Wall Street analysts often give recommendations on equities that they cover. These analysts typically have a deep understanding of the health of a particular company. Taking a quick look at shares of Enerplus Corporation (NYSE:ERF), we note that the current average broker rating is now 1.5. This data is provided by Zacks Research using a ratings scale from 1 and 5. A broker rating of 1 would translate into a Strong Buy. A rating of 5 would indicate a Strong Sell recommendation. This average broker rating may help provide some insight on how the sell-side is currently viewing company stock. After a recent scan, we have also noticed that 5 Street analysts have rated the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, based analysts polled by Zacks Research.
Dealing with the ups and down of the stock market is something that most investors will encounter at some point. Everyone wants to feel that thrill of seeing that big winner soar, and nobody wants to see that loser keep sinking. Figuring out how to best approach the stock market can take up a lot of time and energy. There are many strategies that investors can use when purchasing stocks for the portfolio. Some of these strategies may be riskier than others. Determining a comfortable level of risk appetite may be highly important for the individual investor. It is important to remember that there are no guarantees in the stock market. New investors may have to learn that there is rarely any substitute for hard work and tireless research. Many investors jump in head first and find this out the hard way. Realizing that there is no guaranteed strategy for stock picking might help the investor stay focused and grounded while building up the portfolio.
Following shares of Enerplus Corporation (NYSE:ERF), we can see that the average consensus target price based on contributing analysts is currently $12.28. Wall Street analysts often provide price target projections on where they believe the stock will be headed in the future. Because price target projections are essentially the opinions of covering analysts, they have the ability to vary widely from one analyst to another. Navigating the equity markets can seem daunting at times. Finding ways to identify the important data can make a big difference in sustaining profits into the future. As we move closer to the end of the year, investors will be watching to see which way the momentum shifts and if stocks are still primed to go higher. Investors might choose to rely heavily on analyst research and corresponding target predictions, or they may choose to use them as a guide to supplement their own research.
Zooming in on the current quarter EPS consensus estimate for Enerplus Corporation (NYSE:ERF), we see that the current number is 0.23. This EPS estimate is using 6 Wall Street analysts polled by Zacks Research. Last quarter, the company stated a quarterly EPS of 0.27. Sell-side analysts have the task of examining companies and providing estimates relating to future results. These estimates carry a lot of weight on the Street, and earnings hits or misses revolve around these numbers. Sometimes these predictions are very close to the actual reported number, and other times they are not. Many investors will be closely watching which way analyst estimates are being adjusted right before earnings. This may provide some insight on how good or bad the numbers for the quarter are likely to be. Investors might want to take a look at their holdings after the earnings reports to make sure that nothing extremely out of the ordinary after combing through the results.
Individual investors might be looking at all the angles in order to concoct a winning plan for the next few quarters. The diligent investor is typically on the ball and ready to encounter any unforeseen market movements. Monitoring recent stock price activity on shares of Enerplus Corporation (NYSE:ERF) we have noted that the stock price has been trading near $6.78. Turning the focus to some historical price information, we note that the stock has moved 1.8% over the previous 12 weeks. Since the start of the year, we note that shares have seen a change of -12.63%. Over the last 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of 19.16%. Over the last 5 sessions, the stock has moved 4.79%. After a recent scan, we can see that the 52-week high is currently $12.87, and the 52-week low is presently $5.69.
Investors are typically searching far and wide for any little advantage they can get in the stock market. Short-term traders using technical analysis may be looking to score quick profits by capitalizing on the fluctuations of stock prices. There are many different technical indicators that traders can choose to study. Some traders may find an indicator that works great by itself. Others may use a combination of multiple indicators to help spot trends and patterns. Many active traders will keep a close eye on a particular stock when it is nearing a new high or new low that hasn’t been touched in some time. Studying historical stock price action may lend some insight into whether or not a stock is likely to break out past the new high, or plummet further to a much lower low. Staying on top of the action may be crucial when frequently entering and exiting trades.
