Bank of America Corp (BAC), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Facebook Inc (FB): Thursday’s Big Players

On the markets there are literally thousands of companies, but in order to understand the latest trends, it is sufficient to take a look at the stocks that are in the middle of everyone’s attention on a particular day. In this way, on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average 2 Minute (INDEXDJX:.DJI) edging up by about 0.4% and the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) gaining 0.73%, the following trio stands out: Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB).

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), as always is one of the leaders in trading volume. In deals worth slightly more than $40.1 million, the stock of Bank of America has appreciated by 1.40% to $14.54 per share, slightly below the 52-week high of around $15. Since the beginning of the year BAC’s share price jumped by more than 25%, while the P/E trailed by the stock amounts to about 33x. Bank of America has been in the middle of analysts’ attention, receiving positive evaluations from TheStreet and Credit Suisse. While the former reiterated the “hold” rating of Bank of America, the latter raised its target price by to $14, data from Analyst Ratings Network shows.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Another company is Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), whose stock has risen by more than 2% to $32.3, in deals worth $18.5 million, which places the stock on the fourth position among volume leaders. Microsoft has also received an increase from an analyst. Today, Nomura upgraded the rating of Microsoft to “Buy” from the previous “Neutral” and set a target price of $38.This comes only a week after Goldman Sachs reiterated the “Sell” rating for Microsoft and set a price of $28.

And the last but not the least, among trending stocks, we would like to mention Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). The stock of Facebook picked up 0.5% to $38.51, in a turnover worth $16.3 million, the fifth-largest up until now. The year-to-date return of Facebook’s stock amounts to 44.7%, while the metrics are obviously expensive. Analysts at Janney Montgomery Scott recently initiated coverage of Facebook, set a “Buy” rating and set a target price of $50, in line with other analysts. Overall, Facebook is viewed positively among analysts several of which like UBS, Topeka Capital Markets giving it a “Buy” rating. Much of this strength is off mobile ad expectations.

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