A strategy that combines a trio of winning factors could lead investors to outsized returns in January, according to Evercore ISI. "January sees, on average, some of the largest relative returns, in one direction or another, of any month on the calendar across factors," wrote senior managing director Julian Emanuel in a report this week. He highlighted three factors that could herald outperformance early in the new year.
"We are positive on CLF for the following reasons: 1) Successful execution of self-help initiatives geared toward cost control; 2) Potential earnings growth from successful execution of value-enhancing projects at Middletown, Butler & Weirton; and 3) Margin expansion potential, which assumes successful execution of a $120mn synergy extraction from the Stelco acquisition ," wrote analyst Mike Harris.