4 Stocks Hit 52-Week Highs: Kraft, Comcast

Comcast

"We also expect solid HSD net adds, as the broadband category continues to show overall growth, and more importantly, the DSL category continues to show weakness," Credit Suisse analysts wrote in an April 27 report. "We are looking for 404k HSD net adds in 1Q, just below 1Q11 HSD net adds of 418k."

Shares of Comcast hit a 52-week high Monday of $30.46. The stock's 52-week low of $19.19 was set on Aug. 9.

Comcast's forward P/E is 13.76; the average for broadcasting and entertainment companies is 34.26. For comparison, Time Warner (TWX) has a lower forward P/E of 10.34.

Twenty-three of the 31 analysts who cover Comcast rated it buy. Seven analysts gave the stock a hold rating and one rated it sell.

The stock has risen 28.09% year to date.

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Marsh & McLennan

The professional services company is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Analysts, on average, anticipate earnings of 61 cents a share on revenue of $3.04 billion.

"We are downgrading the shares of Marsh & McLennan (MMC) to Underweight from Neutral," JPMorgan analysts wrote in an April 20 report. "Our view reflects weak relative stock prospects rather than a non-consensus view on fundamentals or an adverse view of 1Q results. Specifically, we see little room for upside revisions to EPS estimates over the next twelve months as estimates currently contemplate improved organic growth and margins. In addition, despite a constructive view of growth, we believe quarter-to-quarter growth could be more volatile than in the past reflecting uneven fundamentals globally. Finally, while we expect margin improvements at the company's consulting operations over time, the operation's structural margins may be lower than some bulls believe as higher growth businesses may run at lower-than-average margins. With visibility improving at some competitors, combined with the stock trading at our current December 2012 price target of $32, we believe an Underweight rating is warranted over the short term."

Shares of Marsh & McLennan hit a 52-week high Monday of $33.57. The stock's 52-week low of $25.29 was set on Oct. 4.

Marsh & McLennan's forward P/E is 13.85; the average for insurance brokerages is 10.84. For comparison, Fortegra Financial (FRF) has a lower forward P/E of 7.83.

Fifteen of the 21 analysts who cover Marsh & McLennan rated it buy. Four analysts gave the stock a hold and two rated it sell.

The stock has risen 5.95% year to date.

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