These are JPMorgan’s top stock picks for April

Published Fri, Apr 1 20223:15 PM EDTUpdated Fri, Apr 1 20224:02 PM EDT

JPMorgan posted its top stock picks for April, kicking off the second quarter with four fresh names for its analyst focus list. While the list can vary slightly from month to month, JPMorgan added several new stocks, including background-screening firm Sterling Check and information services company S & P Global . Analysts selected their favorite stock picks that will benefit from near term, growth, value, and short investment strategies. Here are JPMorgan's newest additions to its analyst focus list for April: Several near-term and medium-term tailwinds could benefit Sterling Check, according to analyst Andrew Steinerman. The background check company could get a boost from continued turnover of employees in the labor market. In the medium term, the firm expects Sterling's focus on identity verification and its partnership with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to differentiate the company. "We view background screening as a growth industry with attractive adjacencies," Steinerman wrote. Sterling has a $30 price target, implying 13.5% upside from where shares closed Thursday. Information services company S & P Global can fit into a growth strategy for investors. JPMorgan expects S & P Global can generate mid-to-high single-digit percentage organic revenue growth in the medium term, according to the note. Steinerman also believes that a planned $12 billion in share buybacks this year will serve as a catalyst for the stock price. S & P Global has a $480 price target. That's 17% above where shares closed on Thursday. A positive outlook based on strong demand and easing supply issues makes both technology companies Arista and Ciena overweight-rated picks, according to analyst Samik Chatterjee. He is confident that both companies will ramp up revenues in the second half of the year. Computer-networking firm Arista has a $160 target price, implying about 15% upside from Thursday's closing price for the firm. Ciena was the lone new addition listed as a value play. The telecommunications networking firm has a $85 price target, implying 40.2% upside from where shares closed on Thursday. — CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.

Pedestrians walk in front of the JPMorgan Chase headquarters building in New York.

Scott Mlyn | CNBC

JPMorgan posted its top stock picks for April, kicking off the second quarter with four fresh names for its analyst focus list.

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