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3 Reasons Why BHP Billiton (BHP) is a Great Momentum Stock

Zacks Equity Research
Updated

Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.

This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today let’s focus on BHP Billiton Limited BHP as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for BHP’s status as a solid momentum stock below:

Longer Term Price Change for BHP Billiton

While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics—such as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.

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And in the case of BHP, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 18.5% to 9.7%, while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 23.5%. Clearly, BHP is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.  

BHP Billiton Limited Price

BHP Billiton Limited Price | BHP Billiton Limited Quote

Fiscal Year EPS Estimate Change for BHP

In addition to price performance, it is also important to take a look at earnings estimate changes for the full year. This can show if BHP is poised to make a run based on fundamentals, or if the company is simply moving on speculation.

Over the past month, the full year earnings estimate for BHP has risen by 12.4%. On its own this is impressive, but it also beats the industry average of 0%. The trend is undeniably in BHP Billiton’s favor right now, and it suggests that the momentum might be long-lasting for this stock.  

BHP Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction

While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with BHP as of late.

Over the past two months, one earnings estimate has gone higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision has helped to boost the consensus estimate, as two months ago, BHP was expected to post earnings of $2.59 per share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of $2.91 for the full year, representing a solid increase which is something that should be welcome news to would-be investors.

Bottom Line

Given these factors, investors shouldn’t be surprised to note that we have BHP as a security with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Momentum Score of A.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep BHP on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near term.

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Zacks Investment Research