Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

Each week, Benzinga’s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks just under the surface and warrant attention.

Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance to uncover new information.

This index layers editorial commentary to help make sense of why these stocks should be of interest and whether investors or casual readers should watch them.

Related Link: The ‘Mag 7 Bench’ – Josh Brown Picks The Next Magnificent 7 Stocks

Here is a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week of March 22:

• Uber Technologies UBER: The ride-hailing transportation company saw increased interest from investors. The increased attention comes as shares are up over 150% in the last year and trading near 52-week highs. A new report highlights Uber's plans to grow Uber Freight in Europe, which could expand its logistics segment. Analysts have been raising their price targets for Uber over the last two months, which could show optimism for the stock over the next 12 months.

• Boston Scientific Corporation BSX: The medical devices company is trading near 52-week highs and getting increased attention from investors. Over the last two months, the company has announced several FDA approvals, which could expand its product offerings. Recently, the company announced FDA approval for its AGENT Drug-Coated Balloon, which treats coronary in-stent restenosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Investors may also be circling the stock ahead of first-quarter earnings, which are expected in April. Boston Scientific has beaten earnings per share estimates from analysts in four straight quarters and revenue estimates from analysts in nine straight quarters.

• Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM: The oil company, which is one of the largest companies in the world, is seeing increased attention from investors. The company's CEO Darren Woods recently appeared on CNBC and said that oil demand was very healthy. The comments come as Exxon was also named as one of the awarded companies by the U.S. Energy Department to purchase millions of barrels of oil for the strategic petroleum reserve. Exxon has also made recent headlines, shutting down rumors that it was looking to acquire Hess Corporation. Woods said the company is instead trying to obtain the preemption rights for Guyana assets owned by Hess. Exxon rival Chevron is in the process of acquiring Hess.

• Lam Research Corporation LRCX: The semiconductor stock hit new all-time highs this week as the sector remains hot and the company is drawing increased attention. A new report said Lam Research is looking to expand its supply chain diversification due to the tension between the U.S. and China.  Lam Research is looking to Vietnam to boost its supply chain according to the report. Shares of Lam Research could also be gaining attention after a revealing of a new chip from Nvidia Corporation and recent earnings reports from peers like Micron.

• Bank of America Corporation BAC: While there has been lots of focus and potential concerns for regional banks, investors could be turning to banking leaders and giants for exposure to the sector. Bank of America saw increased interest from Benzinga readers, which also comes ahead of expected quarterly earnings in April. Bank of America is one of several large banks that could be set to gain from the pressure on regional banks and secure additional customer deposits who put their accounts and trust elsewhere. Shares of Bank of America hit 52-week highs recently.

Stay tuned for next week’s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and top market-moving stories here.

Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:

• March 1
• March 8
• March 15

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