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20 Stocks with the Potential to Pop (Q3 2011)

20 Stocks With The Potential To Pop

It's the basic question when investing in a stock: is it on the way up or down?To answer this question, the street has developed numerous ways of attempting to predict what will happen, estimating various attributes tied to stock performance in order to determine what the future holds for a company's valuation. After dissecting the data, analysts following a particular stock produce a price target of where they believe the stock is headed. With data from Thomson Reuters, CNBC.com took a look at
Photo: John W Banagan | Getty Images

It's the basic question when investing in a stock: is it on the way up or down?

To answer this question, the street has developed numerous ways of attempting to predict what will happen, estimating various attributes tied to stock performance in order to determine what the future holds for a company's valuation.

After dissecting the data, analysts following a particular stock produce a price target of where they believe the stock is headed. With data from Thomson Reuters, CNBC.com took a look at which stocks in the S&P 500 have average consensus estimates farthest above their stock prices.

According to the latest data, about 300 stocks or 60 percent of the index constituents are expected to go up in value by 20 percent or more. And only about 23 companies have already met or surpassed their respective price target estimates. The prices and analyst estimates presented here are as of the market close on September 14, 2011.

So, which stocks are analysts expecting to have the biggest pops? Click ahead to find out!

By Giovanny Moreano & Paul Toscano
Posted 14 Sept 2011

20. Hartford Financial (HIG)

Potential to Pop: 79% Mean Price Target: $31.09 Closing Price (9/14): $17.27 Number of Analysts: 11 High Estimate: $40 Low Estimate: $23
Photo: Steve Miller | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 65.02%
Mean Price Target: $30.00
Closing Price (9/14): $18.18

Number of Analysts: 11
High Estimate: $40
Low Estimate: $21

Get HIG Real-Time Quote

19. Baker Hughes (BHI)

Potential to Pop: 65.05% Mean Price Target: $95.73 Closing Price (9/14): $58.00 Number of Analysts: 26 High Estimate: $140 Low Estimate: $50
Photo: bakerhughes.com

Potential to Pop: 65.05%
Mean Price Target: $95.73
Closing Price (9/14): $58.00

Number of Analysts: 26
High Estimate: $140
Low Estimate: $50

Get BHI Real-Time Quote

18. Aflac Inc. (AFL)

Potential to Pop: 73% Mean Price Target: $59.50 Closing Price (9/14): $34.20 Number of Analysts: 16 High Estimate: $75 Low Estimate: $41
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 65.10%
Mean Price Target: $57.69
Closing Price (9/14): $34.94

Number of Analysts: 16
High Estimate: $75
Low Estimate: $36

Get AFL Real-Time Quote

17. Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG)

Potential to Pop: 70% Mean Price Target: $12.97 Closing Price (9/14): $7.58 Number of Analysts: 15High Estimate: $16 Low Estimate: $9.50
Photo: Interpublic.com

Potential to Pop: 65.39%
Mean Price Target: $12.97
Closing Price (9/14): $7.84

Number of Analysts: 15
High Estimate: $16
Low Estimate: $9.50

Get IPG Real-Time Quote

16. Southwest (LUV)

Potential to Pop: 70% Mean Price Target: $14.10 Closing Price (9/14): $8.32 Number of Analysts: 14 High Estimate: $25 Low Estimate: $9.25
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 65.84%
Mean Price Target: $14.10
Closing Price (9/14): $8.50

Number of Analysts: 13
High Estimate: $25
Low Estimate: $9.25

Get LUV Real-Time Quote

15. Regions Financial (RF)

Potential to Pop: 66.67% Mean Price Target: $6.38Closing Price (9/14): $3.83 Number of Analysts: 21High Estimate: $8 Low Estimate: $4
Photo: Bloomberg | Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 66.67%
Mean Price Target: $6.38
Closing Price (9/14): $3.83

Number of Analysts: 21
High Estimate: $8
Low Estimate: $4

Get RF Real-Time Quote

14. AK Steel Holding (AKS)

Potential to Pop: 42.40% Mean Price Target: $20.56 Closing Price (5/25): $14.44 Number of Analysts: 8 High Estimate: $24 Low Estimate: $16
Photo: ricardoazoury | Vetta | Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 67.35%
Mean Price Target: $14.38
Closing Price (9/14): $8.59

Number of Analysts: 12
High Estimate: $19
Low Estimate: $9

Get AKS Real-Time Quote

13. MetLife Inc. (MET)

Potential to Pop: 71% Mean Price Target: $52.47Closing Price (9/14): $30.52 Number of Analysts: 15 High Estimate: $60 Low Estimate: $39
Photo: Keith Bedford | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 68.22%
Mean Price Target: $52.47
Closing Price (9/14): $31.19

Number of Analysts: 15
High Estimate: $60
Low Estimate: $39

Get MET Real-Time Quote

12. PulteGroup (PHM)

Potential to Pop: 76% Mean Price Target: $7.61 Closing Price (9/14): $4.30 Number of Analysts: 14 High Estimate: $12 Low Estimate: $4
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 72.89%
Mean Price Target: $7.61
Closing Price (9/14): $4.40

Number of Analysts: 14
High Estimate: $12
Low Estimate: $4

Get PHM Real-Time Quote

11. Morgan Stanley (MS)

Potential to Pop: 70% Mean Price Target: $26.84Closing Price (9/14): $15.68 Number of Analysts: 25 High Estimate: $37.50 Low Estimate: $16.50
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 73.39%
Mean Price Target: $26.84
Closing Price (9/14): $15.48

Number of Analysts: 25
High Estimate: $37.50
Low Estimate: $16.50

Get MS Real-Time Quote

10. Newfield Exploration (NFX)

Potential to Pop: 79% Mean Price Target: $84.17Closing Price (9/14): $46.77Number of Analysts: 21High Estimate: $100Low Estimate: $60
Photo: newfld.com

Potential to Pop: 74.69%
Mean Price Target: $84.17
Closing Price (9/14): $48.18

Number of Analysts: 21
High Estimate: $100
Low Estimate: $60

Get NFX Real-Time Quote

9. Ford Motor (F)

Potential to Pop: 35.21% Mean Price Target: $19.71 Closing Price (5/25): $14.58Number of Analysts: 14 High Estimate: $22 Low Estimate: $17
Photo: Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 76.03%
Mean Price Target: $18.17
Closing Price (9/14): $10.32

Number of Analysts: 16
High Estimate: $26
Low Estimate: $15

Get F Real-Time Quote

8. Lincoln National (LNC)

Potential to Pop: 81% Mean Price Target: $32.73 Closing Price (9/14): $17.98 Number of Analysts: 15 High Estimate: $41 Low Estimate: $22

Potential to Pop: 76.15%
Mean Price Target: $32.20
Closing Price (9/14): $18.28

Number of Analysts: 15
High Estimate: $41
Low Estimate: $22

Get LNC Real-Time Quote

7. Genworth Financial (GNW)

Potential to Pop: 35.58% Mean Price Target: $14.85Closing Price (5/25): $10.95Number of Analysts: 13High Estimate: $22Low Estimate: $12
Photo: Genworth

Potential to Pop: 77.31%
Mean Price Target: $10.55
Closing Price (9/14): $5.95

Number of Analysts: 10
High Estimate: $22
Low Estimate: $6

Get GNW Real-Time Quote

6. Halliburton (HAL)

Potential to Pop: 74% Mean Price Target: $69.90 Closing Price (9/14): $39.65 Number of Analysts: 30 High Estimate: $93 Low Estimate: $35
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 80.65%
Mean Price Target: $71.10
Closing Price (9/14): $39.36

Number of Analysts: 30
High Estimate: $93
Low Estimate: $35

Get HAL Real-Time Quote

5. Denbury Resources (DNR)

Potential to Pop: 37.80% Mean Price Target: $28.25 Closing Price (5/25): $20.50Number of Analysts: 16 High Estimate: $34 Low Estimate: $20
Photo: denbury.com

Potential to Pop: 83.54%
Mean Price Target: $26.10
Closing Price (9/14): $14.22

Number of Analysts: 15
High Estimate: $33
Low Estimate: $21

Get DNR Real-Time Quote

4. Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT)

Potential to Pop: 86% Mean Price Target: $20.31 Closing Price (9/14): $10.78 Number of Analysts: 8 High Estimate: $23 Low Estimate: $14
Photo: Goodyear.com

Potential to Pop: 85%
Mean Price Target: $20.31
Closing Price (9/14): $10.98

Number of Analysts: 8
High Estimate: $23
Low Estimate: $14

Get GT Real-Time Quote

3. Citigroup (C)

Potential to Pop: 40.40% Mean Price Target: $56.88 Closing Price (5/25): $40.51 Number of Analysts: 20 High Estimate: $70 Low Estimate: $42
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 85.5%
Mean Price Target: $50.81
Closing Price (9/14): $27.39

Number of Analysts: 21
High Estimate: $66
Low Estimate: $33

Get C Real-Time Quote

2. Nabors Industries (NBR)

Potential to Pop: 90%Mean Price Target: $33.52 Closing Price (9/14): $17.55 Number of Analysts: 24 High Estimate: $41 Low Estimate: $18
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 86.23%
Mean Price Target: $33.52
Closing Price (9/14): $18.00

Number of Analysts: 24
High Estimate: $41
Low Estimate: $18

Get NBR Real-Time Quote

1. Monster Worldwide (MWW)

Potential to Pop: 56.13% Mean Price Target: $22.65 Closing Price (5/25): $14.51 Number of Analysts: 13 High Estimate: $32 Low Estimate: $9
Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Pop: 95.41%
Mean Price Target: $16.96
Closing Price (9/14): $8.68

Number of Analysts: 13
High Estimate: $30
Low Estimate: $7

Get MWW Real-Time Quote