Top stocks to consider in 2023

Top Stocks to Consider in 2023 | Trade via CFD | R1Investing
The global stock market is made up of several stock exchanges in different countries where the stocks of the biggest companies as well as other securities are traded. A stock exchange is a marketplace where buyers and sellers meet to trade the equity shares of the companies listed on that exchange. Some popular stock exchanges are Euronext, London stock exchange, NASDAQ, etc. The biggest exchange is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with a market cap of about $26.232 trillion.

Usually, private companies are small companies owned by an individual or a group of people. But as sales increase and more funds are needed for expansion; the company approaches the stock market and holds an initial public offer (IPO) where its equity shares are sold to the public. The company is now a publicly-traded company owned by shareholders. After the IPO, the company stocks is listed and traded on a stock exchange. An exchange may offer other securities such as mutual funds, Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, derivatives, etc.

Each stock exchange has listing requirements that must be met before the company holds its IPO. Listing on an exchange not only raises funds for the company, but it also adds credibility to the firm and makes it more popular. Listed companies are required to periodically publish their financial reports.

Investors buy and hold shares of companies for the long term either to sell at a potential profit or with the aim of enjoying dividends if the company makes a profit. Stock traders are actively carrying out market analysis and trading the markets through buying and selling shares of different companies for the sole aim of profits. This profession is highly risky because you may lose a significant part of all your invested capital.

In the year 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) caused a global lockdown which saw the economies of several nations shut down in order to curb the spread of the virus. Airlines, entertainment houses, clubs, offices, schools, and businesses were all closed down for weeks. It was reported that billions of people in about 90 countries were forced to stay at home. In spite of the concerted efforts and vaccinations in progress, the pandemic has killed over 4.5 million people across the world and is still killing.

The economic effect of COVID-19 was disastrous, many nations went into recession and the stock markets crashed. Airlines were badly hit as flight schedules and bookings were canceled. Public events like weekend sports events, music concerts, cinemas, shows, etc were all canceled. Because of the pandemic, numerous companies could not pay salaries and so, they laid off many of their staff.

Consequently, 2023 is seen as a recovery year for the financial markets. More and more people are being vaccinated and economies are opening up after the bans on public gatherings were lifted. Still, finding a good stock has remained a problem. Our list of top stocks was based onkiplinger.com.
Below are the top stocks worth considering for the remaining part of 2023:

• Amazon.com, Inc.
• Paypal Holdings, Inc.
• Microsoft Corporation
• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd
• Nvidia Corporation
• ExxonMobil Corporation
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd

Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon is a very popular e-commerce website and marketplace where vendors and buyers meet to deal. But beyond online trading, Amazon is a big IT firm that has a myriad of products and services such as book publishing, multimedia streaming, Kindle tablets, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, grocery services, etc.

The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos who is presently one of the richest men in the world. It started as an online bookstore, but as of 2023, it had diversified into a lot of many businesses both online and offline. Amazon tops as one of the best stocks to buy in the market as of now. Its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington, USA but it serves clients from all over the world.

Amazon stocks are traded as NASDAQ: AMZN. It is part of the S&P 500, S&P 100, and Nasdaq 100 indices. Its market is $1.74 trillion while the P E ratio is about 59.86. The pandemic favoured Amazon as the company’s sales skyrocketed. 

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

PayPal is an American digital wallet and fintech company that processes online payments and facilitates fund transfers across the world. As at 2020, PayPal has more than 375 million users. Also, the company’s revenue was $21.4 billion in the year.

PayPal was founded as ‘Confinity’ in 1998 but became Paypal in 2001 after it merged with X.com in 2000. In 2002, PayPal held its IPO which generated $61 million. In 2002, eBay; the popular e commerce marketplace, acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion. It became the predominant payment method used for purchases on eBay. In 2015, PayPal became a separate company from eBay.

PayPal shares are traded as NASDAQ:PYPL with a market cap of $336.46 billion. With its P E ratio at 69.93, it is one of the stocks to consider investing in 2023. 

Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft windows and Microsoft office suite are perhaps the most popular products of this IT giant and one of the leading IT firms in America and in the world. Microsoft is a company that develops, sells computer software, consumer electronics and also offers other internet and computing services. It also owns the following products and services:

  • Skype; a messaging and telecommunication application.
  • Microsoft OneDrive; a cloud hosting service.
  • Microsoft Azure: An all-inclusive cloud computing service.
  • LinkedIn: a professional networking website and app.
Founded in April 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft has grown to become a multinational with more than 175 office locations in 96 countries. Its head office is in New Mexico in the U.S. Microsoft’s IPO was held in 1986; today, it is traded as Nasdaq: MSFT. It has a market cap of $2.28 trillion and it is part of the S P 500 index. It is one of the stocks to consider in the year 2023.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

Alibaba was founded in 1999 in China by Jack Ma and 17 of his friends. The focus was on a business-to-business e-commerce marketplace. As of today, it is a multinational IT giant that is into internet technologies, e payment services, cloud computing, etc. Alibaba has over 800 million clients and operates the websites; Alibaba.com and 1688.com. its head offices are in China and Cayman Islands.

In 2014, Alibaba held its IPO, raised $25 billion, and was listed on the NYSE trading as NYSE: BABA with a market cap of $454.363 billion. Its stock is also listed in the stock exchange of Hong Kong as SEHK: 9988. The company has been growing in strength, revenue and innovation; it seems one of the promising stocks to consider this year. 

Nvidia Corporation

Nvidia is an American company that produces graphics processing units (GPUs) for computers, mobile devices, cars, etc. The GPUs are mostly used in computers made for gamers, professional graphics designers, architects, scientific research, etc. Nvidia also produces CUDA; an API that enables the creation of programs that use GPUs. Nvidia also owns Tegra mobile processors used in smartphones, car navigation, and sound systems. Given the growing demand for more powerful smartphones, quality graphics, and complex microchips; Nvidia is rated as one of the stocks to consider this year 2023.

Nvidia was founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Curtis Priem, and Chris Malachowsky. Its head office is in California, USA but has more than 50 offices across 37 countries.

Nvidia held its IPO in January 1999. Over the years, the stock has split 4 times. Today, it is traded as NVIDIA: NVDA with a market cap of $560.02 billion. 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Though its roots can be traced to standard oil which was established in 1870, the currency company was formed in 1999 when Exxon and Mobil oil companies merged into ExxonMobil. The company is into oil and gas exploration, refining, pipeline oil transportation as well as the marketing of oil and its products. It boasts of more than 35 oil refineries in 21 countries making it one of the largest refiners in the world.

Its shares are publicly traded as NYSE: XOM and it has a market cap of about $230.81 billion. It is a component of the S P 500 and S P 100 indices. ExxonMobil makes the list as one of the stocks to consider this year. 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited (TSMC)

This is a company that manufactures integrated circuits and semiconductor devices on behalf of its clients. For instance, companies like AMD, Apple, ARM, MediaTek, etc outsource their semiconductor chips to TSMC. It is a leading foundry technology firm that manufactures high-performance, low-power chips. The company was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and its headquarters is in Hsinchu science part in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

The company’s stock is traded as NYSE: TSM and has a market cap of about $617.195 billion. It is also listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange since 1993 where it is traded as TWSE: 2330; its market cap is about 15.688 TWD. With its innovations, increasing sales, and high demands from its clients, TSMC is surely one of the stocks to consider in 2023. 

Contract for Differences (CFDs)

Just as the name implies, CFDs are contracts between a broker and a trader where the trader speculates on the price movements of underlying security without owning the assets. Brokers are financial investment firms that give traders access to create a trading account and open positions via the software provided by them. Because traders are only betting on price movements, CFDs are available on a wide range of financial market securities like commodities, stocks, indices, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds, etc. CFDs are traded online; it is fast, convenient, and cash-settled.

Stocks CFDs

Stocks CFDs are financial contracts in which a trader tries to predicts the price direction of an underlying company’s stock without owning the equity shares of the company. Stocks CFDs mirror the prices of the real stocks but CFD traders only try to predict the price direction and calculate the price difference from the trade entry price to the closing price. This represents their profits or losses which grossly depend on their prior analysis, contract size, and the position taken.

As an example; let us consider ‘company A’ whose shares are traded on the U.S Nasdaq exchange. A stocks CFD trader; Steve has researched and analyzed the company’s stocks and predicted a price increment, so, he is going to open a long position in the trading platform provided by his broker. Because CFDs obtain their prices from the underlying assets in real-time, the Nasdaq exchange has to be in session before the stocks CFDs of company A will be available for trading.

On the CFD broker’s platform, two prices are quoted for stock A; bid and ask prices. The ‘ask price’ is slightly higher but both prices fluctuate in real-time. The difference between the bid and ask price is known as the ‘spread’; it often represents the broker’s fee, but some brokers may prefer to charge a commission for each position opened. Traders buy at the ask price when they forecast a bullish trend but sell at the bid price when they expect a bear market.

Steve opens a buy position for 100 shares of company A at €42 per share and waits for the market price movements. After a few hours, he finally closes his position when the price has settled around €43.55 per share. Since the price increased as he predicted, he is likely to make a profit; but if the markets declined, he would have made a loss.

So, gross profit = (43.55 – 42) X 100 = €155.

The net profit will be obtained when the trading fee and other fees have been deducted. The above example is for explanation purposes only. If you choose to trade CFDs, be aware that your capital is at risk and previous successes are not an indication of future success. 

Trading stocks CFDs with R1Investing

R1Investing is a modern brokerage that has combined technology with professionalism and integrity. Its head office is located in Cyprus but its serves online clients from several countries. More than 350 CFD assets in forex, cryptocurrencies, stocks, indices and commodities can be traded on its platforms. The broker supports trading on any device because its platforms support multiple operating systems such as android, iOS, windows, etc.

Below are the steps to trade stocks with R1Investing

• Click on ‘open account’ to display the account creation form.

• Complete the form providing your personal information, source of funds, trading knowledge, etc.

• Upload your ‘proof of address’ and ‘proof of residence’ documents.

• Fund your account with your trading capital, then wait for your account to be approved.

• Choose the best platform suitable to you; there are a number of options. The WebTrader is compatible with all devices. If you choose the MT4, download it MT4 on windows pc or on mobile; android and iOS. The R1Investing mobile app is also available on android and iOS.

• On your chosen platform, find the stock CFD of your choice or any other available asset. Then, open a long or short position by clicking on ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ respectively. If you like, you may set values for stop loss, take profit, etc.

• Close the trade when you wish.
The trade is complete when you close the open position. Your profits or losses will be calculated immediately and your account balance will be updated accordingly. Trading stocks CFDs is risky because you may lose part or all your deposited funds. 

Advantages and disadvantages of stocks CFDs

Here are some reasons why traders choose to trade stocks CFDs:

Convenience

Everything is done over the internet, so you can trade from your home, office or while on the move. You only need an internet-enabled device to create an account and commence trading. All trades are cash settled and your account balance is updated in real-time.

One of the biggest challenges of online businesses is scammers and CFD trading is not different. Hackers can infiltrate your computer or smartphone and steal your money. There are several online scammers posing as brokers, so you should be extra careful when choosing your broker. Always check that your broker is regulated

Opportunity to profit in all market conditions

If you hold the equity stocks of a company bought from a stock exchange, you will be hoping that the share price goes up so that you will not lose. But, with stocks CFDs, no need to wish for a bullish market because you can open a long or short position with only a few clicks. This gives you the opportunity to make potential profits irrespective of the share price direction as long as your prediction is correct. If the market is bearish, you can sell and if bullish, you can buy. The major challenge lies in the analysis and forecast which are generally difficult.

Risk and emotional management is a challenge to CFD traders. Traders often do not know the exact time to exit a winning trade and run with the potential profits garnered. Often, traders exit a trade too quickly leading to regrets. So, a trader can consider using the risk management tools provided on the broker’s platform and also learn to manage his emotions.

Leverage

This is a tool that enables traders to open trade positions that are much larger than their deposited capital. For example; on leverage of 1:30, a retail trader that has an account balance of €500 may open positions that have a total value of €15,000. The aim of leverage trading is to give the trader more market exposure thereby more opportunity to make more profits.

Unfortunately, leverage increases the trader’s risk because it increases both the profit and loss potentials equally. So, in times of market reversals, leverage multiplies the losses incurred just like it will magnify profits when the trader’s forecast is correct. 

Summary

Investing in stocks has been a popular method of investment for centuries. Many stock exchanges trade on weekdays all over the world. Investors buy the equity stocks of companies from the stock market, become shareholders, and enjoy dividends when the company profits. Stock CFDs on the other hand only derive its prices from stock exchanges but CFD traders speculate only on the share prices and attempt to place their stakes in line with the price direction. CFDs are convenient, require small capital, presents profit potentials but are very risky.

Trading CFDs on stocks with R1Investing is an alternative choice to consider. With a responsive technical support desk, sophisticated trading platforms, lightning speed executions and a myriad of trading tools, you can trade a large number of assets via CFDs with ease in a digitally secure environment. Deposits and withdrawals are fast and spreads are competitive with no ridiculous commissions. Provided to be used are trading tools such as economic calendar, earnings report calendar, traders’ sentiments, technical indicators, and other tools. A comprehensive ‘education center’ is also available to traders who need some trading knowledge. 

FAQ

What is the difference between stock CFDs and stocks?

Stocks are equity shares that represent ownership of part of a company. Shareholders of a company buy the shares from the stock market. They may keep the shares and hope to reap dividends when the company shares its profits. Stocks CFD traders do not actually buy, sell or own company equities; they only try to predict the price direction of the company’s shares. This is done on a broker’s trading platform.

What are the top stocks to consider?

These are the stocks of companies that have been performing well and so, they are seen as potentially profitable by analysts and traders. During the pandemic, many companies suffered losses and recorded declines in their value per share. This year as expected, many stocks are gradually recovering. Some of the top stocks to consider belong to InfoTech companies that thrived during the heat of the pandemic. 

Should I trade stocks CFDs or invest in stocks?

The choice of the type of assets to invest in depends on your personality and preferences. It is a decision that is left to the trader. If you love active trading, taking risks, and constant market news and analysis, then CFD trading is for you. CFD trading is for ambitious, short-term risk-takers while stock market investment is for passive investors who are patient and desire long-term investments.


The information above is for education purposes only and cannot be considered as investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Open Account

Written by:
Omer Aragón Godínez

Open Account