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3 Stock Giants Analysts Are Bullish On Despite Struggles

Businessman and golden bull

Key Points

  • Despite a challenging year, PayPal's attractive P/E ratios (current 15, forward 13.04) and projected earnings growth of 9.9% make it appealing to value investors. 
  • Pfizer's post-pandemic slump presents a great risk-reward opportunity for value investors, especially with a 5.95% dividend yield and a forward P/E of 10.12.
  • Alibaba faces economic and regulatory challenges, but its multi-year consolidation, low forward P/E of 8.56, and projected earnings growth of 12.07% offer potential. 
  • 5 stocks we like better than PayPal

Despite their recent struggles, these three industry giants hold the promise of significant upside. With favorable consensus price targets and ratings, attractive P/E valuations, solid earnings growth projections, and some highly attractive dividend yields, they present a hopeful picture for income and value-oriented investors. Let's delve into these stocks that, despite their recent setbacks, might be the exciting investing opportunity you've been looking for.

Analyst Price Targets: Potential Upside for PayPal Stock

PayPal Today

PayPal Holdings, Inc. stock logo
PYPLPYPL 90-day performance
PayPal
$59.09
-0.67 (-1.12%)
(As of 07/8/2024 ET)
52-Week Range
$50.25
$76.54
P/E Ratio
14.88
Price Target
$73.82

PayPal NASDAQ: PYPL is a leading digital payment platform that enables digital and mobile payments on behalf of consumers and merchants. Year-to-date, the stock has underperformed in the financial sector, with its stock down almost 3%, and over a year, it is down over 12%. However, from a valuation perspective, PayPal is now trading with a P/E ratio of 15 and a forward P/E ratio of 13.04, making it an attractive option for value investors. 

The stock also has projected earnings growth of 9.9% for the entire year. In its most recent report on April 30, the credit services provider reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.52 billion. Its revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. 

Analysts see considerable upside for the stock, with a consensus price target of $73.82, forecasting an almost 24% upside. Most recently, the stock has received several positive analyst actions: on July 2, Susquehanna analysts upgraded the stock from neutral to positive, and on June 25, analysts at Evercore ISI boosted its target from $65 to $70.

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) Price Chart for Tuesday, July, 9, 2024

Analyst Sentiment on Pfizer: Forecasting Future Performance

Pfizer Today

Pfizer Inc. stock logo
PFEPFE 90-day performance
Pfizer
$27.92
-0.12 (-0.43%)
(As of 07/8/2024 ET)
52-Week Range
$25.20
$37.80
Dividend Yield
6.02%
Price Target
$35.54

Pfizer Inc. NYSE: PFE is a US-based multinational biotech company that is a research-based pharmaceutical company focused on discovering, producing, and marketing medicines and vaccines. Like many other vaccine names that benefited greatly during the pandemic, Pfizer still suffers from its post-pandemic gains hangover, with the stock down 3.6% YTD and a whopping 24% over the previous year. 


However, this slump provides a potentially excellent risk-reward opportunity for value investors, especially those interested in dividend income. The stock offers a 5.95% dividend yield and a forward P/E ratio of 10.12. From a technical perspective, Pfizer has bottomed out in May, and if the stock can reclaim its 50-day SMA around $30, a trend break is confirmed. Like PayPal, analysts forecast a significant upside for this high-dividend-yielding name, with a consensus price target of $25.54, forecasting over 28% upside.

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Price Chart for Tuesday, July, 9, 2024

Analyst Ratings for Alibaba: Forecasting Significant Upside

Alibaba Group Today

Alibaba Group Holding Limited stock logo
BABABABA 90-day performance
Alibaba Group
$73.50
-1.02 (-1.37%)
(As of 07/8/2024 ET)
52-Week Range
$66.63
$102.50
Dividend Yield
1.33%
P/E Ratio
17.13
Price Target
$108.79

Alibaba NYSE: BABA is a Chinese multinational conglomerate specializing in e-commerce, retail,  and technology. In recent years, Alibaba has been plagued by the economic and property crisis, along with regulatory risks in China. As a result, the stock has fallen almost 10% over the previous year and close to 2% YTD. However, with a multi-year consolidation and trading near support, a forward P/E ratio of 8.56, and a current P/E ratio of 17.3, it might present an opportune time to buy. 

The stock also has a dividend yield of 1.3% and positive projected earnings growth for the full year of 12.07%. Analysts are bullish on Alibaba, with a moderate buy rating and a price target forecasting a whopping 44% upside. Most recently, on June 6, analysts at Loop Capital boosted their price target from $111 to $115, predicting over 45% upside at the time of the report.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Price Chart for Tuesday, July, 9, 2024

Should you invest $1,000 in PayPal right now?

Before you consider PayPal, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and PayPal wasn't on the list.

While PayPal currently has a "Hold" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

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Ryan Hasson
About The Author

Ryan Hasson

Contributing Author

Technical Analysis, Momentum Trading, Risk Management

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Companies Mentioned in This Article

CompanyMarketRank™Current PricePrice ChangeDividend YieldP/E RatioConsensus RatingConsensus Price Target
Alibaba Group (BABA)
4.7173 of 5 stars
$73.50-1.4%1.33%17.13Moderate Buy$108.79
Pfizer (PFE)
4.9395 of 5 stars
$27.93-0.4%6.02%-465.34Hold$35.54
PayPal (PYPL)
4.6946 of 5 stars
$59.09-1.1%N/A14.88Hold$73.82
Compare These Stocks  Add These Stocks to My Watchlist 


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