Stock Focus: Sell-Side Update for Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI)

Investors may be tracking sell-side analyst opinions on shares of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI). According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current consensus target price is $11.75. Analysts and financial institutions may use different methods to value a particular stock. Because of the use of alternate methods, individual price targets may be widely varied. Viewing the consensus target price can help provide a general sense of where the sell-side sees the stock heading in the future. Investors can take a look at the target projections and decide for themselves if they agree with the Street. Investors tend to take a closer look at shares when analysts provide update to price targets. 

Investors might be taking a closer look at the portfolio after recent market action. Some financial insiders may be ready to usher in the bears and projecting the end of the bull run. While this may or may not be the case, investors need to be ready for any scenario. The time may have come to cash out some winners and cut the losers. A portfolio rebalance may be necessary in order to secure profits as we head into the latter half of the year. Keeping a diversified portfolio may entail adding some different sectors and even venturing into foreign markets. Investors will be tracking company earnings as we roll into the next round of reports. It may be a bit easier to make sense of future stock market prospects after seeing how many companies hit or miss their marks.

Street analysts often provide stock recommendations for companies that they track. According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current average rating on shares of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) is 3. This average rating includes analysts who have given Buy, Sell and Hold ratings on the name. This rating uses a numerical scale from 1 to 5. A 1 would indicate a Buy recommendation, and a score of 5 would point to a Sell recommendation. Out of all the analysts offering recommendations, 1 have rated the stock a Strong Buy or Buy.

Covering analysts are looking for Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) to report a current quarter EPS of 0.52 when the company issues their next earnings report. This is the consensus estimate using analysts taken into consideration by Zacks Research. This estimate includes 3 sell-side analysts. For the previous reporting period, the company posted a quarterly EPS of 0.31. Investors will be closely tracking how close the actual comes to the consensus estimate after the next report. Analysts covering the stock are usually very busy during earnings periods. Before the release, they might be revising estimates. After the earnings release, they will closely review the information and update accordingly.

Looking at some recent stock price activity for Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), we have spotted shares trading near the $9.45 level. Looking at some popular historical levels, we note that the 52-week high is presently $12.23, and the 52-week low is currently $8.61. When the stock is trading close to the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may pay extra attention to see if there will be a move through that level. Looking back over the last 12 weeks, the stock has moved -8.43%. Heading back to the start of the year, we can see that shares have moved -18.46%. Over the past 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of -6.44%. Over the last 5 trading sessions, the stock has moved -3.47%.

Investing in the stock market can be highly unpredictable. Veteran investors may have spent many years studying the market. At some point along the way, many investors may have had to make some tough decisions. Making the tough stock portfolio decisions can seem like a daunting task, especially if some wrong calls have been made in the past. Investors who are able to quickly learn from previous mistakes may be much better situated if they are able to keep from repeating those mistakes. When just starting out, investors may want to go slow and steady in order to focus on the simpler investing ideas first.