Barron's Picks And Pans: Pharmacy-Benefit Managers, Mortgage Insurers And More

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  • This weekend's Barron's cover story takes a closer look what may be putting shares of pharmacy-benefit managers at risk.
  • Other featured stories look at some stocks that could offer earnings surprises and consider whether alternative-asset managers are a value investor's dream.
  • The prospects for mortgage insurers and for a mini-conglomerate are also examined.

"Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Under Pressure" by Bill Alpert points out that shares of Express Scripts Holding Company ESRX and CVS Health Corp CVS have soared in recent years along with drug prices. But now, several big employers are beginning to ask tough questions, and a day of reckoning may be at hand, says Barron's.

In "6 Stocks That Could Surprise on Earnings," Jack Hough takes a look at whether analysts have underestimated the likes of Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI and Facebook Inc FB. So far in the current earnings season, analysts have underestimated results of almost two-thirds of the companies that have reported, says the article.

Ben Levisohn's "Chuck Royce Favors KKR, Ares Management, Lazard" is the latest Alternatives Monthly article. See why this mutual fund manager and renowned small-cap investor sees beaten-down shares of alternative-asset managers as a value investor's dream. Royce shares why he currently favors KKR & Co. L.P. KKR, Ares Management LP ARES and more.

Related Link: Forget Apple, Facebook Could Be A $1 Trillion Company

The revived housing market and more-stringent lending standards have brightened the prospects for mortgage insurers, according to "MGIC, Radian, Essent Could See Fat Gains" by Leslie P. Norton. See why Barron's thinks MGIC Investment Corp. MTG, Radian Group Inc RDN and their peers could have had much as 50 percent upside potential.

In "CSW Industrials Is on the Right Track," David Englander makes the case for a stronger construction market and improvement in energy to boost the fortunes of mini-conglomerate CSW Industrials Inc CSWI. This industrial-oriented growth firm has been public less than a year; see why Barron's thinks investors could benefit from the company's newfound independence.

Also In This Week's Barron's...

  • Whether the market shortchanges Comcast Corporation CMCSA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY and others
  • Verizon Communications Inc. VZ and other laggards poised to rebound
  • Whether it is time for investors to dump utilities stocks
  • Whether big financials and fintech can play nice
  • Whether it is time to sell low-volatility exchange traded funds
  • The case for mid-cap dividend payers
  • Why General Electric Company GE investors should not obsess over the short term
  • How Donald Trump has shaped the policy debate
  • London-based fund managers that are planning to relocate due to Brexit
Full ratings data available on Benzinga Pro.Disclosure: At the time of this writing, the author had no position in the mentioned equities.

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Posted In: BiotechBarron'sHealth CareMediaTrading IdeasGeneralBen LevisohnBill AlpertDavid EnglanderJack HoughLeslie Norton
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