The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Apple, Visa, Starbucks, BP And BlackRock

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) , Visa (NYSE:V) , Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) , BP plc (NYSE:BP) and BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) .

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Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Apple, Visa and Starbucks

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Apple, Visa and Starbucks. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

Buy-ranked Apple’s shares have gained +22.6% year to date and have outperformed the broader market with the S&P 500 gaining +1.9% over the same period. Apple’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results were driven by robust iPhone average selling price (ASP) as well as strength in the services and wearables segments.

The Zacks analyst thinks the Services segment has become the new cash cow for Apple and will grow strongly driven by increasing adoption of Apple Music & Apple Pay. Moreover, Apple is expected to benefit from an expanded portfolio with the launch of new iPhones. Further, robust demand for wearables is expected to drive top-line growth.

Apple’s foray into fast-growing technologies like autonomous vehicle, artificial intelligence (AI) & AR/VR will drive further growth. However, the company continues to lose share in the smartphone market. Moreover, increasing competition from Chinese handset makers remains a concern.

(You can read the full research report on Apple here >>>).

Shares of Visa have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry over the past year (+24.9% vs. +18.3%). Visa’s earnings beat expectations. Also, the bottom line improved year over year. Results were driven by growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions, and a lower tax rate.

The Zacks analyst thinks numerous strategic acquisitions and alliances, technology upgrades and effective marketing have paved the way for long-term growth and consistent revenue rise. Visa is well poised to gain from the growing electronic payment processing and strong international business. Nevertheless, high client incentives and operating expenses and foreign exchange volatility may pressure margins.

(You can read the full research report on Visa here >>>).

Buy-ranked Starbucks’ shares are up +23.5% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Food & Restaurants industry, which is up +9.1% over the same period. The Zacks analyst thinks the trend is likely to continue, given its impressive performance in fourth-quarter fiscal 2018.

Results were primarily driven by robust Americas and U.S. comparable store sales. Starbucks’ largest market the United States, reported comps growth of 4%, which marks the strongest gain in the past five quarters. Also, the company’s operating fundamentals such as solid global footprint, successful innovations, best-in-class loyalty program and digital offerings are encouraging.

Again, digital initiatives like mobile order/pay, delivery services and third-party loyalty partnerships can further stimulate robust sales trends in the Americas. Additionally, Starbucks has teamed up with Nestle SA (SIX:NESN) to revitalize their respective coffee domains. However, operating margin contraction over the past few quarters has been a major concern.

(You can read the full research report on Starbucks here >>>).

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include BP plc and BlackRock.

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About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

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