Maxim Manturov, Head of Investment Research at Freedom Finance Europe
The global economy is gradually rebounding back to its pre-pandemic state, but with 2022 just around the corner now is the time to be researching and identifying the stocks that are most likely to perform well in the coming year. Since the start of 2021, the S&P 500 Index is up another 21.3%, but while most industries are showing signs of recovery, there are many businesses that have started to deliver promising double-digit growth.
Trying to navigate the investment path and settle on which of these high-growth companies will yield the greatest return can often be a difficult task. With this in mind Freedom Finance Europe have outlined three of the top stocks to watch out for in 2022.
Meta Platforms (FB)
Facebook currently remains the largest social media group in the world, with more than two billion active users a month interacting with each other via its many apps. Facebook announced its third quarter results on 25 October, and for this reporting period, revenue rose 35% year-on-year to $29 billion. In addition, net profit was $9.2 billion. Facebook’s digital advertising business still continues to grow steadily, which is partly to do with the soaring demand from small businesses, retailers and entertainment venues such as restaurants. In addition, the meta-universe – a market expected to reach $280 billion by 2025 – represents explosive growth potential over the long term. The average target price is at $405 (about 21% upside).
Visa (V)
The opening of the global economy will have undoubtedly been a boom for the credit card company Visa as consumers began increasing their spending on travel, holidays and restaurants. However, even though there are now more competitors within the field, Visa still has a significant market share. Visa’s shares are relatively lagging, but this creates an attractive entry opportunity. The company is also taking steps to stay ahead of the curve by acquiring a number of smaller financial technology companies to help expand its presence in digital payments. There is also talks of Visa even experimenting with cryptocurrency payments. The average target price is at $275 (about 30% upside).
Alibaba (BABA)
Alibaba has an excellent business and a large market capitalisation. However, the biggest risk comes from Chinese regulators. The company currently has a market capitalisation of $457bn which is down more than 50% from its peak in the fourth quarter of 2020. This being said that doesn’t seem entirely reasonable, as nothing has fundamentally deteriorated at Alibaba. The Chinese government’s actions are difficult to predict, so Chinese derived companies may bear more risk. However, now, at these prices, this risk can be factored into the price, which looks very attractive, and if regulatory hurdles disappear next year, perhaps Alibaba shares will come back to life and continue to rise. The average target price is at $240 (about 97% upside).
