Following the Analyst Projections for KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC)

Many investors will be carefully reviewing company earnings results when they are released to the public. They will most likely be keeping a close eye on how the actual results stack up to Wall Street analyst estimates. According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current quarter EPS consensus estimate is resting at 1.96 for shares of KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC). The number consists of projections offered by 4 contributing analysts. For the last quarter, the company posted a quarterly EPS of 2.44.

With the stock market continuing to move higher, investors may be searching for stocks that are still fairly undervalued. This may involve doing a little bit more homework than usual. Spotting those names that have been cast aside and not garnering much recent attention might be a good place to start. Putting in a few extra hours of stock research may provide some good options for buying on the next big dip. Of course, nobody can say for sure how long the markets will continue to climb. Being ready for a pullback can help if investors already have some names in mind that they are looking to scoop up when they fall to a certain level. Tracking the technicals and staying up on the fundamentals should help investors hone in on the next wave of stocks to add to the portfolio.

Shifting the focus to some possible support and resistance levels on shares of KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC), we note that the 52-week high is currently $124.72, and the 52-week low is currently $81.23. When shares are trading near to the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may be watching for a break through either level. Investors may also be watching historical price action. Over the past 12 weeks, the stock has moved 26.36%. Going back to the start of the year, we can see that shares have moved 38.79%. Over the last 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of 0.32%. Over the last 5 trading days, the stock has moved 1.05%. Checking in on recent session activity, we have seen that the stock has been trading near the $124.2 mark.

Looking further at shares of KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC), we have noticed that the current consensus target price is $137. Wall Street analysts have the ability to create price target estimates for where they think the stock will be moving in the near-term. Because price target projections can differ from one analyst to the next, they may span a wide range of values. Many investors will closely track target prices, and they tend to pay extra close attention when analysts make revisions to those targets.

Wall Street analysts often give buy/sell/hold ratings for the companies that they track. Investors have the ability to view these sell-side ratings in order to help with their own stock research. Analyst ratings may have different interpretations. According to analysts polled by Zacks Research, the current average broker rating on shares of KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) is 1.75. This rating uses a scale between 1 and 5. Following this scale, a rating of 1 would represent a Strong Buy, and a rating of 5 would indicate a Strong Sell recommendation. Out of all these analysts offering ratings, 5 have rated the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, according to Zacks Research.

Investors often have to make the decision of how aggressive they are going to invest. Some investors looking to make a quick dollar may jump in head first without a plan. This can be dangerous for the health of the portfolio in the long-term. Taking a chance on a risky stock may provide high returns, but investors often need to calculate whether the risk is worth the reward. Managing that risk in turbulent markets may help keep the average investor afloat when the markets inevitably turn sour for an extended period. Doing all the necessary stock research may include keeping a close tab on technicals, fundamentals, relevant economic data, and earnings reports. Investors may have to find a way to keep the rational side from being consumed by irrational behavior when studying the markets.