With the future of Wall Street in doubt, many who aspire to join the financial industry are wondering if they'll find jobs. But what's bad news for finance may be good news for stronger industries that are arguably more productive.
As the financial industry does its best to survive, students from top business schools such as Wharton are now rethinking their options. And while some will inevitably stick with Wall Street through thick and thin, many of the world's brightest young minds may well avoid finance.
Where they'll go
If they start putting those big brains to use elsewhere, we could easily see long-run benefits to the United States and its trading partners. For instance, I looked at the technology and health-care industries to seek out small firms with great growth potential.
Screening for expected five-year earnings growth, I found some good prospects that analysts seem particularly optimistic about. Some are quite speculative, though, so you'll definitely want to get comfortable with firm fundamentals and your own due diligence before investing your own money in them.
In the health-care sector, you'll find many different interesting sub-sectors. For instance, in biotechnology, I see companies like Amylin
-
AMAG Pharmaceuticals
(NASDAQ:AMAG) has no debt but only minimal gross revenue and big losses. If the FDA approves its iron deficiency-treating drug, ferumoxytol, though, then shares could pay off. -
CardioNet
(NASDAQ:BEAT) provides wireless solutions for monitoring outpatient health and preventing complications arising from cardiovascular disease. Having only recently become profitable and with its short operating history, though, CardioNet may cause increased blood pressure in risk-averse investors.
Meanwhile, in technology, you'll find interesting ideas around the globe. Chinese Internet media company Sohu.com
And in a crossover opportunity, Omnicell
With our best and brightest working on tangible projects and not intangible financial products, we can expect more innovation and broader economic growth from those sectors. That can only mean good news not just for those sectors but for the entire economy.
Further Foolishness: