General Motors

General Motors

(ticker: GM) is one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world, and is currently run by Mary Barra. Barra was named CEO of GM in 2014 and was the first female to lead one of the Big Three automakers in the country, which includes

Stellantis

(STLA) and

Ford

(F).

GM’s stock has fallen 6.3% over the last 12 months but has jumped 18% this year, outperforming the S&P 500.

The stock was challenged in 2022 amid a difficult operating environment for the motor industry. Higher interest rates and falling vehicle prices were headwinds to the business. But things are looking up for the car maker after it reported fourth-quarter earnings and sales above analysts’ estimates and an outlook that showed demand remains strong. 

GM was a Barron’s stock pick in 2022.  

Oracle

Oracle

(ORCL) CEO Safra Catz got the job back in 2014 when the company’s founder, Larry Ellison, stepped down. 

Shares jumped 17% over the last 12 months and 8.6% this year. The stock has surged since the enterprise software company posted strong earnings results in December.

Catz said on the company’s latest earnings call that demand is strong as “more and more customers are recognizing our second-generation infrastructure cloud as being fundamentally better architected for higher performance, better security, and unmatched reliability.”

Oracle

is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings after the markets close Thursday, and both earnings and sales are expected to grow year-over-year. 

Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices

(AMD) shares might have fallen 24% over the last 12 months, but the stock has jumped 30% so far this year. 

Chief Executive Lisa Su has been a powerhouse since she got her role in 2014, and was a part of the Barron’s World’s Best CEO’s list last year. 

Semiconductor companies have struggled recently as personal computer demand has declined, but AMD has continued to perform well. The company reported better-than-expected earnings and sales in its December quarter. Intel (INTC), on the other hand, missed earnings expectations for the fourth quarter.

“Overall, 2022 was a strong year for AMD despite the weak PC market,” Su said on the company’s most recent earnings call. “…As we enter 2023, we expect the overall demand environment to remain mixed with the second half stronger than the first half.”

Tapestry

Tapestry

(TPR), which owns luxury fashion brands Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, is led by CEO Joanne Crevoiserat, who has held the role for more than two years. Her previous roles include chief financial officer at

Tapestry

and chief operating officer at

Abercrombie & Fitch

(ANF). 

Tapestry stock has risen 12% this year and 19% over the last 12 months. 

The retail environment has been a mixed bag lately, but Tapestry focused on gaining new customers and was able to deliver an earnings beat for its second quarter. 

“In the midst of an unquestionably challenging environment, Tapestry has delivered two solid quarters thus far in fiscal year ‘23,” Crevoiserat said in a statement to Barron’s Wednesday. Barron’s reached out to all six companies for comment.

“I believe this reflects the successful transformation we’ve undertaken over the last few years as well as the fact that we have the best teams in the business,” she added.

Hershey

Hershey

(HSY), the chocolate maker, is led by president and CEO Michele Buck, who has been at the company for 18 years. Before joining

Hershey
,
she worked at Kraft Foods and Nabisco. 

It has been a sweet year for Hershey, with shares rising about 3.1% in 2023 and 16% over the last 12 months. The company saw an uptick in net sales for its fourth quarter, with its confectionery, salty snacks and international segments all seeing lifts year-over-year. It’s also continuing to diversify its treat menu—on Tuesday, it launched a plant-based Hershey’s and a plant-based Reese’s option. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s Sporting Goods

(DKS) is led by president and CEO Lauren Hobart, who has been with the company for more than 12 years. Previously, she held leadership roles at Pepsi-Cola and

Wells Fargo
.
 

The sports retailer stock has soared about 23.2% so far this year and jumped 36% over the last 12 months. On Tuesday, the company reported strong numbers for its fourth quarter—beating sales and adjusted earnings expectations and raising its annual dividend. On Wednesday, Dick’s and the NCAA “announced a corporate partnership making DICK’S the Official Sporting Goods Retail Partner of the NCAA.“

The stock has received a flurry of price target raises from Wall Street analysts this week.

Write to Angela Palumbo at angela.palumbo@dowjones.com and Emily Dattilo at emily.dattilo@dowjones.com