We recently published a list of 10 Best Performing Mid Cap Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Dana Incorporated (NYSE:DAN) stands against other best performing mid cap stocks to buy according to analysts.
On February 7, Simeon Hyman, Global Investment Strategist at ProShares Advisors, appeared on CNBC to discuss the upcoming jobs report and its expected impact on the market. He believes that the market will hold up, and particularly cites mid-cap stocks as an optimal balance for risk and return. He noted that the economy has shown strength in various sectors, such as the ISM manufacturing index, which recently beat expectations. This broadening of economic growth suggests that the jobs numbers might be decent. Hyman also highlighted the positive earnings growth in the S&P 500, with about three-quarters of companies reporting a 12% year-over-year increase, which is encouraging news.
Recently, the mega-cap tech stocks have shown some weakness despite the overall market being on pace for a winning week. Hyman observed that while this broadening of market performance is positive, it also indicates risk, given that the tech sector still accounts for over 30% of the S&P 500 and remains in the red for the year. His word of the day was mid-caps, which he believes are historically the sweet spot in the market. Mid-caps have outperformed both large and small-cap stocks over the decades. Currently, mid-caps are undervalued, offering investors about $0.50 on the dollar, a situation that hasn’t occurred with small caps despite their underperformance. The key advantage of mid-caps is their earnings growth, which sets them apart from small-caps. When discussing mid-caps versus small caps, Hyman highlighted that mid-caps also have a strong domestic focus, with about 75% of their revenues coming from domestic sources. This is similar to small caps but with a crucial difference: mid-caps generally offer higher quality than small caps, lacking the losses and negative earnings often seen in small-cap companies. This makes mid-caps an attractive option for investors looking for stable growth.
Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to compile a list of the best-performing mid-cap stocks that were trading between $2 billion and $10 billion. We then picked the top 10 stocks with year-to-date gains higher than 20% and an average upside potential of over 25%. 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.
Note: All data is as of February 24.
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 Dana Inc. (DAN) the Best Performing Mid Cap Stock to Buy According to Analysts?
A modern commercial vehicle on the road, its engine powered by the company's drive system.
Year-to-Date Performance as of February 24: 35.90%
Upside Potential as of February 24: 33.08%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27
Dana Incorporated (NYSE:DAN) provides power conveyance and energy-management solutions for vehicles and machinery. Operating across diverse segments, it offers comprehensive drive and motion systems, electrodynamic technologies, and digital solutions. It serves manufacturers in the light, commercial, and off-highway vehicle markets, as well as the industrial sector.
The company’s ‘New Dana’ segment represents over 80% of its backlog. New Dana focuses on light and commercial vehicle systems, after the divestiture of its Off-Highway segment. The Off-Highway segment produces drivetrain and motion systems for heavy-duty, non-road vehicles and equipment. The company is aggressively pursuing margin improvements within the New Dana segment, targeting 8.1% to 8.6% in 2025 and aiming for double-digit margins by 2026. This focus is driven by a $300 million cost reduction program, with significant portions already realized, and ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency. The 2025 guidance anticipates overall sales of ~$9.75 billion.
Looking ahead, Dana Inc. (NYSE:DAN) is implementing strategic initiatives to further strengthen New Dana. This includes consolidating power technologies initiatives for $15 to $20 million in run-rate savings and adopting a measured approach to EV programs to reduce capital expenditure. The company is also navigating market fluctuations, anticipating a flattish light vehicle market and a stabilizing commercial vehicle market towards the end of 2025.
Overall, DAN ranks 5th on our list of best performing mid cap stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the growth potential of DAN as an investment, 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 DAN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
