Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS), Priceline Group Inc (PCLN), and Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) have a strong track record in April
With April just around the corner, we decided to look at the best stocks to own during the month, historically speaking. A month ago, we sized up
three outperforming restaurant stocks. This time around, the lineup is more diverse, with tech stock
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS), travel issue
Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), and casino concern
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) making the cut.
Those stocks can be found on the list below from Schaeffer's Quantitative Analyst Chris Prybal. The data looks back to 1972, and is sorted by average April returns:
CTXS has been publicly traded for the past 20 Aprils, and has been positive 70% of the time. On average, the tech stock gains nearly 10% during the month -- which would be a continuation of its strong uptrend since mid-February. Specifically, since bottoming at a year-to-date low of $60.91 just over a month ago, the shares have soared almost 29% to trade at $78.33.
Accordingly, option traders have been boarding the bullish bandwagon en masse. CTXS sports a top-heavy
10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.09 across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). However, over half of the analysts tracking the stock consider it a "hold" or worse, suggesting there's still room for Citrix Systems, Inc. to benefit from upgrades.
Meanwhile,
PCLN has been positive in 12 of the past 17 Aprils. On average, the travel stock has gained 14.3% during the month. A repeat performance would help the shares break out of their recent consolidation pattern around $1,300 -- an area the stock rallied eventually rallied past following a
mid-February post-earnings bull gap. At last check, PCLN was up 0.8% at $1,317.72.
A strong April showing could
send option bears to the exits, as well. Priceline Group Inc sports a 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 0.95 -- ranking near the top quartile of its annual range. If these skeptics do in fact turn tail, the stock could catch a lift.
Last of all,
WYNN has been positive nearly 70% of the time during the past 13 Aprils, averaging a one-month gain of 10.7%. More recently, the stock has been an absolute beast in 2016, advancing almost 34% to trade at $92.66.
Short sellers have been jumping ship amid this uptrend, with short interest dropping 18.4% during the last two reporting periods. However, almost 18% of Wynn Resorts, Limited's float remains dedicated to short interest, suggesting there's still sideline cash available to fuel further upside.
Additional bullish brokerage notes are a possibility, too, as 10 of 16 analysts rate WYNN a "hold" or worse. Just today, J.P. Morgan Securities boosted its price target on the stock to $100 from $71.