The Traderszone Network

A recent drop in Facebook Inc’s stock has left the online social network trading at earnings multiples near record lows as it prepares to hand investors its fourth-quarter report. Along with fellow technology leaders Netflix Inc, Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc and Amazon.com Inc, Facebook has been among Wall Street’s top stocks in recent years, but a market selloff sparked by plummeting oil prices has pulled it down 7 percent so far in 2016.

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There are, however, signs the malaise from manufacturing and export-oriented industries is starting to filter into the services sector, with data on Tuesday showing activity in that vast sector hit a one-year low in January. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 98.1 this month from 96.3 in December as households shrugged off January’s stock market sell-off and focused instead on a strengthening labor market.

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Here are two small-cap stocks that appear poised to ride trends of increased electric vehicle and rice sales.

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) on Tuesday announced a $5 billion tax-free deal to combine its information systems and government services business with Leidos Holdings Inc (LDOS.N), and forecast a lower-than-expected profit in 2016. Lockheed’s shares fell as much as 5 percent amid confusion over future prospects for the Pentagon’s No. 1 supplier, although the stock recovered after Lockheed officials reassured analysts they still expected rising sales and earnings in coming years. Lockheed was down 0.8 percent to $209.25.

Shares of the diversified healthcare company rose almost 5 percent to $101.18 as investors shrugged off fourth-quarter sales and a 2016 revenue outlook that were both below analysts’ estimates. Edward Jones analyst Ashtyn Evans said investors were cheered by J&J’s vow to make more of its medical devices market leaders and to launch 30 new devices this year, including a new insulin pump. Device sales fell 3.3 percent to $6.43 billion in the fourth quarter.

Continental Resources Inc (CLR.N), North Dakota’s second-largest oil producer, said on Tuesday it would slash its 2016 capital budget by 66 percent as it tries to preserve cash amid tumbling crude prices. Led by billionaire wildcatter Harold Hamm, Continental plans to spend $920 million this year, down from $2.7 billion in 2015. The cut comes just after rival Hess Corp (HES.N) and Noble Energy Inc (NBL.N) slashed their own 2016 budgets, adding to a chorus of company executives chanting that the plunge in oil prices has made it all but impossible to turn a profit.

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Plaza Accord survivor