margins and steady corporate performance. Although the prominent tech names aren't cheap in terms of valuation, she views the recent declines as long-term buying opportunities. While markets may remain volatile in the coming months, the best opportunities in the Dow over the next 12 months should come from stocks with strong pricing power and earnings momentum. Investors should stick to stocks with strong brands, recurring revenue models, and competitive moats, which enable them to navigate macro uncertainty. Since the Dow comprises large-cap companies across various industries, these stocks might perform better during sell-offs. To identify the best and worst Dow stocks, we began with the 30 constituent stocks of the DJIA Index. We then ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the consensus 1-year median potential upside. Additionally, we also include data on hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, utilizing Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 hedge fund database to provide deeper insights into institutional investor trends. It is important to note here that the terms 'best' and 'worst' refer strictly to the relative upside potential and do not imply any fundamental strengths or weaknesses of the underlying are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). A closeup of a woman's hands typing rapidly on a laptop in a corporate office Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is a technology company that provides integrated consulting, software, and infrastructure solutions by leveraging hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence. Over the last few years, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) has tried to refocus its strategic growth in areas such as automation, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. The company is particularly encouraged about hybrid cloud, where it sees as much as a $1.7 trillion global opportunity. It is also making robust progress in quantum computing and currently boasts of deploying more quantum systems than the rest of the world combined. In February, the company gave a long-term revenue growth guidance of 5%, including 10% software revenue growth, which supported the share price performance. Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at Bank of America Securities, recently corroborated these growth prospects. Despite the macroeconomic challenges, Wamsi reiterated his Buy rating on IBM with a price target of $270 in a report published around April 20. He lauded the company's strong YTD share price performance and attributed it to its recurring revenue streams and the mission-critical nature of its offerings. Among other drivers for his optimism, he counted strong growth in the software business, strategic acquisitions like HashiCorp, a healthy dividend yield, and the benefits from the Mainframe refresh cycle. Overall, IBM ranks 26th on our list of best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of IBM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IBM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Amgen Inc. (AMGN) the Best Dow Stock for the Next 12 Months?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) stands against other best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the Dow, is a price-weighted index that has long been seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy. After touching all-time highs in late November 2024, the index has corrected nearly 7% in 2025 (as of April 23) and is down 12% from its highs. Rightly so, the correction reflects several unfavourable developments, including economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions weighing on economic growth. The market is expected to remain volatile as the trade and other aspects of the US administration's policy agenda play out. Amid this volatility, based on the potential for share price appreciation in the next 12 months, we have created a selection of the best and worst Dow stocks from the 30 Dow constituent stocks. If we analyse its trackable history from 1899, the Dow has fallen 7% or more on a single day twenty times. Of those, only seven occurred after the year 2000, and the 5.5% decline on April 5, 2025, doesn't count as one of those seven, or not even in the historical top twenty. So, technically, this correction was not as severe as earlier. From corrections post 2000, the sharp declines when Covid-19 struck were the most noticeable – Dow fell 7.8%, 10%, and 12% on 9, 12, and 16th March, respectively, and saw further significant declines in that year. That said, the current period remains one of the most confusing times for market participants, even for the larger players in the equity market, who remain uncertain about their estimates for the broader markets, such as the Dow. In a recent interview, Lauren Goodwin, Chief Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, emphasized that the fundamental picture remains cloudy and investors are still looking for clarity in macroeconomic fundamentals. Despite some positive economic data recently, policy uncertainty is limiting visibility. As more data is released, she believes markets are entering a sustained period of elevated volatility across equities and fixed income. In these testing times, investors should examine fundamentals more critically, preferring Dow stocks with earnings resilience, clear competitive advantages, and exposure to long-term, secular growth themes. On April 28, Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors' chief investment strategist, shared her positive outlook on the stock market in an interview on CNBC. With major tech companies, consumer, and financial companies set to announce results, she believes that if corporate earnings remain strong, the recent market rebound could continue. Since early April, the market has recovered significantly, and she attributed the rally to better-than-expected profit margins and steady corporate performance. Although the prominent tech names aren't cheap in terms of valuation, she views the recent declines as long-term buying opportunities. While markets may remain volatile in the coming months, the best opportunities in the Dow over the next 12 months should come from stocks with strong pricing power and earnings momentum. Investors should stick to stocks with strong brands, recurring revenue models, and competitive moats, which enable them to navigate macro uncertainty. Since the Dow comprises large-cap companies across various industries, these stocks might perform better during sell-offs. To identify the best and worst Dow stocks, we began with the 30 constituent stocks of the DJIA Index. We then ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the consensus 1-year median potential upside. Additionally, we also include data on hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, utilizing Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 hedge fund database to provide deeper insights into institutional investor trends. It is important to note here that the terms 'best' and 'worst' refer strictly to the relative upside potential and do not imply any fundamental strengths or weaknesses of the underlying are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). A pharmacist filling a prescription for a complex drug developed by the Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is a pioneer in the biotechnology industry. It develops, manufactures, and sells innovative medicines for some of the most serious diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Close to ten of Amgen Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMGN) products delivered at least double-digit sales growth, which helped the company's 2024 revenue climb 19% YoY to $33.4 billion. It expects to report revenue in the $34.3-35.7 billion range in 2025. In 2024, the company spent around $6 billion on R&D, up 25% year over year and equating to around 18.5% of total revenue. With that kind of R&D focus, the company has a strong pipeline of potentially best-in-class medicines across many therapeutic areas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved UPLIZNA as the first and only treatment for Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in early March. This immune-mediated inflammatory condition can affect multiple organs. In their latest updates in the last two weeks, analysts from Bernstein, Piper Sandler, and Jefferies have reiterated their Buy rating on the stock. Overall, AMGN ranks 20th on our list of best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of Dow stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMGN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is 3M Company (MMM) the Best Dow Stock for the Next 12 Months?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) stands against other best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the Dow, is a price-weighted index that has long been seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy. After touching all-time highs in late November 2024, the index has corrected nearly 7% in 2025 (as of April 23) and is down 12% from its highs. Rightly so, the correction reflects several unfavourable developments, including economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions weighing on economic growth. The market is expected to remain volatile as the trade and other aspects of the US administration's policy agenda play out. Amid this volatility, based on the potential for share price appreciation in the next 12 months, we have created a selection of the best and worst Dow stocks from the 30 Dow constituent stocks. If we analyse its trackable history from 1899, the Dow has fallen 7% or more on a single day twenty times. Of those, only seven occurred after the year 2000, and the 5.5% decline on April 5, 2025, doesn't count as one of those seven, or not even in the historical top twenty. So, technically, this correction was not as severe as earlier. From corrections post 2000, the sharp declines when Covid-19 struck were the most noticeable – Dow fell 7.8%, 10%, and 12% on 9, 12, and 16th March, respectively, and saw further significant declines in that year. That said, the current period remains one of the most confusing times for market participants, even for the larger players in the equity market, who remain uncertain about their estimates for the broader markets, such as the Dow. In a recent interview, Lauren Goodwin, Chief Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, emphasized that the fundamental picture remains cloudy and investors are still looking for clarity in macroeconomic fundamentals. Despite some positive economic data recently, policy uncertainty is limiting visibility. As more data is released, she believes markets are entering a sustained period of elevated volatility across equities and fixed income. In these testing times, investors should examine fundamentals more critically, preferring Dow stocks with earnings resilience, clear competitive advantages, and exposure to long-term, secular growth themes. On April 28, Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors' chief investment strategist, shared her positive outlook on the stock market in an interview on CNBC. With major tech companies, consumer, and financial companies set to announce results, she believes that if corporate earnings remain strong, the recent market rebound could continue. Since early April, the market has recovered significantly, and she attributed the rally to better-than-expected profit margins and steady corporate performance. Although the prominent tech names aren't cheap in terms of valuation, she views the recent declines as long-term buying opportunities. While markets may remain volatile in the coming months, the best opportunities in the Dow over the next 12 months should come from stocks with strong pricing power and earnings momentum. Investors should stick to stocks with strong brands, recurring revenue models, and competitive moats, which enable them to navigate macro uncertainty. Since the Dow comprises large-cap companies across various industries, these stocks might perform better during sell-offs. To identify the best and worst Dow stocks, we began with the 30 constituent stocks of the DJIA Index. We then ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the consensus 1-year median potential upside. Additionally, we also include data on hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, utilizing Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 hedge fund database to provide deeper insights into institutional investor trends. It is important to note here that the terms 'best' and 'worst' refer strictly to the relative upside potential and do not imply any fundamental strengths or weaknesses of the underlying are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). A specialized industrial laboratory, filled with high-tech machinery for producing abrasives.3M Company (NYSE:MMM) is a diversified global conglomerate that manufactures various products across industrial, safety, transportation, electronics, and consumer markets. On April 22, the company reported healthy Q1 2025 earnings results. Adjusted revenue for the quarter stood at $5.8 billion, up 1.5% organically, and modestly ahead of street estimates. The EPS of $1.88 was up 10% year-over-year and came substantially ahead of street expectations of $1.77. For FY 2025, the company reaffirmed its EPS guidance of $7.6 to $7.9 (in line with consensus at mid-point), including a $0.2-$0.4 impact from tariffs. The company is considering several measures to offset the effects of tariffs, including shifting its production bases, pricing actions, and optimizing networks. Following the results, an analyst at UBS published a report highlighting that the stock remains one of the Top Picks across the UBS coverage universe. Despite the company reiterating its guidance, the analyst increased his EPS estimates for FY 2025. He believes the guidance appears conservative, and there could be further upside to the company's estimates. Supported by the order trends and better organic growth, the analyst also estimates that the company would win back more market share in the coming years. He, therefore, reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $184. Overall, MMM ranks 19th on our list of best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of Dow stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MMM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is The Boeing Company (BA) the Best Dow Stock for the Next 12 Months?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) stands against other best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the Dow, is a price-weighted index that has long been seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy. After touching all-time highs in late November 2024, the index has corrected nearly 7% in 2025 (as of April 23) and is down 12% from its highs. Rightly so, the correction reflects several unfavourable developments, including economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions weighing on economic growth. The market is expected to remain volatile as the trade and other aspects of the US administration's policy agenda play out. Amid this volatility, based on the potential for share price appreciation in the next 12 months, we have created a selection of the best and worst Dow stocks from the 30 Dow constituent stocks. If we analyse its trackable history from 1899, the Dow has fallen 7% or more on a single day twenty times. Of those, only seven occurred after the year 2000, and the 5.5% decline on April 5, 2025, doesn't count as one of those seven, or not even in the historical top twenty. So, technically, this correction was not as severe as earlier. From corrections post 2000, the sharp declines when Covid-19 struck were the most noticeable – Dow fell 7.8%, 10%, and 12% on 9, 12, and 16th March, respectively, and saw further significant declines in that year. That said, the current period remains one of the most confusing times for market participants, even for the larger players in the equity market, who remain uncertain about their estimates for the broader markets, such as the Dow. In a recent interview, Lauren Goodwin, Chief Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, emphasized that the fundamental picture remains cloudy and investors are still looking for clarity in macroeconomic fundamentals. Despite some positive economic data recently, policy uncertainty is limiting visibility. As more data is released, she believes markets are entering a sustained period of elevated volatility across equities and fixed income. In these testing times, investors should examine fundamentals more critically, preferring Dow stocks with earnings resilience, clear competitive advantages, and exposure to long-term, secular growth themes. On April 28, Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors' chief investment strategist, shared her positive outlook on the stock market in an interview on CNBC. With major tech companies, consumer, and financial companies set to announce results, she believes that if corporate earnings remain strong, the recent market rebound could continue. Since early April, the market has recovered significantly, and she attributed the rally to better-than-expected profit margins and steady corporate performance. Although the prominent tech names aren't cheap in terms of valuation, she views the recent declines as long-term buying opportunities. While markets may remain volatile in the coming months, the best opportunities in the Dow over the next 12 months should come from stocks with strong pricing power and earnings momentum. Investors should stick to stocks with strong brands, recurring revenue models, and competitive moats, which enable them to navigate macro uncertainty. Since the Dow comprises large-cap companies across various industries, these stocks might perform better during sell-offs. To identify the best and worst Dow stocks, we began with the 30 constituent stocks of the DJIA Index. We then ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the consensus 1-year median potential upside. Additionally, we also include data on hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, utilizing Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 hedge fund database to provide deeper insights into institutional investor trends. It is important to note here that the terms 'best' and 'worst' refer strictly to the relative upside potential and do not imply any fundamental strengths or weaknesses of the underlying are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). A commercial jetliner parked at an airport, reflecting the companies success in Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is an aerospace company that manufactures and sells commercial jet aircraft, defense products, and security and space systems to customers in more than 150 countries. The company had a pretty difficult 2024 as it faced issues regarding quality and safety in its aircraft, management churn, and employee strikes. Its share price tanked around 32% last year. In 2025, the company tried to shore up its operations, and the most crucial decision it took was to sell portions of its Digital Aviation Solutions business, including its Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData, and OzRunways assets, to the investment firm Thoma Bravo. The deal, announced on April 22, is valued at $10.6 billion. It not only gives The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) financial leeway but is also expected to strengthen its focus on core business. The company also reported its Q1 2025 results on April 23. The main takeaway was the operational improvement underway. Revenue for the quarter grew 18% year-over-year to $19.5 billion, primarily driven by 130 commercial deliveries. Adjusted core operating profit came in at $199 million, a substantial improvement over an operating loss of $388 million in the prior year. Free cash flow burn (i.e., cash usage) also improved to $2.3 billion versus $3.9 billion for the previous year's quarter. Analysts have been broadly optimistic about the company's operational improvements and outlook. Consensus 1-year median price target currently stands at $200, which implies over 16% upside potential. Overall, BA ranks 16th on our list of best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of Dow stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV) the Best Dow Stock for the Next 12 Months?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) stands against other best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the Dow, is a price-weighted index that has long been seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy. After touching all-time highs in late November 2024, the index has corrected nearly 7% in 2025 (as of April 23) and is down 12% from its highs. Rightly so, the correction reflects several unfavourable developments, including economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions weighing on economic growth. The market is expected to remain volatile as the trade and other aspects of the US administration's policy agenda play out. Amid this volatility, based on the potential for share price appreciation in the next 12 months, we have created a selection of the best and worst Dow stocks from the 30 Dow constituent stocks. If we analyse its trackable history from 1899, the Dow has fallen 7% or more on a single day twenty times. Of those, only seven occurred after the year 2000, and the 5.5% decline on April 5, 2025, doesn't count as one of those seven, or not even in the historical top twenty. So, technically, this correction was not as severe as earlier. From corrections post 2000, the sharp declines when Covid-19 struck were the most noticeable – Dow fell 7.8%, 10%, and 12% on 9, 12, and 16th March, respectively, and saw further significant declines in that year. That said, the current period remains one of the most confusing times for market participants, even for the larger players in the equity market, who remain uncertain about their estimates for the broader markets, such as the Dow. In a recent interview, Lauren Goodwin, Chief Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, emphasized that the fundamental picture remains cloudy and investors are still looking for clarity in macroeconomic fundamentals. Despite some positive economic data recently, policy uncertainty is limiting visibility. As more data is released, she believes markets are entering a sustained period of elevated volatility across equities and fixed income. In these testing times, investors should examine fundamentals more critically, preferring Dow stocks with earnings resilience, clear competitive advantages, and exposure to long-term, secular growth themes. On April 28, Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors' chief investment strategist, shared her positive outlook on the stock market in an interview on CNBC. With major tech companies, consumer, and financial companies set to announce results, she believes that if corporate earnings remain strong, the recent market rebound could continue. Since early April, the market has recovered significantly, and she attributed the rally to better-than-expected profit margins and steady corporate performance. Although the prominent tech names aren't cheap in terms of valuation, she views the recent declines as long-term buying opportunities. While markets may remain volatile in the coming months, the best opportunities in the Dow over the next 12 months should come from stocks with strong pricing power and earnings momentum. Investors should stick to stocks with strong brands, recurring revenue models, and competitive moats, which enable them to navigate macro uncertainty. Since the Dow comprises large-cap companies across various industries, these stocks might perform better during sell-offs. To identify the best and worst Dow stocks, we began with the 30 constituent stocks of the DJIA Index. We then ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the consensus 1-year median potential upside. Additionally, we also include data on hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, utilizing Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 hedge fund database to provide deeper insights into institutional investor trends. It is important to note here that the terms 'best' and 'worst' refer strictly to the relative upside potential and do not imply any fundamental strengths or weaknesses of the underlying are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). A woman signing a policy document while a representative from the insurance company looks Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals. The majority of its revenue comes from the domestic market. The company reported pretax catastrophe losses of $2.3 billion from the January California wildfires, which hurt its Q1 2025 results announced on April 16. This was higher than the $1.7 billion estimate the company had given in February. Despite this impact, quarterly financial performance was strong, with underlying underwriting income rising 32%, driven by strong net earned premiums of $10.7 billion. Core income of $443 million came in better than expectations. Street analysts were broadly optimistic after the company's strong results and long-term outlook, although some analysts highlighted concerns in the near term. William Blair analyst Adam Klauber maintained his Neutral rating on the stock as he sees reduced potential for earnings growth in 2025, but stabilization and better growth in 2026. On the other side, Keefe Bruyette analyst Meyer Shields increased his price target to $290 from $274, and maintained an Outperform rating. Analysts from Evercore ISI and Roth MKM also reiterated their confidence in the stock and maintained their Buy ratings. Overall, TRV ranks 21st on our list of best and worst dow stocks for the next 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of Dow stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TRV but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
