A recent segment of CNBC's esteemed 'Halftime Report Final Trades' brought together prominent financial strategists to discuss their current top investment recommendations. The insights offered by these experts provide valuable perspectives for investors navigating the dynamic market landscape, focusing on companies poised for growth or offering attractive valuations.
Market Strategists Unveil Key Stock Selections on 'Final Trades' Broadcast
On Thursday, January 23, 2026, during CNBC's 'Halftime Report Final Trades,' several leading financial analysts offered their key stock picks. Jim Lebenthal, a distinguished partner at Cerity Partners, championed Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), noting its impressive upward trend in recent months, with a gain of approximately 30%. This positive outlook was further bolstered by RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams, who upgraded Vertex from 'Sector Perform' to 'Outperform' and increased its price target from $455 to $546. This upgrade underscores strong confidence in the pharmaceutical company's future performance.
Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, the astute CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management, LLC, pointed to Kimberly Clark (KMB) as a compelling opportunity. She highlighted the company's substantial 5% dividend yield and its current oversold condition, suggesting it may be undervalued. Investors are eagerly awaiting Kimberly-Clark's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings report, scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, which could provide further catalysts.
Kari Firestone, co-founder of Aureus Asset Management, expressed optimism about S&P Global Inc (SPGI). She anticipates that the company will significantly benefit this year from a robust upturn in the debt and capital markets cycle. Bolstering this positive sentiment, S&P Global had previously increased its dividend from 96 cents to 97 cents per share on January 14, signaling financial strength and a commitment to shareholder returns.
Lastly, Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, reiterated his continued confidence in Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM). His long-term position is supported by Barclays analyst Betty Jiang, who maintained an 'Overweight' rating on the energy giant and raised its price target from $130 to $140, reflecting a positive outlook on the company's prospects. Following these expert endorsements, market activity saw Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares rise by 1.4% to $467.35, Kimberly Clark gained 2.2% to $102.19, S&P Global shares increased by 1.6% to $539.80, and Exxon Mobil shares saw a modest gain of 0.1% to $133.80 during the trading session on Thursday.
The collective wisdom shared by these financial experts on CNBC's 'Final Trades' offers a compelling snapshot of current market opportunities. Their detailed analyses, backed by solid reasoning and recent corporate actions like dividend increases and analyst upgrades, underscore the importance of informed decision-making in investment strategies. For individual investors, these recommendations serve as valuable starting points for further research, emphasizing the potential for both growth and income in a carefully selected portfolio.