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5 Best-Performing Stocks of the Top ETF of January

Sweta Killa
Updated
Is (MCS) Outperforming Other Consumer Discretionary Stocks This Year?

The biotech sector took the credit in the first month of 2018 as Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF CNCR topped the list of the best-performing ETFs of January, with impressive returns of about 21%. The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a High risk outlook.

The impressive rally was mainly driven by encouraging industry fundamentals including mergers and acquisitions, earnings growth, promising drug launches, faster drug approvals, cost-cutting efforts, an aging population and Trump’s tax reform. In particular, the new tax legislation enticed companies to bring offshore cash back home, leading to a wave of mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, the slower growth in mature drugs has compelled prominent biotechs to acquire smaller ones with promising pipelines (read: M&A Waves Pushing Biotech ETFs Higher).

Let’s take a closer look at the fundamentals of CNCR.

CNCR in Focus

This product tracks the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy Index and provides exposure to the basket of companies that develop therapies to treat cancer by harnessing the body’s own immune system. It holds 31 stocks in its basket with none holding more than 6.9% share. The ETF has amassed $47.4 million in its asset base and trades in a lower average daily volume of around 21,000 shares. The expense ratio comes in at 0.79%.

Though most of the stocks in the fund’s portfolio delivered strong returns, a few even doubled. Below we have highlighted the five best-performing stocks in the ETF with their respective positions in the fund’s basket (see: all the Healthcare ETFs here):

Best Performing Stocks of CNCR

Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. ATRA: Shares of ATRA have soared about 122.4% so far this year. It has seen no earnings estimate revision over the past one month for this year and expects earnings to decline 15.63% year over year. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and a VGM Style Score of F. It falls under a bottom-ranked Zacks industry (bottom 26%). The stock occupies the top position in the fund’s portfolio, making up for 6.9% share.

Jounce Therapeutics Inc. JNCE: This stock occupies the second position in the fund’s basket with 5.5% allocation. It has also delivered incredible returns of 101.8% so far this year. No earnings estimate revision activity have been witnessed for this year over the past one month. The company expects earnings to decline 58.92%. Jounce Therapeutics has a Zacks Rank #3 and a VGM Style Score of F. It also falls under a bottom-ranked Zacks industry (bottom 34%).

Juno Therapeutics Inc. JUNO: This stock takes the third spot in the fund’s basket with 5.2% of assets. It gained 87.6% and has seen no earnings estimate revision over the past month, for this year. However, its earnings are expected to decline 27.54%. Juno Therapeutics carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and has a VGM Style Score of F. It belongs to a bottom-ranked Zacks industry (bottom 26%) (read: Top Sector ETFs of 2017).

Lion Biotechnologies Inc. IOVA: The stock has surged nearly 85.7% in January and carries a Zacks Rank #3. The stock has seen positive earnings estimate revision of eight cents for this year over the past month, with an expected earnings growth of 2.12%. However, IOVA belongs to a bottom-ranked Zacks industry (bottom 26%) and has a VGM Style Score of D. The stock is the fourth firm in the basket and accounts for 4.8% share.

Nektar Therapeutics NKTR: The stock has gained about 38% so far this year. Like many of its peers, NKTR also has a Zacks Rank #4 and belongs to a bottom-ranked Zacks industry (bottom 34%). It has a VGM Style Score of C and witnessed negative earnings estimate revision of six cents for this year over the past month. Additionally, the company expects to see earnings decline of 67.43%. Nektar Therapeutics occupies the fifth position in the fund’s portfolio, making up for 4.0% share.

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LONCAR CANCER (CNCR): ETF Research Reports
 
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ATRA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (JUNO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. (IOVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (JNCE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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