(from Navellier Research, pls do your own due diligence)
The following is provided by Navellier with technical comment from South Ocean Management –

https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/

Northrop Grumman Corp.

Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) is the aerospace and defense juggernaut that has shaped aviation history—and is positioned to shape its future. Recently, Northrop Grumman acquired aerospace and defense company Orbital ATK (OA) for $7.8 billion. This deal merges two of the largest D.C.-area public companies that have some of the biggest government contracts, and more importantly, improves U.S. technology as it relates to space, missiles and munitions.

This acquisition builds upon an already strong base for sales and earnings, as indicated by Northrop Grumman’s first-quarter earnings report. Compared with the year ago quarter, earnings per share jumped 14% to $4.21 while sales rose 5% to $6.7 billion. Analysts were expecting $3.64 EPS on $6.61 billion in revenue, so Northrop Grumman posted a 15.7% earnings surprise and a 1.4% sales surprise.

Northrop Grumman also increased its earnings outlook for 2018. The company is now expecting earnings per share to range between $15.40 and $15.65, up from its previous guidance of $15.00 EPS to $15.25 EPS. The revised guidance represents between 16.0% and 17.8% annual earnings growth.

Now, you may have noticed that NOC shares pulled back after the earnings announcement. Some are overreacting to the fact that Northrop Grumman didn’t raise its 2018 cash flow guidance, which currently stands at between $2.0 billion and $2.3 billion. In my opinion, this is just an excuse to take profits, and not a very good one at that. The fact remains that Northrop Grumman beat analysts’ estimates, and it guided well above the Street’s earnings expectations for 2018.

This is a company that I’ve held in Blue Chip Growth for over four years now, and that’s because it has rock solid fundamentals, thanks to an extensive portfolio of technologies and capabilities. It also doesn’t hurt that NOC has a solid 1.3% annual dividend yield and a strong track record of dividend increases. Keeping this in mind, I consider NOC an excellent buy on the dip. Buy this Conservative stock up to $344 per share.

SOM Technicals:

3-30-18: Closed at 349.12. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 361.68.

4-7-18: Closed at 352.99. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral.

4-14-18: Closed at 350.00. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 361.69.

4-21-18: Closed at 355.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish to neutral. The next target up is 361.59.

4-28-18: Closed at 322.70. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are now neutral. The next target down is the 200 day moving average at 307.

5-5-18: Closed at 313.50. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bullish to bearish. at the 200 day moving average.

5-11-18: Closed at 325.22. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now neutral. The next target up is 364.72.

5-19-18: Closed at 330.00. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral to bullish. The next target up is 361.72

ABIOMED, Inc.

ABIOMED, Inc. (ABMD) is another monopolistic play that has been performing well on our Buy List. After all, this is the only medical devices company that provides technologies that replace or assist the pumping function of a failing heart. This is a big deal because heart disease accounts for some 800,000 deaths in the U.S. alone each year. So ABIOMED provides a life-saving service to tens of thousands of patients and their families.

ABIOMED is best known for its Impella devices, which are the world’s smallest heart pumps. Impella is often a safe treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure that have been turned down for open heart surgery. Last year, ABIOMED announced that it surpassed 50,000 patients who are treated with Impella devices in the U.S.

Given strong demand for medical devices to treat heart disease, ABIOMED’s business is booming. ABIOMED is on deck to release its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Thursday, May 3. And it’s shaping up to be a strong report. Analysts are forecasting $0.64 EPS on $164.3 million in revenue, representing 93.9% annual earnings growth and 31.8% annual sales growth.

Then again, analysts have revised the consensus EPS estimate 14.3% higher over the past 90 days. This indicates that analysts are struggling to nail down the company’s profit potential, and that ABIOMED will likely post blowout earnings, as it has for the past three quarters running. So, in the days leading up to its next earnings announcement, I recommend that you add this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $324 per share.

SOM Technicals:

3-30-18: Closed at 290.99. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. On the 25×5 moving average as support. The next target up is 323.10.

4-7-18: Closed at 286.22. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are neutral. the Next target up is 323.10

4-14-18: Closed at 297.00. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-21-18: Closed at 305.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-27-18: Closed at 300.83. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 323.10.

5-5-18: Closed at 349.28. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 359.38. 

5-11-18: Closed at 372.70. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.00.

5-19-18: Closed at 384.36. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.

The Boeing Company

After just one month on the Buy List, The Boeing Company (BA) has already skyrocketed to the Top 5 list. Boeing is a premier aerospace company and manufacturer of commercial jetliners, along with defense, space and security systems. It is best known for its commercial aircraft, including the 737, which is a favorite of domestic airlines like Southwest, United Airlines and American Airlines. Boeing also has a strong international presence, with customers in 150 countries. And it seems like every week Boeing wins another big order for its airplanes and helicopters.

So it’s no surprise that Boeing released strong first-quarter results this past week. During the first quarter, Boeing made 184 commercial deliveries and its backlog increased to $486 billion, including more than 5,800 commercial airplanes. As a result, first-quarter revenues rose 6% year-over-year to $23.38 billion, compared with $21.96 billion in the same quarter a year ago. Analysts were expecting sales of $22.24 billion.

First-quarter earnings from operations jumped 30% year-over-year to $2.88 billion, while net earnings soared 57% year-over-year to $2.48 billion. Core earnings per share surged 68% year-over-year to $3.64, up from $2.17 in the first quarter of 2017. The consensus estimate was for earnings of $2.58 per share, so Boeing posted a stunning 41.1% earnings surprise.

Looking forward to fiscal year 2018, Boeing maintained its current sales outlook and updated its core earnings forecast. The company still expects full-year sales between $96 billion and $98 billion, or 2.8% to 4.9% annual sales growth. Full-year core earnings per share are now expected to be between $14.30 and $14.50, up from previous guidance of $13.80 to $14.00. Overall, Wall Street cheered the better-than-expected first-quarter report and increased full-year guidance.

Along with its strong earnings prospects, Boeing also offers a 2.0% annual dividend yield. And Boeing should announce its next quarterly dividend any day now. In the meantime, continue adding this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $369 per share.

SOM Technicals:

4-27-18: Closed at 340.00. Trade pressures are up but declining to the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. Holding at the 25×5 support of 331.00.

5-5-18: Closed at 334.43. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. The next long entry is 345.83.

5-11-18: Closed at 342.17. Trade pressures are up. Volumes have closed as neutral. The next target up is 371.60.

5-19-18: Closed at 351.25. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 371.60.

S&P Global Inc.

S&P Global Inc. (SPGI) continues its winning streak on the Top 5 list, returning for the third-consecutive month. As a refresher, S&P Global provides intelligence, data and analytics, enabling business leaders around the world to make more informed decisions. With multiple divisions, including S&P Market Intelligence, S&P Global Ratings, S&P Dow Jones Indices and S&P Global Platts, the company has evolved into the leading provider of credit ratings, and is relied on by countless financial professionals for its data and custom indices.

The past few weeks have been a busy time for S&P Global Inc. First, the company announced that it had completed its acquisition of Kensho Technologies, Inc. Kensho provides global banks and financial institutions with analytics, artificial intelligence, data visualization systems and machine learning. S&P Global purchased Kensho for $550 million, which was the largest acquisition price for an artificial intelligence company so far. The acquisition is expected to be profitable in 2019 and should broaden S&P Global’s already impressive portfolio of offerings.

Then, on Thursday, S&P Global announced first-quarter results that beat analysts’ expectations. Compared with the year ago quarter, earnings increased 24% to $509 million, or $2.00 per share. Meanwhile, sales rose 8% year-on-year to $1.57 billion. Analysts called for $1.97 EPS on $1.53 billion in revenue, so S&P Global Inc. posted a 1.5% earnings surprise and a 2.6% sales surprise.

The company also reaffirmed its full-year adjusted earnings guidance. S&P Global expects adjusted earnings per share to range between $8.45 and $8.60. This is in line with the Street view and represents between 22.6% and 24.8% annual earnings growth.

I must also mention that S&P Global has a long history of rewarding shareholders, having paid a consistent quarterly dividend for nearly 38 years. At current prices, SPGI has a 1.1% annual dividend yield; the company should announce its next quarterly dividend in the coming days. So if you haven’t already, I recommend that you buy this Conservative stock up to $200 per share.

SOM Technicals:

2-25-18: Closed at 191.67. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-2-18: Closed at 189.02. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bearish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-11-18: Closed at 194.96. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-17-18: Closed at 192.51. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. Support is the 25×5 at 189.

3-23-18: Closed at 186.49. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Has just broken the 25×5 support. The next target down is 185.18, then 177.41.

3-30-18: Closed at 191.06. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Consolidating at the 185 target.

4-7-18: Close at 189.74. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating at the 185 downside target.

4-14-18: Closed at 190.76. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. Need a close above the downtrend resistance line at 196.38.

4-21-18: Closed at 192.96. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bearish. Support at 190.67.

4-27-18: Closed at 187.07. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is the 177.41 level.

5-5-18: Closed at 192.17. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. A new long entry at 192.04.

5-11-18: Closed at 199.99. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 204.16.

5-19-18: Closed at 197.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now neutral. the next target up is 204.16

XPO Logistics Corp.

XPO Logistics Corp. (XPO) is a leading global logistics company that helps customers manage their goods more efficiently throughout their supply chains. Through its two reporting segments—Transportation and Logistics—XPO Logistics helps over 50,000 customers improve their productivity and lower costs.

Lately, XPO Logistics has been on a roll with its product expansions and updates. First, it is in the process of expanding its Drive XPO mobile technology to Europe. Drive XPO is a mobile app that gives carriers visibility across transportation modes and carrier operations are integrated with daily productivity tools. After successfully launching Drive XPO in the U.S., XPO Logistics is taking the app abroad.

And, a few weeks ago, XPO Logistics unveiled cloud-based software that enables transportation companies to track truck and rail freight in real-time. XPO Connect software will provide tracking data to better determine capacity, spot rates and load assignments. The goal of the new software is to create more efficiency in supply chains and reduce cargo jams in warehouses. XPO Logistics’ management noted that 50 merchants and 500 carriers tested XPO Connect.

In our more digital world, more and more clients want real-time information about their shipments. Consumers already have real-time tracking for their personal packages, so it’s not surprising that shipping companies want the same real-time tracking for their trucks and freight. And XPO Connect is one of the few software products out there to provide this type of data tracking.

More and more companies are turning to XPO for supply chain solutions, and this is making a big impact on the company’s bottom line. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait long until its next earnings report; XPO is scheduled to release first-quarter results on Wednesday, May 2. The Street view is for $0.51 EPS on $3.92 billion in revenue. Compared with the year ago quarter, this represents 70% earnings growth and 10.7% sales growth. I expect XPO to do even better, especially considering the company’s long-running track record of earnings surprises. So before May 2, I recommend that you pick up shares of this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $105.

SOM Technicals:

3-30-18: Closed at 101.81. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 109.37.

4-7-18: Closed at 96.26. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The next target up is 109.37.

4-14-18: Closed at 99.40. Trade pressures are still neutral. Volumes are bullish to neutral. The next target up is 109.37.

4-21-18: Closed at 104.44. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bearish. Touched the 109.37 target and now pulling back. Support at 101.24.

4-27-18: Closed at 98.10. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is the 92.55.

5-5-18: Closed at 101.24. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. After reaching the 109.37 target pulled back to 91.64. The 109.37 is the next target up.

5-11-18: Closed at 109.07. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 119.00.

5-19-18: Closed at 109.50. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 119.00