5 Stocks To Watch: July 31, 2020

Jul 31, 2020
5 Stocks To Watch: July 31, 2020
Credit: Pxfuel

July 31, 2020: In yesterday’s stocks to watch we mentioned tech giants Apple, Inc., Facebook, Inc., Alphabet, Inc., and picked out Amazon.com, Inc.

Their success was inevitable, considering the lockdown. Yet, each did far better-than-expected and that success has continued in the pre-market trading.

So far:

  • Facebook shares gained 6.5-percent.
  • Apple shares have gained 6.4-percent.
  • Alphabet shares gained 0.6-percent.
  • And our pick Amazon.com shares gained 5-percent.

It goes without saying that Facebook, Apple, and Amazon, are stocks to watch today. Plus here’s five more on our list.

Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT) – $136.84

One company that released its report early Friday was Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT). Its second-quarter earnings beat-the-estimate. With revenue reporting at $10-billion, $617-million above the estimate. Earnings per share reported at $1.03 each, $0.39 above the estimate.

During the pre-market trading, CAT shares rose in value by 2.3-percent. Plus, share value has trended upwards since March, climbing from $95.50 to present value.

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Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) – $37.26

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialists Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) are to post their third-quarter earnings before the bell today. Analysts expect revenue of $5.13-billion and earnings per share of $0.48 each.

During pre-market trading, JCI was up 0.5-percent, and over the last three-months, JCI has been trending upwards, from $27.86 at the end of April to present value.

Chevron Corporation (CVX) – $86.36

Another company posting earnings before the bell today is Chevron Corp. (CVX). Analysts estimate second-quarter revenue of $22.10-billion and earnings per share at a loss of $0.92 each. Despite having a negative trend in valuation since April, falling from $100.81 to present value, there was a 1.3-percent gain during pre-market trading.

This bump could be connected to the positive news coming out of the Argentine Supreme Court regarding a fraudulent Ecuadorian claim. Or it could be investors considering expert analyst SunTrust Robinson Humphrey maintaining their buy outlook on CVX.

Regardless, Chevron Corp. makes our stocks to watch top five.

CHECK OUT: UPS shares hit a new high as pandemic drives healthcare and e-commerce shipments.

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) – $79.07

Pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) will report second-quarter earnings before the opening bell today. Analyst estimate revenue of $10.39-billion and earnings per share of $1.04 each. During pre-market trading, MRK was up 0.4-percent.

This could be in relation to the July 29 announcement that Merck & Co., Inc. had been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for one of its oncology drugs.

Since June 14, MRK value has trended upwards from $74.02 to present value. A positive report and recent FDA news make this one of our stocks to watch.

Fiat Chrysler S.P.A. (FCAU) – $10.50

The second vehicle company in our top five stocks to watch today is Fiat Chrysler S.P.A. (FCAU). Like Chevron, Fiat Chrysler are also reporting before the opening bell.

Analysts estimate that second-quarter revenue will report at $17.34-billion. With earnings per share reporting at a loss of $1.35 each.

News sentiment for FCAU is bearish and only 49-percent positive, compared to Chevron news sentiment which was 61-percent positive. With such a low sentiment it’s a surprise that FCAU gained 3.3-percent during pre-market trading.

This flux between opinion and trading makes FCAU a definite stock to watch today.

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