Tuesday, July 28, 2020

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily provides a real-time update on the ongoing Q2 earnings season, in addition to featuring new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Apple (AAPL), AT&T (T) and Target (TGT). 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 >>>

Q2 Earnings Season Scorecard

Including all this morning's releases, we now have Q2 results 163 S&P 500 members or 32.6% of the index's total membership. Total earnings or aggregate net income for these 163 index members are down 38.6% on -6.3% lower revenues, with 75.5% beating EPS estimates and 64.4% beating revenue estimates.

The proportion of these companies beating EPS and revenue estimates is tracking above what we had seen from the same group in the preceding quarter.

For Q2 as a whole, combining the actual results that have come out with estimates for the still-to-come companies, S&P 500 earnings are expected to be down -42% on -9.3% lower revenues.

As we have been pointing out lately, the revisions trend remains positive, with estimates for 2020 Q3 and beyond steadily improving. For mroe details about the evolving earnings picture, please check out weekly Earnings Preview article >>> The Technology Sector Shows its Earnings Power

Today's Featured Reports

Apple shares have lost some ground in recent days, but the stock has otherwise been standout outperformer, up +80.8% over the past year vs. +7.7% for the S&P 500 over the past year (+80.8% vs. +7.7%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company is benefiting from a continued momentum in the Services segment, driven by strong App Store sales and the robust adoption of Apple Music and Apple Pay. The company is reporting Q2 results after the market's close on Thursday, July 30th. 

Non-iPhone devices, particularly Apple Watch and AirPod, are other notable drivers in the long haul. However, iPhone sales are expected to remain bleak in the near term due to the negative impact of the coronavirus.

In fact, the company expects iPhone and Wearables business revenues for the fiscal second quarter to be worse on a year-over-year basis than the fiscal first quarter. On the contrary, iPad and Mac revenues are expected to improve but lower economic activity will hurt AppleCare and advertising businesses. The company didn’t provide any guidance due to the pandemic-triggered uncertainty.

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

Shares of AT&T have lost -20.9% over the three six months against the Zacks Wireless National industry’s fall of -2.8%. The Zacks analyst believes that AT&T is well placed to benefit from streaming services of HBO Max. The company is committed to a three-year financial framework with sustained investments and debt-reduction efforts.

AT&T reported mixed second-quarter 2020 results with adjusted earnings surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and revenues missing the same as coronavirus hit top-line growth, limiting future visibility. The company is witnessing a steady decline in linear TV subscribers, legacy services and wireline division. As it tries to woo customers with discounts, freebies and cash credits, margins tend to fall.

AT&T intends to deploy a standards-based, nationwide mobile 5G network to spur growth. The company expects to gain a competitive edge through edge computing services that offer the flexibility to better manage data traffic.

(You can read the full research report on AT&T here >>>)

Target shares have gained +9.5% over the past six months against the Zacks Discount Stores industry’s rise of +5%. The Zacks analyst believes that Target’s initiatives, including the development of omni-channel capacities, diversification and localization of assortments along with emphasis on flexible format stores, bode well.

It has also adopted cost reduction strategy, rationalization of supply chain and technology and process improvements. These position the company to address the challenges related to the pandemic.

Notably, higher sales in Essentials and Food & Beverage categories with solid contribution from digital channel have been fueling Target’s top line. While these raises optimism, we cannot overlook margins. Investments in pay and benefits, shift in channel mix toward digital fulfillment and decline in the sales of higher-margin discretionary items are likely to keep margins under pressure.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Honeywell International (HON), Boeing (BA) and 3M Company (MMM).

These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.

Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.

See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>

Sheraz Mian

Director of Research

Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>