Wednesday, September 6, 2017

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 Starbucks (SBUX), Medtronic (MDT) and Monsanto (MON). 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 >>>

Starbucks’ shares are up +0.6% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Food & Restaurants industry, which is up +8.1% over the same period. But the Zacks analyst likes Starbucks’s operating fundamentals such as solid global retail footprint, successful innovations, best-in-class loyalty program and digital offerings.

Again, digital initiatives like mobile order/pay, delivery services and third-party loyalty partnerships can stimulate stronger sales trends in the Americas. CPG growth across the world as well as China/Asia expansion will also lead to value creation.

However, incremental in spending is likely to create pressure on its bottom line in the near term. Also, economic, geopolitical and consumer headwinds continue to impact Starbucks' results.

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

Shares of Medtronic have underperformed the Zacks Medical Products industry over the last three months, losing -6.7% vs. a 0.3% gain. Apart from displaying successful integration and achievement of synergy targets, Medtronic’s major business groups continue to contribute to top-line growth which highlighted sustainability across all segments and geographies.

The stabilizing trend in the global Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure (CRHF) market is another upside. The Zacks analyst likes the solid growth trend in the U.S. as well as the healthy global acceptance of its advanced therapies. However, escalating costs and expenses are weighing on margins. Also, unfavorable foreign exchange continues to remain a drag.

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

Buy-rated Monsanto’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Agricultural Products industry over the last one year, gaining +12% vs. +9%. Increasing demand for crop-yield enhancing products, such as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans, and launch of non-imitable technological solutions are likely to boost the company's top-line performance.

Further, robust top-line performance, higher planted acreage, as well as lower U.S. corn and soybean costs are expected to bolster bottom-line results in the near term. Also, the successful accomplishment of Bayer's buyout deal is anticipated to open up a number of opportunities for Monsanto.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Crown Castle (CCI), Halliburton (HAL) and Sprint (S).

4 Surprising Tech Stocks to Keep an Eye On

Tech stocks have been a major force behind the market’s record highs, but picking the best ones to buy can be tough. There’s a simple way to invest in the success of the entire sector. Zacks has just released a Special Report revealing one thing tech companies literally cannot function without. More importantly, it reveals 4 top stocks set to skyrocket on increasing demand for these devices. I encourage you to get the report now – before the next wave of innovations really take off.

See Stocks 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>>>