Tom Lee, Fundstrat managing partner, joined CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ on March 22 to discuss the current market sentiment. When asked about the recent report on tariffs, which oscillates between an iron fist and an olive branch, Lee expressed optimism. He suggested that markets should interpret the situation positively because many clients view tariffs as punitive and potentially recession-inducing. However, a mutually agreed or reciprocal tariff deal could create a favorable scenario for businesses, potentially setting the stage for a significant recovery rally. Addressing the immediate challenge of volatility leading up to April 2, Lee acknowledged the dilemma investors face during this period of uncertainty. He noted that many are overwhelmed by market fluctuations and tempted to give up. Drawing a parallel to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which lasted 12 days, Lee pointed out that markets historically bottom before crises are resolved. For instance, during that crisis, the stock market reached its lowest point seven days in and recovered two-thirds of its losses before the resolution. He suggested this historical pattern could serve as a template for today’s market behavior.
When asked about the economy, Lee remarked on how quickly sentiment has deteriorated. He attributed part of this decline to divisive political leadership that affected consumer confidence and noted that CEO confidence has also dropped unexpectedly. CEOs have become hesitant to make decisions, which is contributing to what he described as a growth shock. However, he remained hopeful that this slowdown would be temporary if it does not persist for months. The conversation shifted to concerns about a potential recession, with Jeffrey Gundlach recently estimating a 50% to 60% chance of one occurring in the next few quarters. Lee countered this by stating that while a 10% drawdown in the S&P 500 already prices in a 40% chance of recession, markets do not fully align with Gundlach’s pessimistic view. He highlighted that economies like China, Europe, Canada, and Mexico have been outperforming the US since February 18. If punitive tariffs were truly driving global recessions, these economies would also be struggling. Instead, Lee described markets as more paralyzed than outright pessimistic.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to compile an initial list of the top stocks that went public in the last 5 years. We then selected the 12 stocks with high analysts’ upside potential as of March 21 that were also the most popular among elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q4 2024, which was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Is Astera Labs Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) the Best Up and Coming Stock to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts?
A biomedical researcher in a laboratory examining an integrated fluidic circuit.
Astera Labs Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) designs and sells semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for cloud and AI infrastructure. It offers an intelligent connectivity platform featuring smart DSP retimers, cable modules, and the COSMOS software suite, which optimizes resource management for large-scale cloud deployments. It serves hyperscalers and OEMs.
In Q4 2024, the company made a record revenue of $141 million, which was a 179% year-over-year increase that was driven by its Aries PCIe Retimer and Taurus Ethernet Smart Cable Module product families. These are essential for AI scaling. Full-year 2024 revenue saw a 242% increase. The company is actively investing in R&D and acquisitions to enhance its AI-driven connectivity solutions. It anticipates a $12 billion market opportunity by 2028 due to the high-speed connectivity sector’s growth.
On March 14, Raymond James initiated coverage of Astera Labs Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) with an Outperform rating and an $82 price target. This highlighted the company’s strong market position in high-speed connectivity, which is being propelled by the increasing demands of GenAI. The firm underscored the company’s leadership in the $2 billion PCIe Retimer market and its presence in the Active Electrical Cable segment. It noted that the rising computational needs are driving the demand for advanced interconnect technologies.
The company delivered strong financial results and exceeded expectations with revenue growth across all segments and increased guidance. This reinforced the company’s position as a leader in connectivity solutions for high-performance computing. Alger Small Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding Astera Labs Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“Astera Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) is a semiconductor company specializing in connectivity solutions for data-centric systems, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Its products optimize data flow and performance in servers, GPUs, and AI accelerators, addressing bottlenecks in high-performance computing environments. The company’s Intelligent Connectivity Platform (ICP) integrates advanced semiconductor hardware with the proprietary COSMOS software suite, delivering customizable and cost-effective solutions. Astera’s Platform-Specific Standard Products (PSSP) enhance flexibility with features such as predictive analytics, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Backed by strong relationships with leading cloud and AI providers, we believe Astera is well positioned in rapidly growing markets, demonstrating high profitability and industry-leading gross margins. During the quarter, shares contributed to performance after reporting better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, with revenues and gross margins exceeding analyst estimates. Specifically, revenue growth spanned all four product segments, led by accelerated custom silicon sales and robust GPU demand. Management also raised fiscal fourth-quarter guidance, citing expanding product ramps and a broader customer base.”
Overall, ALAB ranks 6th on our list of the best up and coming stocks to buy according to Wall Street Analysts. While we acknowledge the growth potential of ALAB, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ALAB but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
