Here are JPMorgan’s favorite stocks heading into March

JPMorgan added three new stocks into its list of top stocks heading into March, including two real estate investment trusts. The bank updated its focus list in a Friday note to include Annaly Capital , Ascendis Pharma and EPR Properties . All three stocks are rated overweight. The JPMorgan list includes the bank’s top equity ideas targeted around growth, income, value and short strategies. Analyst Richard Shane added real estate investment trust Annaly Capital onto the list as an income idea. His $20 price target implies that shares could rise nearly 4% from their Friday close. The stock pays a 13.5% dividend yield. “Compelling double digit yield with book value upside from lower rates and tighter MBS spreads,” the analyst wrote as his rationale. Shares of Annaly Capital, which specializes in the residential mortgage finance market, are lower by less than 1% in 2024. Another real estate investment trust, EPR Properties, joined the list as an income idea. Properties in the company’s portfolio include ski resorts, amusement parks and movie theaters. Analyst Anthony Paolone cited the stock’s above-average monthly dividend as a catalyst, alongside improving growth opportunities that could drive its price higher. EPR pays a dividend yield of 8.2%. The bank’s price target of $51 suggests approximately 22% upside from where the stock closed Friday. EPR Properties has slipped nearly 14% this year. Finally, pharmaceutical name Ascendis Pharma, up 21% this year, was added to the list as a growth play. The bank has a $165 price target, more than 8% above where the stock closed Friday. As catalysts for the addition, analyst Jessica Fye cited the company’s upcoming launches, cost containment efforts and the potential for a GLP-1 drug licensing deal. Here are some of the other top picks that made JPMorgan’s list: Returning names to the list include growth stock Danaher , which is up nearly 11% this year. Analyst Rachel Vatnsdal’s $300 target price implies the medical products company could could rise 17%. Caterpillar is a value name on the list. Analyst Tami Zakaria’s $385 price target implies shares could rise more than 14% from Friday’s close. Year to date, the stock is up nearly 14%.