The first stock that has garnered their attention is Apellis Pharmaceuticals, a dynamic biotechnology company that operates in both commercial and clinical domains.
Apellis has dedicated its efforts to pioneering innovative therapeutic agents that operate through the C3 pathway within the complement system, a pivotal component of the broader immune system.
The company's primary focus is on addressing diseases of the retina and nervous system for which there is a glaring lack of effective treatment options.
Apellis boasts a rich research portfolio that encompasses pre-clinical development and includes two drugs that have received approval for commercialization, in addition to several late-stage clinical trials.
Apellis' roster of approved drugs, which includes Empaveli and syfovre, has demonstrated considerable promise in treating conditions like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and geographic atrophy.
Despite some initial concerns regarding potential side effects, early Q3 sales data for syfovre have exceeded expectations, indicating its substantial market potential.
JPMorgan's Anupam Rama showed a vote of confidence by upgrading APLS shares from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating. He is particularly bullish on the potential of pegcetacoplan, the company's lead asset, and envisions an impressive upside of approximately 82% with a price target of 81 dollars.
The second stock in the spotlight is Live Oak Bancshares, a holding company that owns and operates Live Oak Bank, a digital bank headquartered in the heart of North Carolina.
Live Oak Bank has carved a unique niche for itself by specializing in providing small-business loans, with a particular emphasis on those backed by the U.S. government through the Small Business Administration.
While the bank's customer base primarily comprises small businesses, it also extends its services to individual customers, offering a diverse range of personal banking services.
Among its offerings are high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit, and the bank provides the added convenience of online and mobile access to its customers, all without the burden of online or monthly banking fees.
Furthermore, accounts held with Live Oak are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation providing an additional layer of security and peace of mind for customers.
Live Oak's recent financial performance has been notably robust. In the last reported quarter, 2Q23, the bank recorded revenues of 108.46 million dollars, surpassing the forecast by an impressive 1.4 million dollars.
Additionally, the bank reported an earnings per share of 39 cents per diluted share, which was a significant 7 cents ahead of the estimates. As we look ahead to the 3Q23 results, the consensus anticipates revenues of 116.3 million dollars and an EPS of 48 cents per share.
Despite reaching a peak in its stock price in August of the current year, Live Oak's shares have since experienced a noticeable decline, with a dip of over 24%.
However, JPMorgan's Steven Alexopoulos believes that this pullback presents a promising opportunity for investors to consider getting on board. In his view, "the recent sell-off provides us with the entry point that we were waiting for."
Alexopoulos contends that not only does a rising 10-year yield provide tailwinds for the bank sector and Live Oak, but there are also several near-term catalysts that are poised to propel the stock toward JPMorgan's 40-dollar price target.
SOURCES: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/good-value-market-now-j-234508013.html
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