During CNBC’s "Halftime Report Final Trades," several experts shared their latest perspectives on select stocks demonstrating significant activity and potential. Jim Lebenthal, a partner at Cerity Partners, noted the recent favorable chart performance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX), highlighting a roughly 30% increase over the past months and expressing expectations of continued upward momentum.
Supporting this positive outlook, RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams recently upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from Sector Perform to Outperform, concurrently raising the price target from $455 to $546. This dual action indicates growing confidence in the company’s near-term prospects within the biotechnology sector.
On the consumer products front, Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management, pointed out Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) as a stock of interest. She emphasized its 5% dividend yield and suggested that the shares appear to be oversold, implying potential undervaluation. Kimberly-Clark is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on Tuesday, January 27. Investors eyeing income streams and valuation metrics may find this forthcoming report particularly relevant.
In the financial services arena, Kari Firestone, co-founder of Aureus Asset Management, observed that S&P Global Inc. (NYSE: SPGI) stands to benefit substantially in the current year due to an anticipated improvement in debt issuance and capital market cycles. This cyclical upturn could enhance the company’s earnings performance. Additionally, S&P Global recently announced a dividend increase, raising its payout from 96 cents to 97 cents per share as of January 14, which may further attract income-focused investors.
Addressing the energy sector, Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, reaffirmed his long position in Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM). His conviction is bolstered by Barclays analyst Betty Jiang, who has maintained an Overweight rating on Exxon Mobil and elevated her price target from $130 to $140, indicating positive expectations regarding the company’s valuation and growth potential despite market uncertainties.
From a trading perspective, shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals ticked up by 1.4%, closing at $467.35 on Thursday. Kimberly-Clark recorded a 2.2% increase, ending the session at $102.19. S&P Global observed a 1.6% gain, finishing the day at $539.80. Exxon Mobil edged higher by 0.1% to close at $133.80. These movements reflect cautious optimism and investor responsiveness to analyst insights and dividend announcements.
While these companies operate in different industries, each benefits from distinct sector tailwinds—from biopharmaceutical innovation and consumer product resilience to capital market cycles and traditional energy dynamics. Market participants monitoring dividend yields, price targets, and sector-specific cycles may find these insights valuable as they consider portfolio allocations.