Bank of America says these stocks have more room to run, including one tech giant

Bank of America says there are several stocks that are too attractive to ignore.

Skip NavigationJoin ICJoin ProLivestreamMenuBank of America said this week that there are several stocks that offer compelling opportunities at current prices. The investment bank says investors should buy companies including Microsoft that have more room to run. Other buy-rated names screened by CNBC Pro include: UBS, Expeditors International, Timken and First Horizon. Timken The engineered bearings manufacturer was recently upgraded to buy from hold. Analyst Michael Feniger said that signs of an industrial slowdown make it a perfect opportunity to buy any weakness in Timken shares. The bank said it likes Timken’s diversified portfolio and management’s new strategy and execution. “TKR is strategically ‘mixing up’ its portfolio into higher margin areas that can outgrow the [purchasing managers indexes]: exit lower margin cyclical products, invest in current footholds with strong demand, positioned for secular tailwinds on factory automation,” he said. Feniger also sees “compelling” earnings per share and free-cash flow growth over “the next few years.” The stock is up more than 40% this year. First Horizon A team led by analyst Ebrahim Poonawala recently came away feeling more constructive on the regional bank stock following a series of meetings with management. The bank says simply that First Horizon’s constancy is unparalleled, with management in place for nearly 20 years. “Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of the FHN story is the combination of franchise stability and leadership continuity,” he wrote. Meanwhile shares are up just 2% this year, but Poonawala said investors would be wise to buy any weakness in the stock. The Memphis-based regional lender, which sports a current dividend yield of 2.75%, is a “port of stability in a chaotic backdrop,” the analyst said. Microsoft Buy the dip, analyst Tal Liani said in a recent note of the Windows and Xbox parent. “Microsoft’s 4Q26 results provided further validation of its AI strategy, with Azure growth accelerating from 39% in 3Q26 to 43% 4Q26 and guidance of 45% in 1Q27,” the analyst said. Bank of America also raised its price target to $600 per share from $500 and believes Microsoft remains undervalued and underappreciated. Microsoft’s “AI strategy and execution support [a] higher valuation,” Liani said. In addition, the company’s “diversified model portfolio” leaves it best positioned for AI, he said. Shares are up less than 3% this year. UBS “UBS is one of our ’25 stocks for 2026′ and it is in our Europe 1 list of top ideas. The end-result [is] UBS is a highly attractive proposition, and the equity story combines the potential for more lenient capital requirements with areas of strong growth in wealth and capital markets.” Expeditors International “We view Expeditors as a leading operator in the Freight Forwarding space as it focuses on organic growth while maintaining significant balance sheet strength (historically it has held no debt). Given its technology stack and strong service, it is expected to gain share over the long term.” Microsoft “AI strategy and execution support higher valuation; raise PO to $600 … Microsoft’s 4Q26 results provided further validation of its AI strategy, with Azure growth accelerating from 39% in 3Q26 to 43% 4Q26 and guidance of 45% in 1Q27 … Diversified model portfolio improves AI economics.” Timken “TKR is strategically ‘mixing up’ its portfolio into higher margin areas that can outgrow the PMIs: exit lower margin cyclical products, invest in current footholds with strong demand, positioned for secular tailwinds on factory automation … compelling EPS & FCF growth the next few years.” First Horizon “Port of stability in a chaotic backdrop … Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of the FHN story is the combination of franchise stability and leadership continuity … We see risk/reward skewed to the upside as the valuation no longer reflects either the franchise’s ability to sustain 15%+ [return on capital employed] or any M & A optionality.”Read More

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