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Traders: 5 stocks to watch ahead of earnings

What to trade ahead of earnings: 6 plays to make
VIDEO2:3102:31
What to trade ahead of earnings: 6 plays to make

As the earnings season flurry picks up, "Fast Money" traders chose stocks they believe could rise after results.

Shares of JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America rose this week after results. Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft, among others, are set to report next week, while Apple and other key companies are expected to report later.

Johnson & Johnson could have upside after its expected report Tuesday, traders Guy Adami and David Seaburg said. Adami contended the stock trades at a discount to many of its peers and may soon catch up.

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Seaburg also highlighted Microsoft, which he said he expects to report solid results. Its shares are nearly flat this year but have climbed more than 30 percent in the last 12 months.

The tech sector also drew trader Steve Grasso's eye. He said markets have already priced slowing iPhone sales into Apple shares, which have fallen 11 percent in the last year.

He believes investors should stay long in Apple unless it falls through $109 per share. It closed around $112 per share Thursday.

Meanwhile, a key smartphone component supplier, Taiwan Semiconductor, warned on slowing demand and its shares fell 3 percent Thursday. Seaburg said, however, that the news was not a "disaster," adding that he would hold the stock unless it breaks below $23 per share. It closed at $25.30 on Thursday.

Trader Brian Kelly noted that the Taiwan Semiconductor news, and a previous warning from Juniper Networks, may not bode well for Cisco Systems. He said he would consider taking profits in the stock.

Disclosures:

Guy Adami

Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS, GDX, INTC, Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck.

Steve Grasso

Steve is Long AAPL, BA, BAC, CC, DD, DIS, DECK, EVGN, KBH, MJNA, MU, OLN, PFE, PHM, T, TWTR, GDX firm is long CVX, NE, OXY, RIG kids own EFA, EFG, EWJ, IJR, SPY

Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly is long BBRY, Bitcoin, GLD, SLV, TLT, US Dollar, UUP; he is short Aussie Dollar, BLK, British Pound, CS, DB, Euro, EWA, EWH, FRC, Hong Kong Dollar, UBS, SPY, Yuan, 5-Year Note Futures

David Seaburg

Opinions expressed by David Seaburg are solely his own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Cowen Group, Inc