Wednesday, August 14, 2019

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features updated research reports on 12 major stocks, including Amazon (AMZN), Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertex (VRTX). These research reports have been hand-picked from roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

Amazon’s shares have outperformed the broader market year to date (the stock is up +21.5% vs. the +15.4% increase for the S&P 500 as a whole). Amazon reported mixed second quarter results. While earnings missed estimates, revenues outpaced the same. However, the company exhibited year over year growth on both counts.

The Zacks analyst thinks Amazon benefited from its solid Prime momentum owing to robust grocery services and strong content portfolio. Also, Prime Free One Day service helped Amazon in gaining traction across customers. Strengthening AWS services and its growing adoption rate made strong contributions.

Additionally, improving Alexa skills and features remained a major positive. However, rising transportation costs related to its free one-day shipping service remained an overhang. Transportation costs are expected to increase further. Also, Amazon expects foreign exchange headwinds to continue impacting its top line.

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

Shares of Caterpillar have outperformed the Zacks Construction and Mining industry (-9.8% vs. -11.8%) in the past year. Caterpillar reported global retail sales growth of 4% for the three-month period ended July 2019, the lowest so far this year. Further, the metric was at a level last seen in 2017.

The global machine sales growth rate has been on a downward spiral over the past few months, which is a concern, per the Zacks analyst. The company anticipates earnings per share at the lower end of its guidance of $12.06-$13.06 for 2019 and expects modest sales growth for the year.

In the Construction Industries segment, North America will aid growth while China will be a headwind. Improving commodity prices will support capital expenditure in the mining sector, which should drive performance of the Resource Industries segment. Investments in expanded offerings and services, and digital initiatives like e-commerce will also fuel growth. Its cost reduction efforts should help sustain margins despite material cost inflation.

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

Vertex’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Biomedical and Genetics industry year to date (+11% vs. -0.9%). Vertex beat estimates for both earnings and sales in the second quarter. The Zacks analyst thinks approval of its cystic fibrosis ('CF') drugs, Kalydeco and Orkambi, for new patient populations, is driving sales growth. Its third CF medicine, Symdeko, has become the main driver of CF revenues in a very short time.

Vertex rapidly advanced its triple combination CF regimens through late-stage development/regulatory filings. The regimens are crucial for long-term growth as these have the potential to treat up to 90% of CF patients. Meanwhile, Vertex’s non-CF pipeline, though early stage, looks interesting with several pipeline readouts expected in 2020-21.

However, competition is rising in the CF market with many companies developing triple combo CF drugs. Also, Vertex’s overdependence on the CF franchise for growth is a concern.

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

Other noteworthy reports we featured today include Kraft Heinz (KHC), Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Evergy (EVRG).

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Note: Our Director of Research 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>>>