Thursday, March 30 2017

Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including ConocoPhillips (COP), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), and Vale (VALE). You can see all of today's research reports from our analyst team here >>>

ConocoPhillips shares have declined -2.5% this year, but they have nevertheless done better than the Zacks Energy sector (down -4.3%). The company's plan to reposition it's asset base by divesting low-margin assets and use the sale proceeds to pay down debt and return cash to shareholders is proceeding nicely. To that end, it is selling a big part of its Canadian properties to Cenovus Energy for $13.3 billion. ConocoPhillips plans to use the sale proceeds to reduce its debt burden to $20 billion. Also, it intends to return money to investors by repurchasing shares. The stock will move in-line with what is happening to oil prices, but the company's overall strategy appears sound. (You can read the full research report on ConocoPhillips here >>)

Colgate-Palmolive shares are up +12.1% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the Zacks Consumer Staples sector, which has gained +7.4% over the same period. The Zacks analyst likes its product innovation, globally recognized brands and presence in both developed and emerging economies. The company anticipates delivering robust organic sales growth, backed by new products across categories and geographical regions. Offsetting these positives are uncertain global markets and lingering currency woes, which may imapct results in 2017. Estimates have been stable ahead of the company’s first quarter earnings results on April 27th. (You can read the full research report on Colgate-Palmolive here >>)

Shares of Brazilian mining giant Vale have handily outperformed the Zacks Basic Materials sector (+26.8% vs. +7.1%) on the back of . The company’s fourth-quarter 2016 earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 55.9%. Vale is boosting its revenues and profitability on higher selling prices pellets, nickel, copper and coal and iron ore fines as well as lower costs. Even so, the commencement of new projects is expected to generate benefits in the quarters ahead.  Over the last seven days Zacks Consensus Estimate for the stock was revised upwards for both 2017 and 2018. However, overall weakness in the prices of most metals, intense competition or sudden mining or exploration accidents might limit growth. (You can read the full research report on Vale here.)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include State Street (STT), Bayer (BAYRY) and Mohawk (MHK).

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Sheraz Mian

Director of Research

Note: Note: Sheraz Mian regularly provides earnings analysis on Zacks.com and appears frequently in the print and electronic media. His weekly earnings related articles include Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>