Stocks on Analyst’s Buy List: WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS), PHH Corp (NYSE:PHH), Accenture plc. (NYSE:ACN), American Campus Communities Inc (NYSE:ACC)

Wall Street analysts are maintaining Buy rating on WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS) company shares.  The one year target on the name currently stands at $34.80.  The stock recently touched $28.02 and has moved in the range of $27.98 - 28.65 during the current session.  Based on a recent bid this places the stock +20.57% away from the 52-week floor of $23.24 and -18.48% away from the 52-week ceiling of $34.37.

When stocks are given “Buy” ratings by analysts, the reasons or criteria for that recommendation can greatly vary.  Typically when a stock is given this label, analysts are expecting that the stock will outperform their peers, their sector or the market over a 6 to 12 month time frame. Several factors might include near-term catalysts, future earnings growth.  Many analysts only give a Buy recommendation when they expect that the stock will yield a return of at least 5-10% over the course of a year.  Since analyst criteria and recommendation terminology can differ, we can look at consensus numbers to get a feel of overall analyst sentiment.

PHH Corp (NYSE:PHH) has been given a consensus Buy rating by analysts on Wall Street. According to Thomson Reuters' First Call, research brokers have a one year price target of $19.80 on the stock. The stock is currently trading -21.08% away from its 200-day moving average of $15.01. Based on a recent trade, shares of PHH Corp are -57.42% away from the 52-week high of $27.83 and +18.38% away from the 52-week low of $10.01.

Analysts are estimating that the company will report earnings of $-1.53 for the current year and $0.04 for next quarter. The stock closed the most recent trading session at $11.20.

Shares of Accenture plc. (NYSE:ACN) continue to be viewed favorably by equities brokerage firms on Wall Street.  The First Call consensus which is calculated by Thomson Reuters has a $112.83 price target and Buy rating according to the covering analysts.  During today’s session the stock hit $99.77 or +0.83% from the previous close, while moving in the range of $99.58 - 100.59.

Shares of American Campus Communities Inc (NYSE:ACC) continue to be viewed favorably by equities brokerage firms on Wall Street.  The First Call consensus which is calculated by Thomson Reuters has a $44.38 price target according to the covering analysts.  During today’s session the stock hit $43.63 or -0.07% from the previous close, while moving in the range of $43.36 - 44.20.  This puts the stock -1.36% away from the 52-week high of $44.20 and +35.74% away from the 52-week low of $32.12.

Exact definitions of a “Buy” rating can greatly vary depending on the equity research firm.  The consensus rating simply provides an average of those recommendations.  It's important to note that a “Buy” rating does not mean that every investor should acquire the stock. It is just a single factor among many that should be considered before making an investment decision.