If you ask people what their favorite long would be in a bad market, not one would say Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ). However, this makes total sense to me. In a strange way it is a defensive play that offers a possible turn around story.
Hewlett-Packard has been hammered in 2012, falling from a high of $30.00 down to the current level of $13.01. While that would make most investors scared and bearish, to me it screams, ‘On Sale’. Not only is it sitting at low risk levels but the company is paying a 4% yield and is set to have a P/E ratio of just 4.
Analyzing this from a great risk/reward angle, the stock is set to possibly have a turn around. Even if there is no turn around, you make 4% a year in dividends and the stock will only have a 4 P/E. Just think if they start to turn the company around. This seems like an obvious long to tuck away for the future at the current $13.00 level.
Gareth Soloway
InTheMoneyStocks.com
