TS2 TECH • DAILY MODEL PORTFOLIO
Stocks to Buy Today
Here are five U.S.-listed stocks to watch for Friday, August 14, ranked following Thursday’s record close and the latest after-hours updates. The model prioritizes strong cash flow, positive earnings revisions, and forward valuations that allow for some uncertainty. Analyst price targets carry less influence if they are dated or highly dispersed. Closing prices from Thursday’s regular session serve as the reference point, with dLocal’s 19:59 ET after-hours quote used instead.
Selective • buy resets, not records
7,798.99 • +0.65%
26,803.03 • +0.81%
53,839.99 • +0.13%
0.0% MoM • +4.7% YoY
4.65%
$81.25 • -2.43%
Wholesale prices held steady in July, yet the index remains 4.7% higher than a year earlier. The S&P 500 set a new record, while the 10-year Treasury yield hovered around 4.65%. Investors will be watching Friday’s retail sales data at 08:30 ET and preliminary consumer sentiment at 10:00 ET for potential shifts at the market open. The portfolio is weighted toward companies with strong current earnings and cash flow, with reduced exposure to two stocks that recently saw sharp moves after earnings.
24% weight
AerCap
NYSE: AER
95 / 100
AerCap stands out for its blend of attractive valuation, strong cash generation, and robust capital returns. Adjusted return on equity hit 18%, operating cash flow totaled $1.5 billion, and the company has already bought back more than $1.4 billion in stock this year. Shares are priced at less than 9 times the company’s earnings guidance and trade only slightly above book value.
Shares closed Thursday at $149.19, down 0.73%. Analysts rate the stock a Strong Buy, with an average price target of $179.30 and estimates ranging from $165 to $190, suggesting a potential 20.2% upside.
Adjusted net income came in at $811 million, with adjusted earnings per share at $5.14. Operating cash flow reached $1.5 billion, while asset sales totaled $1.4 billion. The gain-on-sale margin stood at 20%.
The company forecasts 2026 adjusted EPS at approximately $16.80, representing 8.9 times projected earnings and 1.25 times book value, with an adjusted return on equity of 18%.
Initial purchase recommended at $146–$151, consider adding between $140–$144, but avoid buying above $154
Lease yields, airline credit conditions, aircraft sale margins, and ongoing share buybacks as the stock trades near initial entry levels.
can reduce returns. Gains on asset sales will not repeat evenly each quarter.
22% weight
Uber
NYSE: UBER
93 / 100
Uber’s bookings are up more than 20%, with a greater share translating into cash. Free cash flow hit $2.79bn for the quarter, surpassing $10bn over the past year. Shares closed Thursday at $75.88, within the model’s initial buy range, trading at about 17 times projected 2027 earnings—not at a premium typical of platform stocks.
Shares closed Thursday at $75.88, up 0.68%. The stock carries a consensus Buy rating, with an average price target of $102.59 and a target range between $70 and $150, suggesting an implied upside of 35.2%.
Gross bookings reached $58.02 billion, up 24%. Revenue rose 12% to $14.19 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 33% to $2.82 billion, and free cash flow totaled $2.79 billion.
Third-quarter bookings are projected between $58.25 billion and $60.25 billion, with non-GAAP EPS anticipated at $0.84 to $0.88. Analysts expect full-year 2027 EPS of $4.46, implying shares trade at 17 times forward earnings.
Initiate the first tranche at $74 to $77. Add positions between $70 and $72.50. Avoid buying above $79.50.
Mobility and delivery margins, free cash flow conversion, share count reduction, and the capital needed for autonomous vehicle partnerships.
work. Driver classification, local regulation and autonomous-vehicle competition can
also raise costs faster than bookings grow.
20% weight
Taiwan Semiconductor
NYSE: TSM
91 / 100
TSMC’s July sales offer insight into present demand, with revenue climbing roughly 45% year over year following a quarter that delivered a 67.7% gross margin. The ADRs remain pricey in absolute terms, but the valuation—19.8 times projected 2027 earnings—looks modest compared to many AI-linked stocks. Investors should add to positions only within the given range, as the broader semiconductor sector is densely populated.
Shares closed Thursday at $430.49, up 0.29%. Analysts have a consensus Strong Buy rating, with an average price target of $547.09. Targets range from $431.50 to $700, suggesting an implied upside of 27.1%.
Second-quarter revenue reached $40.20 billion, with a gross margin of 67.7% and an operating margin of 60.3%. July revenue came in at NT$467.58 billion, up 44.7% from a year earlier.
For the third quarter, revenue is projected between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion, with a gross margin forecast of 65% to 67%. Analysts expect full-year 2027 earnings per share to reach $21.74, valuing the stock at 19.8 times forward earnings.
Initial range: $424–$432. Consider adding between $410–$417. Avoid buying above $439.
October revenue forecast, advanced packaging capacity, the 2-nanometre production ramp-up, and the margin impact of new overseas fabs.
can overwhelm strong operating results. New overseas capacity also costs more to run.
18% weight
dLocal
NASDAQ: DLO
89 / 100
dLocal reported a 92% increase in payment volume and raised its guidance for both volume and gross profit. However, the gross margin slipped to 32% as transactions from large merchants and local-to-local payments made up a greater share of business, raising questions about take rate quality. With a subdued after-hours response, the stock remains attractive for entry, but the position still trails the core holdings.
Shares closed Thursday at $14.76. After-hours trading saw a slight dip to $14.69, down 0.47%. Analysts rate the stock a Strong Buy, with an average price target of $18.25 and targets ranging from $14.50 to $21, suggesting an implied upside of 24.2%.
Total payment volume reached $17.7 billion, up 92%. Revenue climbed 56% to $399.7 million. Gross profit rose 29% to $127.2 million, while adjusted free cash flow increased 41% to $68.5 million.
For 2026, the company forecasts TPV growth of 60%–70% and gross profit growth of 25%–30%. The pre-refresh EPS estimate for 2026 stands at $0.82, implying a 17.9× multiple, while the 2027 estimate is $1.08, at a 13.6× multiple.
Initial buy range: $14.20 to $14.80. Add on dips between $13.30 and $13.75. Avoid purchases above $15.25.
Key topics include gross profit per dollar of TPV, second-half operating leverage, Mexico pricing, and trends in customer concentration.
merchants produced 63% of revenue. Foreign exchange, regulation and local pricing can
turn rapid volume growth into slower profit growth.
16% weight
Tapestry
NYSE: TPR
86 / 100
Thursday’s 16.5% drop erased much of this year’s valuation gains. Coach posted 14% growth, quarterly earnings topped expectations, and the fiscal 2027 EPS midpoint is a bit ahead of earlier consensus. Still, the stock’s small weighting highlights persistent challenges: Kate Spade continues to underperform and North American growth has decelerated significantly.
Shares closed Thursday at $128.39, down 16.48%. The stock holds a consensus Buy rating, with an average price target of $168.20 before the latest update. Analyst targets range from $88 to $230, suggesting an implied upside of 31.0%.
Fourth-quarter revenue rose 8.9% to $1.88 billion. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.32. Coach sales climbed 14%, while Kate Spade sales fell 7%. Revenue from China increased 28%.
For fiscal 2027, revenue is projected between $8.4 billion and $8.5 billion, with adjusted EPS expected to range from $7.80 to $7.90. The guidance midpoint implies a 16.4× multiple. The company also raised its quarterly dividend by 16% to $0.4625.
Initial buy range: $126–$131. Add between $118–$122. Avoid buying above $136.
Coach posted growth in the first quarter, Kate Spade is showing signs of a turnaround, and North American traffic remains a focus. Investors are watching to see if gross-margin discipline will hold up as sales growth slows.
weakness, and the unusually wide analyst target range shows how little agreement exists
on the company’s normalized value.
| Ticker | Price | Forecast | Fwd P/E | Avg target | Upside | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AER | $149.19 | 2026 guide $16.80 | 8.9× | $179.30 | +20.2% | $146–$151 |
| UBER | $75.88 | FY2027 consensus $4.46 | 17.0× | $102.59 | +35.2% | $74–$77 |
| TSM | $430.49 | FY2027 consensus $21.74 | 19.8× | $547.09 | +27.1% | $424–$432 |
| DLO | $14.69 AH | FY2026 pre-refresh $0.82 | 17.9× | $18.25 | +24.2% | $14.20–$14.80 |
| TPR | $128.39 | FY2027 guide midpoint $7.85 | 16.4× | $168.20 | +31.0% | $126–$131 |
dLocal’s after-hours quote from 19:59 ET is used. Consensus estimates for dLocal and Tapestry had not fully updated since Thursday’s earnings releases. Tapestry’s price target range of $88 to $230 reflects an unusually wide gap between analysts. Price targets are projections, not guarantees.
24%
22%
20%
18%
16%
Earnings and forecast updates
Cash flow and balance sheet overview
Valuation relative to projections
Entry quality following the move
Short-term event risk
Let retail sales set the first price; build each position in three tranches.
Avoid placing market orders during the first 15 minutes of trading. Reevaluate positions after the release of retail sales data at 08:30 ET and preliminary consumer sentiment figures at 10:00 ET. AerCap, Uber, and TSMC are suitable for initiation within their current trading ranges. Maintain dLocal and Tapestry at half their listed portfolio weights until Friday’s session confirms that the post-earnings adjustment is attracting buyers.
NASDAQ: AMAT
WAIT FOR PRICE DISCOVERY
Revenue for fiscal Q3 climbed 25% to $9.12 billion, while adjusted EPS jumped 41% to $3.50. The company guided to a Q4 revenue midpoint of $10.25 billion and an adjusted EPS midpoint of $4.02. Despite the strong results, shares fell about 4% after hours, following a year in which the stock more than doubled.
NYSE: BIRK
DO NOT CHASE THE GAP
Quarterly revenue came in at €719.5 million, a 15% increase at constant currency, while adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to €242 million. Management has raised its annual revenue growth forecast to 15% and expects adjusted EBITDA of at least €710 million. Shares climbed 11.5% on Thursday.
NYSE: AIT
QUALITY, LITTLE DISCOUNT
Fourth-quarter sales climbed 10.4% to $1.35 billion, with earnings per share at $3.17. For fiscal 2027, the company projects EPS between $11.65 and $12.15. The average analyst price target stands at $359.50, just above Thursday’s closing price of $357.62.
7.1 / 10
The index has hit a record high, with two picks newly adjusted for earnings. Most of the allocation goes to AerCap, Uber, and TSMC, while dLocal and Tapestry are starting with smaller positions and stricter pricing controls.
Thursday’s record close heightens the stakes ahead of the consumer report. Producer prices held steady in July, but long-term yields remain elevated and wholesale inflation is still running at 4.7% year over year. Tapestry and dLocal face company-specific margin pressures. Attractive valuations support considering a limit order, but investors shouldn’t overlook early market signals.