Wal-Mart, TJX, ConAgra Stocks Hit Highs

ConAgra Foods, The TJX Companies and Wal-Mart Stores hit 52-week highs Monday.
By Jake Lynch ,

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed Monday, hurt by concerns about slower growth in China and India. Still, the following stocks recorded 52-week highs.

3. ConAgra Foods

(CAG) - Get Report

climbed 0.4% to $25.48, achieving a high of $25.50. Shares of the packaged-food maker have gained 8.9% in the past month.

Quarter

: Fiscal second-quarter profit increased 43% to $240 million, or 55 cents a share, as revenue declined 2.4% to $3.2 billion. ConAgra's operating margin expanded from 9.2% to 12%. Its balance sheet contains $490 million of cash and $3.5 billion of debt.

Stock

: ConAgra Foods has gained 72% in the past year, outpacing U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-projected-earnings ratio of 13, on par with competitors' shares. It's cheap based on book value, sales and cash flow, evident in the chart above.

Consensus

: Of 14 analysts covering ConAgra, 10 advise purchasing its shares and four recommend holding them.

UBS

expects the stock to hit $28, implying a 10% upside.

TheStreet's

stock model projects the shares will advance 31% to $33.30.

2. TJX Cos.

(TJX) - Get Report

rose 1.8% to $42.87, touching a high of $42.90. Shares of the off-price retailer have returned 14% during the past four weeks. During the past three years, TJX has increased net income 18% annually, on average, as illustrated in the chart below.

Quarter

: Fiscal fourth-quarter profit soared 58% to $395 million, or 94 cents, as revenue grew 10% to $5.9 billion. The operating margin widened from 7.1% to 11%. TJX holds $1.7 billion of cash, equating to a current ratio of 1.7, and $774 million of debt.

Stock

: TJX Cos. has advanced 73% during the past 12 months, beating major benchmarks. The stock sells for a price-to-projected-earnings ratio of 12, a 31% discount to its peer-group average. It's also cheap based on sales and cash flow.

Consensus

: Of researchers following TJX, 14, or 61%, rate the stock "buy," seven rank it "hold" and two rate it "sell."

Buckingham Research Group

has a $54 target on the stock, implying a 26% upside.

Credit Suisse

is also bullish.

1. Wal-Mart Stores

(WMT) - Get Report

climbed 2.8% to $55.42, touching a high of $55.54. Shares of the world's largest retailer have risen 4.8% in the past month.

Quarter

: Fourth-quarter profit grew 22% to $4.6 billion, or $1.23, as revenue ascended 4.2% to $114 billion. The operating margin inched up from 6.2% to 6.4%. Wal-Mart holds $7.9 billion of cash, translating to a quick ratio of 0.2, and $41 billion of debt.

Stock

: Wal-Mart has increased 13% in the past year, trailing U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-projected-earnings ratio of 12, a 15% discount to its peer-group average. It's also cheap based on book value, demonstrated in the chart above.

Consensus

: Of analysts covering Wal-Mart, 24 rate it "buy" and six rank it "hold."

Bank of America

values the stock at $65, 17% higher than today's closing price.

Rochdale Securities

and

Deutsche Bank

expect it to outperform the market.

-- Reported by Jake Lynch in Boston.

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