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Stock picks by the pros
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February 15, 2001: 12:31 p.m. ET
Corning, Pfizer, AIG, Cognizant, Agilent and Schering-Plough win favor
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Pharmaceutical and financial companies received some thumbs-up signals from analysts and money managers on CNNfn. Among some of the stocks drawing praise were Freddie Mac, AIG, Fannie Mae, Pfizer and Schering-Plough.
Here are some of the recommended stock picks.
Peter Green, market analyst at Gerard Klauer Mattison & Co., said there are still some tradable opportunities in the technology sector.
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 GREEN'S STOCK PICKS
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Corning (GLW)
Broadcom (BRCM)
Agilent (A)
Hewlett-Packard (HWP)
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"It appears to me that fiber-optics and semiconductors have begun to make bottoms," said Green. "Particularly in the semiconductor area, I think we're seeing very early stages of the fiber optic area."
He said Corning Inc. for example is a good buy.
"The company, which has been a leader in the industry, failed to make a selling climax Wednesday," said Green. "The stock went down sharply and almost closed up on the day. If a stock was to make a new low and then close higher on the day, in my opinion that would be a selling climax and be positive."
Broadcom, Agilent Technologies and Hewlett-Packard were among some of his other favorites.
Shares of Corning (GLW: Research, Estimates) gained $4.35 to $43.25 at midday Thursday. The stock has been trading between $113.29 and $36.75 in the past year.
Broadcom (BRCM: Research, Estimates) stock jumped $6.37 to $87.56 with a 52-week high of $274.75 and a 52-week low of $72.37.
Agilent (A: Research, Estimates) shares rose $3.60 to $51.60. The stock has been trading in a 52-week range of $162.00 and $38.06.
Hewlett-Packard (HWP: Research, Estimates) stock gained $1.98 to $36.37. The stock has been trading between $77.75 and $29.12 in the past year.
Stuart Freeman, chief equity strategist at A.G. Edwards, said typically when you have the Fed on your side, you've got a 19-percent increase for the S&P in those years.
Freeman, however, warned that it will be a volatile ride and sometimes even painful. He said "it's not going to feel like we're going straight up, but we think investors should be buying." (541KB WAV)(541KB AIFF)
He said even with the interest rates being lowered, financial stocks are not necessarily bound to prosper.
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FREEMAN'S STOCK PICKS
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Freddie Mac (FRE)
Fannie Mae (FNM)
AIG (AIG)
Schering-Plough (SGP)
Pfizer (PFE)
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"We would be careful of the financials just because a lot of them already moved in anticipation since last year," said Freeman.
He said he would be more cautious and look toward companies that have very consistent earnings growth such as Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.
"AIG corrected early in the year," said Freeman. "We think AIG, which is a very consistent, persistent earnings growth company, will do well this year."
He said there is also buying opportunity in the pharmaceutical sector, and Schering-Plough and Pfizer are among two of his favorites.
Shares of Freddie Mac (FRE: Research, Estimates) dipped 83 cents to $65.70. The stock has been trading in a 52-week range of $70.12 and $36.87.
Fannie Mae (FNM: Research, Estimates) stock shed $1.04 to $80.70 with a 52-week high of $89.37 and a 52-week low of $47.87.
AIG (AIG: Research, Estimates) shares dipped 7 cents to $85.95. The stock has been trading between $103.75 and $52.37 in the past year.
Schering-Plough (SGP: Research, Estimates) stock inched down 71 cents to $48.31 with a 52-week high of $60 and a 52-week low of $30.50.
Shares of Pfizer (PFE: Research, Estimates) dipped 78 cents to $44.31. The stock has been trading in a 52-week range of $49.25 and $30.
Ajay Krishnan, portfolio manager of the Wasach Ultra Growth Fund, said Aware Inc. is a long-term hold.
"The theme there is providing broadband services to the consumer," said Krishnan. "I think that's still an underpenetrated and underserved market and we're long-term believers."
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KRISHNAN'S STOCK PICKS
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Aware (AWRE)
Cognizant (CTSH)
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He also picked Cognizant Technology as one of this favorites. He said the company just reported a fantastic quarter, and its long-term prospects is very solid.
"This company focuses on long term IT (information technology) services to their companies, to their customers and we think that's a viable business model," said Krishnan.
Shares of Aware (AWRE: Research, Estimates) gained 91 cents to $13.72. The stock has been trading between $67 and $12 in the past year.
Cognizant (CTSH: Research, Estimates) stock gained 19 cents to $40.44 with a 52-week high of $72.12 and a 52-week low of $24.25. 
- compiled by Staff Writer Joseph Lee
* Disclaimer
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