Buy these quality, low-stress stocks for the summer, says Jefferies

AbbVie, a leading drugmaker, has been identified as a top-quality stock by Jefferies, a well-known investment firm. The company is expected to deliver compound annual earnings growth of nearly 28% in 2026-2027, with a free cash flow yield of 5.2%, making it one of the strongest performers on Jefferies’ list of low-stress stocks.

In its first-quarter financial report, AbbVie announced $15 billion in worldwide net revenues, driven primarily by its $7.3 billion immunology portfolio. The company recently made a significant move to strengthen its next-gen immunology pipeline by acquiring Apogee Therapeutics for $10.9 billion, marking its largest acquisition in over five years.

Based in Chicago, AbbVie is scheduled to release its second-quarter results on July 31. The stock has seen impressive growth, climbing 25% in the past three months and 37% in the past year. Additionally, AbbVie offers a dividend yield of 2.7%, according to FactSet data.

Another notable stock highlighted by Jefferies is Netflix, the dominant streaming platform with a market value of $320 billion and a free cash flow yield of 3.6%. Despite facing some challenges, including a 10% stock price drop in mid-April due to lower-than-expected second-quarter guidance, Netflix remains a top-quality stock in Jefferies’ model.

Lowe’s Companies, McDonald’s, and American Express are among the other companies identified by Jefferies as high-quality, low-stress stocks to consider during these volatile market conditions.

As markets become more turbulent and concerns around artificial intelligence investments continue to grow, owning quality, low-stress stocks like AbbVie and Netflix could be a smart strategy for investors looking to ride out the summer. Jefferies’ recommendations are based on a thorough analysis of companies with strong fundamentals, attractive valuations, and limited momentum, making them well-positioned to weather any potential storms in the market.

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