We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Beaten Down Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) stands against the other beaten down stocks.
The equity market is on the cusp of a significant boost as the U.S. Federal Reserve joins other global central banks in cutting interest rates. While stocks have rallied for the better part of the year, as depicted by the S&P 500 gaining more than 17% year to date, three 25 basis point cuts by the Fed could send stocks even higher.
A lower interest rate environment is what the equity markets need; sentiments have taken a significant toll in recent months amid growing concerns about economic growth slowdown. With borrowing costs expected to decrease, companies should access cheap capital to enhance operations, generating more shareholder value.
READ ALSO: Billionaire Carl Icahn’s Top 10 Stocks and 14 Best 52-Week High Stocks to Buy According to Short Sellers.
Some of the best beaten-down stocks to invest in would be some of the biggest beneficiaries, especially if their core operations depend on the interest rate environment. According to Standard Chartered Chief Investment Officer Manpreet Gill, Federal Reserve easing should support stocks as the U.S. economy inches closer to a soft landing.
“Our baseline is still very much that a [U.S.] soft landing is achievable… It almost becomes a little bit more binary, because as long as we avoid that downside risk, equity earnings growth is still very supportive, and we’ve had sort of the positioning clean out in the recent pullback. And I think rate cuts, or at least expectation of those, really was the last piece markets were looking for. So on balance, we think it’s a positive outcome,” Gill said in an interview with CNBC.
As the monetary policy environment is poised to improve, the economic climate should receive a boost to support the overall equity market. Consequently, now would be the best time to pay close attention to the seven best-beaten-down stocks trading close to their 52-week lows. These are stocks well poised to outperform the overall market, their valuation having taken a significant hit.
While valuations in the equity markets, especially the tech sector, have gotten out of hand amid the artificial intelligence frenzy, stocks still offer a high-risk reward opportunity backed by solid underlying fundamentals. Similarly, while financial services sector stocks would be under pressure due to interest rates coming down, software information technology services and payment companies would be some of the big winners.
“We expect [sales] growth to accelerate through the remainder of the year with 5.5% growth in [second half] from 5.0% in [first half], driven by a progressive recovery in I.T. Services, having reached a trough of -2.7% organic growth in [first quarter] and finishing the year with +0.7% growth in [fourth quarter] as discretionary spend recovers,” said Bank of America analysts led by Frederic Boolean in a research note to clients.
Similarly, soaring geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the uncertainty around the upcoming U.S. election also present an opportunity for investors in the market. Defense stocks offer an opportunity to diversify in anticipation of any market downturn.
Defense stocks are becoming increasingly popular, especially among fund managers at a time of soaring industry profits. Similarly, the stocks continue to outperform the overall market owing to higher defense spending as the government responds to soaring geopolitical risks.
On the other hand, there is also the possibility of the equity market rally stalling even with the Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts. If the cut comes in response to slowing growth, it could take some time before the economy returns. In such a scenario, it would be wise to bet on the best-beaten-down stocks that are well-positioned to remain resilient amid a challenging environment.
Our Methodology
To make our list of the best beaten down stocks to invest in, we first made a list of stocks trading near their 52-week lows (0-5%) range. We checked the hedge fund sentiment around 15 stocks with the largest market caps and then selected the 7 stocks that were the most popular among hedge funds. We ranked the stocks in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds that own stakes in them, as of Q2 2024.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with 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 fresh produce section in a modern grocery store.
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)
52 Week Range: $19.25 – $23.88
Current Share Price: $19.62
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
Market Capitalization as of September 3: $11.36 Billion
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is a consumer defensive company that operates food and drug stores. Its food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services.
It is one of the best beaten-down stocks to invest in as it is currently trading at a discount close to its 52-week lows on navigating competitive pressures and evolving consumer habits. Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) has since embarked on strategic initiatives in response to the negative market conditions, and it looks to reinvigorate its growth metrics.
The company is increasingly investing in its Customers for Life Strategy, and the digital and omnichannel capabilities are expected to continue driving year-over-year growth. Consequently, it delivered solid first-quarter results that affirmed the resiliency of its core business.
Adjusted earnings met expectations, coming in at $1.18 billion as the company registered a 1.4% increase in identical sales. Net sales totaled $24.3 billion from $24.1 billion a year ago. The increases were driven by a 14% increase in sales surge in the pharmacy sector as digital sales increased by 23%
During the same timeframe, Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) has kept a gross profit margin of 28.42%, showing its capacity to produce profits compared to its income. While trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 8, Albertsons is trading at a low earnings multiple relative to its peers, affirming potential undervaluation.
In the second quarter of 2024, 59 hedge funds had stakes in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI). As of Q2 2024, Stephen Feinberg’s Cerberus Capital Management is the top shareholder in the company and has a position worth $3 billion.
Overall ACI ranks 3rd on our list of the beaten down stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of ACI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACI, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
