As the year nears its end, investors should look for 2024 laggards that could see their fortunes change in 2025. While only the Nasdaq Composite is on pace to finish December with a month-to-date gain, all three major averages have notched new intraday and closing records during the month. The benchmarks have all seen sizeable year-to-date gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq has soared more than 30% for the year. The S & P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average have risen more than 24% and around 13%, respectively. To be sure, some individual stocks did not fare nearly as well and could be due for a bounce in the new year. With only two sessions left before the new year kicks off, CNBC Pro — using its stock screener tool — screened for S & P 500 stocks that could see a recovery next year. Here’s the criteria: Stock has fallen this year Is set to rise more than 20% in 2025, according to consensus analyst estimates Has low debt (debt-to-equity ratio is below 50%) Has a history of strong earnings growth (at least 5% earnings growth annually in the last five years) ConocoPhillips has fallen more than 16% year to date, putting the stock in the top half of the screen’s worst performers this year. But analysts think that could change in the coming months, anticipating about 38% upside. Jefferies, which has a buy rating on the stock, recently named ConocoPhillips its top pick heading into next year, noting it has been lagging U.S. peers. That’s on top of the fact that the Texas-based oil company has been considered by analysts to be a possible beneficiary of President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated policy changes, such as expanding drilling projects . “In our view COP has the best duration of oil weighted assets in our E & P coverage coupled with downside protection from a strong balance sheet,” analyst Lloyd Byrne said in a note to clients. “COP is our top pick in ’25 on the expectation management / investors will hone in on a sustainable [free cash flow] yield, which we believe the market is misjudging, as the company approaches a ’26 capex roll-off for key growth projects.” Trade policies under a second Trump term could also be favorable for the domestic steel industry writ large, according to Goldman Sachs. In that space, Nucor could be poised for a turnaround. The stock has slid more than 33% in 2024, and analysts are projecting nearly 31% upside ahead. NUE YTD mountain NUE, year-to-date Earlier this month, Goldman initiated coverage on the steel producer with a buy rating, saying it’s “well positioned to leverage any incremental steel demand such as the anticipated rapid growth of data centers.” Goldman’s call joins 23 other shops on Wall Street with a strong buy or buy rating on the stock, according to LSEG data. The remaining four who cover it have a hold rating. Analysts are also bullish on Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , as 19 of the 28 analysts covering the biotechnology stock have a buy rating, per LSEG data. Eight of them have a hold rating. Notably, Regeneron is one of two names in the screen with more than 50% upside potential from here. In 2024, shares have pulled back more than 19%. Looking ahead, the company could see more positive results for some of its treatments in development. It recently announced positive Phase 2 results for two monoclonal antibodies designed to control thrombosis, a condition where a blood clot obstructs blood flow. Those treatments will now advance to a Phase 3 program, which is set to take place in the beginning of 2025.
