3 Stocks Advancing The Basic Materials Sector
Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.
All three major indices are trading up today with the
Dow Jones Industrial Average
(
^DJI
) trading up 111 points (0.6%) at 18,244 as of Monday, March 2, 2015, 12:00 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,773 issues advancing vs. 1,212 declining with 168 unchanged.
The Basic Materials sector currently sits down 0.6% versus the S&P 500, which is up 0.4%. Top gainers within the sector include
(
), up 3.4%,
(
), up 2.1% and
(
), up 1.2%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include
(
), down 3.4%,
Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras
(
), down 3.0%,
(
), down 3.6%,
(
), down 2.9% and
(
), down 2.6%.
TheStreet would like to highlight 3 stocks pushing the sector higher today:
3.
(
) is one of the companies pushing the Basic Materials sector higher today. As of noon trading, Praxair is up $1.35 (1.1%) to $129.25 on light volume. Thus far, 278,983 shares of Praxair exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $127.61-$129.28 after having opened the day at $127.75 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $127.90.
Praxair, Inc. produces, sells, and distributes atmospheric, process, and specialty gases, as well as surface coatings in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. Praxair has a market cap of $36.9 billion and is part of the chemicals industry. Shares are down 1.3% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 8 analysts who rate Praxair a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates
Praxair
as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full
now.
2. As of noon trading,
(
) is up $5.16 (1.8%) to $290.36 on light volume. Thus far, 230,874 shares of Sherwin-Williams exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 626,300 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $285.34-$290.92 after having opened the day at $286.02 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $285.20.
The Sherwin-Williams Company is engaged in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers worldwide. Sherwin-Williams has a market cap of $27.3 billion and is part of the chemicals industry. Shares are up 8.4% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 5 analysts who rate Sherwin-Williams a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates
Sherwin-Williams
as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. Get the full
Sherwin-Williams Ratings Report
now.
1. As of noon trading,
(
) is up $0.85 (0.7%) to $121.28 on light volume. Thus far, 788,300 shares of Monsanto exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.8 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $119.83-$121.30 after having opened the day at $120.32 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $120.43.
Monsanto Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides agricultural products for farmers worldwide. It operates in two segments, Seeds and Genomics, and Agricultural Productivity. Monsanto has a market cap of $58.0 billion and is part of the chemicals industry. Shares are up 0.8% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 13 analysts who rate Monsanto a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates
Monsanto
as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, expanding profit margins, increase in stock price during the past year and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full
now.
If you are interested in one of these 3 stocks, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the basic materials sector could consider
(
) while those bearish on the basic materials sector could consider
ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd
(
).
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