Thursday's session of CNBC's "Halftime Report Final Trades" featured four market veterans sharing their current favorites, and the picks paint an interesting picture of where opportunities are hiding right now.
Cybersecurity Gets the Nod
Malcolm Ethridge, managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group, went with Netskope, Inc. (NTSK) as his pick. The cybersecurity company just delivered a pleasant surprise on earnings, posting third-quarter losses of only 10 cents per share when analysts were bracing for losses of 40 cents per share. That's the kind of beat that makes people pay attention. Revenue came in at $184.2 million, comfortably ahead of the $175.9 million consensus estimate.
Precious Metals Play
With gold trading above $4,300 and silver cruising past $63, Bill Baruch, founder and president of Blue Line Capital and Blue Line Futures, picked Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE). When precious metals are running hot, miners tend to leverage those moves nicely. TD Securities analyst Wayne Lam seems to agree, maintaining a Buy rating on November 11 and bumping the price target from $23 to $25.
Airlines Hitting New Heights
Jim Lebenthal, partner at Cerity Partners, highlighted Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL), noting the stock surged to an all-time high during Thursday's session. The airline's momentum caught the eye of BMO Capital Markets analyst Michael Goldie, who initiated coverage on December 9 with an Outperform rating and an $80 price target.
Video Communications Making a Comeback
Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, selected Zoom Communications, Inc. (ZM). The video conferencing giant posted solid third-quarter results on November 24, with revenue of $1.23 billion topping the $1.21 billion consensus. Adjusted earnings of $1.52 per share also beat analyst estimates of $1.44 per share.
How the Stocks Performed
All four picks had a good Thursday. Coeur Mining shares jumped 9.5% to close at $17.48, the strongest performer of the bunch. Netskope gained 4.4% to settle at $23.50. Delta Air climbed 0.9% to close at $70.56. Zoom jumped 2.5% to settle at $90.24.




