Investor Review: Tracking Shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP)

Taking a quick look at some possible support and resistance levels on shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP), we can see that the 52-week high is currently 237.12, and the 52-week low is currently 192. When shares are trading close to the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may be watching for a move through either level. Checking in on recent action, we note that the stock has been trading near the $216.16 level. Investors may also want to keep an eye on historical price activity. During the past 12 weeks, the stock has moved 0.49%. Looking further back to the start of the calendar year, we can see that shares have moved 4.21%. Over the past 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of -2.01%. Over the last 5 trading days, the stock has moved -3.56%. Investors will be monitoring stock activity over the next few sessions to try and decipher which way the momentum is leaning.

When deciding how to best approach the stock market, individual investors may need to figure out what their time horizon is going to be. Short-term traders may only be looking to hold stocks for a short period in order to capitalize on fluctuations. Longer-term investors may be looking at more of a buy and hold strategy, and they may not be very concerned with the day to day shifts of a stock’s price. Accumulating as much knowledge as possible about specific stocks and the markets in general can help the investor prepare for success. Because there is no magic strategy that can be employed to guarantee profits, investors may need to evaluate multiple methods before choosing which one to pursue.

Analysts have set a target price on shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP). The current consensus price target is $236. Wall Street analysts often provide price target projections on stocks that they cover. Price target projections can be created using a wide variety of methods. Many investors will closely track stock target prices, especially when analysts make updates. A thorough research report will generally offer detailed reasoning for a certain target projection. Some investors may watch sell-side targets very closely and use the information to help with their own stock research.

Sell-side analysts have the capability of providing stock ratings for companies that they cover. According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current average broker rating on shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP) is 2.17. This average rating includes analysts who have offered Sell, Buy and Hold ratings on the stock. This rating falls on a numeric scale from 1 to 5. A score of 1 would indicate a Buy recommendation, and a score of 5 would represent a Sell recommendation. Out of all the analysts offering ratings, 1 have pegged the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, based on data provided by Zacks Research.

Tracking the current quarter consensus EPS estimate for Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP), we have noted that the number is currently 3.93. This estimate is using 1 contributing analysts polled by Zacks Research. For the last quarter, the company posted a quarterly EPS of 3.85. Sell-side Wall Street analysts study companies and provide their opinions of where the stock might be going in the future. A lot of weight is given to analyst estimates, and earnings beats or misses revolve around these predictions. Sometimes these estimates are very close to the actual, and other times they are not. When a company announces actual earnings results, a large surprise factor can result in increased volatility. If a company beats estimates and posts a positive earnings surprise, the stock may see a near-term bump in price. On the flip side, a negative surprise may move the stock lower. Based on the unknown, many investors may choose to trade with caution around earnings releases.

When looking back historically at the stock market, it is easy to see that there are always extended periods of upturns and downturns. The speed at which the market can shift can cause even the most experienced investors stomachs to turn. When times are good and markets are rising, it can be easy to forget that a downturn may be just around the corner. Being prepared for sudden changes can help the investor plan for the unknown as best they can. Getting caught off guard can be extremely disconcerting and lead to irrational decision making. There is rarely any substitute for extensive study and focused dedication. Investors who put in the extra time to create a backup plan may be better able to traverse the road when the market environment inevitably shifts.