CNBC's "Halftime Report Final Trades" featured four stocks getting shoutouts from market pros, each with their own compelling story to tell.
CNBC's Final Trades: Analysts Back Nu Holdings, Phillips 66, Vertex and Disney
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Nu Holdings Impresses With Strong Earnings
Kevin Simpson, founder and CIO of Capital Wealth Planning, picked Nu Holdings Ltd (NU) as his final trade. The Latin American digital banking platform has plenty to celebrate after its recent earnings report.
On November 13, Nu Holdings posted quarterly earnings of 17 cents per share, topping analyst estimates of 16 cents. Even more impressive was the revenue performance: $4.17 billion for the quarter, crushing the $3.8 billion consensus and representing a substantial jump from $2.94 billion in the same period last year. That's the kind of growth that turns heads.
Phillips 66 Breaks Out
Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, highlighted Phillips 66 (PSX), noting the energy company is breaking out to a new year high. The timing looks interesting, especially with analyst attention picking up.
Piper Sandler's Ryan Todd maintains a Neutral rating on Phillips 66 but raised the price target from $170 to $171, suggesting the recent momentum has some staying power.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Gains Momentum
Jim Lebenthal, partner at Cerity Partners, sees positive momentum building in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX). The biotech company appears to be catching a wave of bullish sentiment from Wall Street analysts.
Supporting that view, Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn on Friday maintained an Overweight rating on Vertex and raised the price target from $516 to $564. That's a meaningful increase that suggests confidence in the company's trajectory.
Disney Gets the Call
Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management, picked Walt Disney Co (DIS) as her final trade. The entertainment giant delivered a mixed earnings report that still managed to beat where it counted.
On November 13, Disney reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $1.11, beating the consensus estimate of $1.04. Revenue came in flat year-over-year at $22.5 billion, slightly missing the $22.7 billion analyst forecast. Not perfect, but the earnings beat shows the company is managing costs effectively.
How They Traded
Friday's price action told a different story than the analyst picks might suggest. Nu Holdings fell 5.4% to close at $16.70. Phillips 66 slipped 0.1% to settle at $139.36. Vertex Pharmaceuticals declined 0.4% to close at $455.48. Disney shares dipped 0.2% to close at $105.30.
Of course, final trades are about where these pros think stocks are headed, not where they closed on any given day.
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