We recently published a list of 10 Best Major Stocks to Invest In According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) stands against the other best major stocks to invest in according to analysts.
The Post-Fed Rate Cut Opportunities
The current economic landscape presents a mix of signals as market participants assess the necessity of additional interest rate cuts. Despite overall economic strength, the Fed has hinted at potential rate reductions due to weaknesses in specific sectors. Currency dynamics are also shifting, with the US dollar weakening against the euro, adding another layer of complexity to the market environment. Amidst this backdrop, major stock indices, including the Dow Jones, continue to hover near record highs.
As analysts and market participants navigate these developments, they must consider how these factors may influence investment strategies in the coming months. Recently, discussions have emerged regarding the implications of potential rate cuts and their effects on various sectors of the economy. Some experts argue that further cuts may be necessary to support smaller businesses and consumers who are still adjusting to previous interest rate hikes.
Stephanie Link, Chief Investment Strategist and Portfolio Manager at Hightower thinks that a soft landing for the economy despite market volatility is anticipated, which is a contrasting perspective amidst market volatility and uncertainty. While there are concerns regarding the performance of small-cap stocks and their ability to keep pace with larger assets, she thinks the economy may stabilize without entering a recession. We talked about this in more detail in our article on the 10 Best Young Stocks To Buy Now, here’s an excerpt from it:
“….She believes that the Fed is skillfully guiding the economy towards a soft landing, even amidst the expected market fluctuations before the elections.
Just 3 weeks ago, the S&P 500 had dropped by 4%. Still, it rebounded by 4% the following week. It rose another 1% last week, reaching new highs, and expressed optimism about buying opportunities during any market weakness, citing better-than-expected economic growth driven by recent data, including improved retail sales and manufacturing figures, as well as a decline in weekly jobless claims to a 4-month low. This positive economic backdrop supports an estimated growth rate of 2.9%, which is expected to benefit corporate earnings.
….Link noted a broadening market trend over the past couple of months, indicating that while tech has taken the lead, other sectors such as financials, industrials, materials, and discretionary stocks are also showing strength.”
John Stoltzfus from Oppenheimer Asset Management joined CBNC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ on September 25 to discuss the difference the Fed’s recent rate cut makes. It was highlighted that the S&P 500 is experiencing a remarkable moment, having just achieved its 41st record close of the year. Oppenheimer’s Chief Investment Strategist has set a target of 5,900 for the index, attributing this optimistic outlook to the recent rate cuts by the Fed.
Stoltzfus explained that the significance of these cuts lies in their actual implementation after a long period of rate hikes and pauses. He described the rate cut as a down payment from the Fed to both Wall Street and Main Street, signaling that further cuts could be on the horizon if necessary. Since this announcement, the market has shown mixed reactions, with defensive stocks performing well at times while technology stocks have also seen gains.
When discussing consumer discretionary stocks, Stoltzfus expressed that this sector is one of their favorites despite its underperformance earlier in the year. He noted that there has been a noticeable improvement in performance over recent months as investors recognize consumer resilience. However, he emphasized that within consumer discretionary, investors should focus on select companies rather than expecting a broad rally across the sector. Retailers leveraging e-commerce effectively are likely to perform better during the upcoming holiday season.
The conversation also touched on concerns regarding discounts in various sectors, particularly electronics. Stoltzfus acknowledged that value has become a key focus for consumers, which has led to increased competition among retailers. This competition allows consumers more options but may also pressure profit margins for some retailers. Nonetheless, he pointed out that many businesses within consumer discretionary, beyond just retail, are likely to maintain healthy margins.
Stoltzfus’ discussion highlighted the positive impact of the Fed’s rate cuts on market sentiment and consumer behavior while recognizing challenges in specific sectors. The outlook remains optimistic as investors navigate through these transitions and prepare for potential opportunities in consumer discretionary stocks and other sectors.
Methodology
We used stock screeners to look for mega cap stocks. We then selected the top 10 stocks with the highest upside potential (more than 15%), that were also the most popular among elite hedge funds, as of Q2 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential.
Why 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A user’s hands typing a search query into a Google Search box, emphasizing the company’s search capabilities.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Average Upside Potential: 26.68%
Market Cap as of September 26: $1989.17 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 216
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a multinational technology conglomerate holding company, best known for its subsidiary, Google, focusing on technology-related products and services, including internet search, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, hardware, and software development, and is known for its innovative products, strong brand recognition, and commitment to advancing technology.
Google maintains a dominant position in the search engine market, with approximately 91.06% market share, and is continually improving Gemini and developing AI hardware. While Google’s TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) only hold about 20% of the market, their advancements promise increased market share. Additionally, Google’s 6th generation chips are 67% more energy efficient than their predecessors.
The company is investing heavily in AI, with plans to spend $50 billion by the end of 2024. Its strong competitive advantages, including its algorithms, AI expertise, and valuable data access, position it well for future growth in this segment. Over 60% of GenAI startups and 90% of GenAI unicorns are customers of the Google Cloud.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is anticipated to reach $100 billion in combined revenue from YouTube Ads and Google Cloud by the end of 2024. In Q2, Google Cloud revenue grew 28.8%, contributing to an overall revenue increase of 13.59%.
Its Waymo division is a major player in the autonomous driving industry, with 700+ cars operating in San Francisco alone. It has faced criticism for incidents like fires, crashes, and traffic violations. Despite these challenges, Waymo offers robotaxi services and has reported providing 100,000 rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
The company’s strong competitive advantages, including its AI expertise and valuable data, combined with its dominant position in search and mobile, make it a leading beneficiary of the growing AI market. Alphabet’s focus on innovation and cost efficiency positions it for long-term success.
Patient Capital Management stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was a top contributor in the second quarter, finally catching up to its peers in the Magnificent 7. The company gained 20.8% in the period following strong first quarter earnings, a new $70B repurchase program (3% of shares outstanding) and the initiation of a cash dividend ($0.20 per share; 0.42% yield). We continue to believe the market underappreciates Google’s exposure to AI with its Gemini model being integrated into search results, YouTube advertising and its cloud offering. We continue to think that the cloud players will be the AI winners in the long-term, with Google being well positioned to take advantage. While the company trades at 24x 2024 earnings, if you remove the money-losing and under-earning businesses, you realize that you are paying below a market multiple for the core Google business. We do not believe there are many other AI winners trading at such an attractive multiple.”
Overall GOOGL ranks 3rd on our list of best major stocks to invest in according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GOOGL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.