By Lee Jackson 

While the U.S. and Asian markets have had strong starts to the 2013 trading year, global equities as a whole have faced some headwinds over the past month. Many of the struggles in the eurozone, well-documented over the past few years, have subsided, and the negative focus has shifted to the U.K. 

Jefferies and its affiliates in the U.S., Europe and Asia cover approximately 1,500 companies around the world. Jefferies global equity research is conducted from offices in London through to Tokyo, encompassing all of the major financial centers. Its global conviction list features the best bottom up ideas highlighted by the Jefferies research team. In a report issued Tuesday, Jefferies Group Inc. scanned the globe for new names and found four to add to its global conviction list.

Deckers Outdoor (DECK), a stock that has long been a target for short sellers, makes footwear and apparel for outdoor activities and casual wear. It also is behind the highly successful UGG brand of boots that are very popular with teenagers and young women. The stock closed Monday at $47.35, and has a Thomson/First Call consensus target of $45.

PetroChina (PTR) is the biggest oil producer in the People's Republic of China. PetroChina employs over a half a million people. The Wall St. consensus price target for this Asian oil powerhouse is $148.27. It closed Monday at $133.61.

Payment processing firm Vantiv (VNTV) operates in two segments serving retailers and financial institutions. Vantiv has a consensus target of $26.50.

Tokio Marine Holdings (TKOMF), one of Japan's largest insurance companies, sells property and casualty, life and reinsurance products, as well as offering investment services. The consensus price target is $32.60, and Tokio Marine closed yesterday at $28.85.

After such a strong rally in the U.S. stock markets, it is important for investors to consider stocks either based outside of the U.S. or stocks of companies that do a significant amount of their business overseas and in the U.S. It may help soften the blow should there be a dramatic correction in the domestic markets.

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