For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – Jan 18, 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 Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) , Chevron (NYSE:CVX) , Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) , Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) and Dominion Resources (NYSE:D) .
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for Pfizer, Chevron and Cisco
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 Pfizer, Chevron and Cisco. 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-ratedPfizer’s shares have outperformed the peer group over the last six months (the stock is up +9.7% over this period vs. a +7.9% increase for the Zacks Large-Cap Pharmaceuticals industry). Pfizer is working on strengthening its product portfolio through acquisitions and licensing deals. However, Pfizer continues to face headwinds in the form of genericization of key drugs, lost alliance revenues, pricing pressure and rising competition, factors which are hurting the top-line.
Though Pfizer’s growing immuno-oncology portfolio offers strong potential, many of these assets are in early stage of development. Nonetheless, the Zacks analyst new products like Ibrance, contribution from acquisitions, cost-cutting efforts and share buybacks should help the company achieve its guidance.
Pfizer also boasts a strong pipeline and expects approximately 25 to 30 drug approvals over the next five years, including around 15 products with blockbuster potential. Bavencio is being considered a key long-term growth driver.
The company has a mixed record of earnings surprises in recent quarters. Estimates have remained stable ahead of its Q4 results.
(You can read the full research report on Pfizer here >>>).
Shares of Chevron have risen +27.3% in the past six months,, outperforming the Zacks Integrated Oil industry's +22%, while larger rival ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has seen its scrip go up just +7.9% over the same time period. The second-largest U.S. oil producer has been a beneficiary of the recovery in commodity prices.
Importantly, Chevron was able to cover its investment and payouts with cash from operations in the most recent quarter -- something investors really want right now. The diversified oil company also has a long, consistent dividend paying record and is one of the only two energy stocks on the list of Dividend Aristocrats.
However, the Zacks analyst remains worried over signs of headwinds in Chevron's U.S. production, while exposure to production in the vulnerable and violence-prone regions in Nigeria poses additional risk. Hence, investors should wait for a better entry point before buying shares in the oil major.
(You can read the full research report on Chevron here >>>).
Buy-rated Cisco’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Networking industry over the past one year, gaining +35% vs. +33.4%. Recently, it unveiled the Cisco Security Connector, which is now available in the App Store on iOS devices. The Zacks analyst thinks the company’s expanding footprint in the rapidly growing security market represents a significant growth opportunity.
Additionally, partnerships with Telenor, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) are positives. Also, the company’s Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) solution is currently used by more than 4K customers. The ACI solution was recently enhanced with new features that have aided growth. Further, the planned acquisition of Broadsoft will boost company's recurring revenue base.
Moreover, the company's collaboration with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Cloud to offer hybrid cloud solution is a key catalyst. However, intense competition from peers and challenges in the emerging markets remains a headwind.
(You can read the full research report on Cisco here >>>).
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Las Vegas Sands and Dominion Resources.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
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Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.
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.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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Dominion Energy Inc. (D): Free Stock Analysis Report
Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO): Free Stock Analysis Report
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Pfizer, Inc. (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report
Chevron Corporation (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report
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