Barron's Picks And Pans: Alibaba, Intel, Target, Visa And More

• This weekend's Barron's cover offers a low-risk strategy for investors optimistic about an ecomomic recovery.
• Other featured articles discuss what a COVID-19 vaccine would mean for the stock market and how it could shake up the pharmaceutical industry.
• Also, the prospects for semiconductor stocks, a leading retailer, a financial services giant and more.

"A Low-Risk Strategy for Those Optimistic About a Recovery" by Daren Fonda suggests that small companies typically outperform over the long term, even more so at the beginning of an economic rebound. With a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon, Barron's believes Acme United Corporation ACU is among the small cap stocks worth a look.

Max A. Cherney's "Intel Can Shine Again" looks at how repeated manufacturing delays have dented the reputation of chip giant Intel Corporation INTC. In addition, Apple now has ditched Intel's products. Discover why Barron's thinks the stock is down but not out.

In "A Covid Vaccine Is Coming. Here's What It Means for the Stock Market," Andrew Bary makes the case that after years of disappointment, a rotation into value-oriented investments from growth could gain traction. See why the likes of Barrick Gold Corp GOLD could be poised to climb as well.

Semiconductor demand is surging, even as mergers reshape the industry. So says "5 Semiconductor Stocks With Stellar Prospects" by Leslie P. Norton. Find out how to play the next growth spurt and whether NVIDIA Corporation NVDA and Teradyne, Inc. TER are among the bargains now.

In Bill Alpert's "Covid Vaccine Could Be a Drug Industry Game Changer," see how promising vaccine news lifted hopes that mRNA technology would be validated and speed other products to market. Find out what could this mean for AstraZeneca plc AZN, GlaxoSmithKline plc GSK and others.

"Target Is Booming During the Pandemic. Why the Stock Still Looks Undervalued" by Teresa Rivas discusses why, even though Target Corporation TGT is classified as a big-box retailer, these days it looks more like a department store than any department store. Plus, what to expect from this week's earnings report.

See also: Benzinga's Bulls And Bears Of The Week: Apple, Disney, Tesla And More

Check out how Micron Technology, Inc. MU, the biggest pure play bet on memory chips, also could be a play on multiple hot themes, including 5G, electric vehicles, data center growth and even the end of the pandemic. This, according to Eric J. Savitz's "It's Time to Put Aside the Bad Memories of Micron's Stock."

In "Pandemic or Not, Visa Remains a Growth Stock Stalking Its Biggest Rival, Cash," Jack Hough focuses on how, despite reduced spending during the pandemic, Visa Inc V has seen greater adoption as consumers eschew cash. That should pay dividends after the crisis is over, according to this article.

Reshma Kapadia's "Alibaba Joins the Ranks of Internet Giants Scorched by Regulators" says China has joined the United States and Europe in scrutinizing the big internet platforms whose shares have soared amid the pandemic. It talks about the case of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA and the blow that befell its fintech affiliate, Ant Group.

Also in this week's Barron's:

• What is next for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Why the U.S. election bodes well for tech
• Why to expect more ESG activism and SPACs in 2021
• Whether investors can predict special dividends
• How to play the value stock boomlet while it lasts
• Whether the stock market needs tech to hit new records
• ETFs poised to benefit from a retail rebound
• What the end of Moore's law means for investors and the economy
• Why the $9 billion U.S. Postal Service loss matters
• What to expect from the coming retail earnings reports

At the time of this writing, the author had no position in the mentioned equities.

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