We recently compiled a list of the 10 Oversold Growth Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) stands against the other oversold growth stocks.
As investors focus on consumer spending in a bid to assess the broader health of the US economy, current data points demonstrate that the fears of recession are now overdone. UBS believes that the excess savings that were built up during the COVID-19 pandemic are now used up, and elevated levels of interest rates seem to be impacting activity, mainly in the housing market. However, as the US Fed moves further with its policy easing cycle, lower rates are expected to ease some downward pressure on the broader economy.
S&P Global mentioned that a risk-averse mood has been clouding the US stock market investor outlook for 4th straight month. That being said, the overall risk sentiment saw some improvement from September’s 16-month low, as per the latest results from the firm’s Investment Manager Index survey.
Forecasts for Q4 2024
As per JP Morgan, the stocks touched their 44th all-time high recently. Technology (+2.5%) continued to dominate the broader market, with Al roadshows demonstrating improved demand throughout the country. While past performance cannot be relied upon, the seasonality says that Q4 2024 acts as a tailwind for the broader US markets. Overall, consumers increase their spending more on retail at the time of the holiday season and the “Santa Claus” rally. However, the bank believes that 3 global events might affect the Q4 2024 asset returns. These include geopolitical tensions, Chinese policy stimulus, and the U.S. election.
Amidst the geopolitical tensions, gold, which generally produces positive returns in Q4 2024, can act as a safe-haven asset. Since the start of the quarter, oil prices have increased too. Therefore, both oil and gold can hedge portfolios. Next, the large bank believes that if further China’s policy support outpaces the market projections of 2 – 4 trillion renminbi (RMB) supplementary bond issuance, there might be another rally in the offing for onshore and offshore equities and commodities. Talking about the elections, the typical seasonality is likely to persist. There can be increased volatility.
Outlook for Growth Stocks
Market experts opine that when there is a reversal in the global interest rate cycle, the growth stocks are expected to outperform. This is because reduced rates help in fueling liquidity in the growth companies.
As per Comerica Wealth Management, the market environments with declining rates and rising profits support the broader equity prices. Moreover, the expectations of the rate cuts led to a change in the investing appetite as these investors are now focused on public companies that are interest-rate sensitive (including the growth stocks). Therefore, B. Riley Wealth Management believes that dividend stocks, telecoms, and consumer staples are some of the sectors that are likely to benefit.
Our Methodology
To list 10 Oversold Growth Stocks to Invest In, we used a Finviz screener to extract stocks that have fallen significantly on a YTD basis and have a forward P/E of less than 15x. After getting a list of 25-30 stocks, we narrowed it down to the following 10 stocks having high hedge fund holdings, as of Q2 2024. Finally, the stocks were ranked in the ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments.
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 person enjoying a morning jog while sipping from a bottle of a functional beverage.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)
Forward P/E (As of 14 October): 3.24x
% Decline on a YD Basis: ~55%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) offers health and wellness products in North America, Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, and in other regions.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) saw an increase in distributor recruiting after implementing new engagement programs. It is rolling out the Mastermind program in a bid to foster growth among top distributor leaders. In a recent earnings call, the company highlighted that positive results from pricing and compensation changes in Latin American markets continue to fuel distributor growth.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)’s resilience amidst economic headwinds is being supported by strategic initiatives that are targeted at distributor engagement and leadership development. Its focus on reducing debt and leveraging its global footprint supports its commitment to long-term growth and financial stability. With new programs set to launch, together with the dedication to improving distributor success, Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) appears to be well-placed for long-term growth.
The company remains optimistic about an increase in new distributors, which builds the foundation for sales growth, and about the Restructuring Program. This program aims to deliver annual savings of at least $80 million beginning in 2025, with at least $50 million anticipated to be achieved in 2024 (an increase from ~$40 million).
Based on actions through June 30, Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) highlighted that at least $10 million of savings were realized during Q2 2024. Analysts at B. Riley increased their price target on the shares of the company from $16.00 to $17.00, giving a “Buy” rating on 1st August.
Overall HLF ranks 8th on our list of the oversold growth stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of HLF as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than HLF 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.