Time for a breather?

North Carolina's 10 most highly valued public companies had a combined stock-market value of about $465 billion in early December. Only four had buy recommendations from at least 60% of the analysts who track their stocks, reflecting a cautious outlook after the S&P500 nearly doubled since December 2009. Four of the 10 stocks--Lowe's, Reynolds American, VF and Hanesbrands--more than tripled in that period, including reinvested dividends. Below, owners of four North Carolina-based investment companies predict which of these giants will perform best and worst in 2015.

1. Bank of America Corp.

   MARKET CAP: $185.9 BILLION

   P/E RATIO: 44 EXPECTED FIVE-YEAR EPS GROWTH: 8%

   Bank of America's shares remain controversial, though the Charlotte-based bank trades at roughly the same price as in 1996 and at a 30%-plus discount to the industry average on a price-to-book value basis. CEO Brian Moynihan has spent his five-year tenure settling lawsuits over flawed mortgage loans and cutting costs, but low interest rates and tighter regulations keep analysts wary about BofAs potential for growth and stock-market gains. A little inflation induced by the Federal Reserve would benefit bank profits, but "there's a chance that 2015 may see a continuation of ultra-low interest rates," S&P Capital IQ analyst Erik Oja wrote in December.

   ANALYSTS WITH BUY RECOMMENDATIONS: 58%

2. Lowe's Companies Inc

   MARKET CAP: $62.1 BILLION

   P/E RATIO: 25.3 EXPECTED FIVE-YEAR EPS GROWTH: 18%

   The housing recovery is sparking enthusiasm for Lowe's, which enjoyed its biggest one-day stock-price advance in more than five years on Nov. 19 after reporting that quarterly profits jumped 17%. For the year, the stock price of the Mooresville-based retailer outpaced eight of the 10 largest North Carolina companies. It plans to add a net 15 stores in the next year, with earnings per share expected to gain 21% in 2015. It helps that more consumers are buying refrigerators and other big-ticket items--sales of products costing $500 or more increased by 9% from a year earlier.

   ANALYSTS WITH BUY RECOMMENDATIONS: 53%

3. Duke Energy Corp.

   MARKET CAP: $58.3 BILLION

   P/E RATIO: 24 EXPECTED FIVE-YEAR EPS GROWTH: 5%

   The coal-ash spill near Duke Energy's Dan River Steam Station plant kept the company in the headlines, but its stock was unfazed. Shares gained 17% through Dec. I slightly less than the iShares U.S. Utilities fund. Removing coal ash from 14 sites may cost as much as $10 billion, which Duke wants to...