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Analyst Favorites With Strong Buyback Activity: Element Solutions Ranks As a Top Pick

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A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) is the #23 broker analyst pick among those stocks screened by The Online Investor for strong stock buyback activity. To make that list, a stock must have repurchased at least 5% of its outstanding shares over the trailing twelve month period. In forming the rank, the analyst opinions from the major brokerage houses were tallied, and averaged; then, the list of stocks with strong buyback activity was ranked according to those averages.

Investors are often keenly interested in knowing which companies are buying back their own stock, because companies often will only make such a move if they feel their stock is undervalued. Element Solutions Inc is a company with strong buyback activity that is also considered a compelling buy by analysts; a bullish investor could take this to mean that sharp analyst minds came to the same bullish conclusion as the company itself that the stock is a good value, and therefore the stock should do well in the future.

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Top 25 Analyst Picks With Strong Stock Repurchase Activity »

Analysts studying companies buying back their own stock will also factor into their analysis that future earnings will now be spread over a smaller share count, thereby increasing the per-share earnings the remaining shares will enjoy, versus what that same number would have been absent the stock buyback activity.

ESI operates in the Specialty Chemicals sector, among companies like Linde PLC (LIN) which is trading flat today, and Sherwin-Williams Co (SHW) trading higher by about 0.6%. Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ESI, versus LIN and SHW.

ESI is currently trading up about 0.8% midday Monday.