Friday, March 31, 2017

Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Disney (DIS), Texas Instruments (TXN) and Lockheed Martin (LMT).

Disney shares have outperformed the Zacks Media Conglomerates sector over the past six months, gaining +22.4% vs. +19.8%, driven by the blockbuster performance of its movies. The company’s recently released live-action remake Beauty and the Beast has so far garnered above $750 million at box office. Earlier, the company had reported earnings beat in first-quarter fiscal 2017.

The Zacks analyst likes Disney's movie business and the parks & resorts division. But over the last few quarters, Disney has been weighed down by concerns about ESPN whose future growth has been clouded by the evolving media landscape as a result of 'cord cutting' and the steady migration of subscribers to online and digital platforms. Identical to performances in the past few quarters, ESPN has disappointed in the first quarter again. (You can read the full research report on Disney here.)

Shares of Buy rated Texas Instruments shares gained +39.9% over the last one year, outperforming the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry which has gained +35.3 over the same period. Part of the momentum reflects an improved margin outlook, secular strength in the auto and industrial markets, a stronger mix of analog and embedded processing products, benefits of restructuring actions and more 300mm capacity coming online. The only negatives at this point appear to be strengthening competition particularly for auto chips given recent market consolidation. (You can read the full research report on Texas Instruments here.)

Lockheed Martin shares have gained +21.3% over the past year, modestly underperforming the aerospace/defense sector, which has gained +25.6.6% over the same period. Driving this momentum is Lockheed Martin’s status as a bellwether for the defense space and the company's impressive cash flow generation abilities which it generously shares with its shareholders.

The Zacks analyst likes the company's solid outlook, impressive revenue growth and potential share buybacks. However, the threat of sequestration looms large for this company, as it draws a major portion of its revenues from the defense department. (You can read the full research report on Lockheed Martin here.)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Abbott (ABT), Bank of New York Mellon (BK) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX).

More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run 
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs.

A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>

Mark Vickery

Senior Editor

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 >>>