Last week, the Nasdaq 100 recorded modest gains and is currently hovering near its all-time high, fueled by a softer-than-expected inflation report and robust second-quarter corporate earnings results…
Furthermore, with the weekly jobless claims declining for a third straight week, and the growing notion that recent price increases are transitory, investors are brimming with optimism.
While this suggests that the financial markets are no longer concerned with inflation, rising COVID-19 cases in various parts of the world due to the spread of the Delta variant could keep the stock market volatile for now. However, Chief Investment Officer Xian Chan of HSBC noted that the broad success of vaccination programs should continue driving the economic recovery in the second half of the year.
Given this backdrop, investors remain bullish about prominent Nasdaq 100 stocks that have recently helped the index climb to an all-time high. Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM – Get Rating), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN – Get Rating), and Workday, Inc. (WDAY – Get Rating) are three such stocks. They have gained substantially over the past few months and are well-positioned to maintain the momentum in the near term.
Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM – Get Rating)
QCOM in San Diego, Calif., is a leading semiconductor and telecommunications equipment operator that develops and commercializes consumer electronic devices, network equipment, broadband gateway equipment, and other devices worldwide. The company operates through Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT); Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL); and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI) segments.
This month, QCOM submitted an offer to acquire Veoneer for $37 per share in a step toward fulfilling its ambition to offer advanced technologies to the automotive industry. The acquisition should enable the company to drive innovation, provide industry-leading solutions, and cater to the increasing needs of automakers as the automotive industry continues to transform.
In July, the company inked a new deal with the government of Peachtree Corners, Ga., to test a variety of new technology related to Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything technology. As a result, QCOM’s industry-leading C-V2X technologies should enhance its smart infrastructure for technology developers and residents.
QCOM’s total QCT revenues increased 70% year-over-year to $6.47 billion in its fiscal third quarter, ended June 27, 2021. Its automotive segment revenue rose 83% from the prior-year quarter to $253 million. The company’s non-GAAP income from operations amounted to $445.17 million, representing a 117.9% year-over-year improvement. Its non-GAAP net income rose 124% from its year-ago value to $2.20 billion, while its EPS increased 123.3% year-over-year to $1.92. QCOM reported $3.37 billion in net cash provided by operating activities for this quarter, compared to $1.87 billion in the prior-year period.
A $2.04 consensus EPS estimate for the next quarter, ending September 2021, represents a 40.7% improvement year-over-year. In addition, QCOM has an impressive earnings surprise history; it beat the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The $32.18 billion consensus revenue estimate for the current year indicates a 48.6% increase year-over-year. The stock has gained 31.1% over the past year and 5.3% over the past month.
QCOM’s strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall B rating, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
The stock also has a B grade for Sentiment, Value, and Quality. We also have graded QCOM for Momentum, Stability, and Growth. Click here to access all QCOM’s ratings.
QCOM is ranked #14 of 99 stocks in the B-rated Semiconductor & Wireless Chip industry.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN – Get Rating)
Based in Tarrytown. NY., REGN is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products to treat various medical conditions worldwide. Its product portfolio includes Dupixent injection to treat atopic dermatitis in adults, ZALTRAP injection for intravenous infusion to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, and EYLEA injection to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, among others.
This month, the New England Journal of Medicine published positive Phase 3 trial results of REGN’s REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals. The result also demonstrated the drug’s effectiveness against all COVID-19 variants of concern.
In July, REGN formed a partnership with AstraZeneca to research, develop and commercialize new small-molecule medicines directed against the GPR75 target to potentially treat obesity and related co-morbidities. In addition, this strategic collaboration should enable REGN to deploy its gene-editing technologies to cater to the needs of patients.
In the second quarter…
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