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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group, Comcast, QUALCOMM and Micron Technology

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – March 3, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) , UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , Comcast Corporation (CMCSA - Free Report) , QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM - Free Report) and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth & Comcast

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 Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group and Comcast. 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 >>>

Johnson & Johnson shares have outperformed the Zacks Large-Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the past year (+17.5% vs. +10.3%). The Zacks analyst believes that J&J's diversification makes it relatively resilient amid the macroeconomic turmoil.

The Pharma unit is performing at above-market levels, supported by successful label expansion of blockbuster drugs, Imbruvica, Darzalex and Stelara. Meanwhile, its Consumer Health unit also performed above-market in 2020 while the Medical Devices segment demonstrated a strong second-half recovery.

J&J is also making rapid progress with its pipeline and line extensions. Several pivotal data readouts are expected in 2021. However, headwinds like generic competition and pricing pressure continue.

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

Shares of UnitedHealth have gained +5.9% in the last six months against the Zacks Medical Insurance industry's gain of +5.3%. The Zacks analyst believes that the company remains well poised to gain from its government business, comprising both Medicaid and Medicare Advantage.

The company's top line is bolstered by new deals, renewed agreements and expansion of service offerings. Its numerous acquisitions bode well for its inorganic growth profile. Its solid health services segment provides significant diversification benefits.

Moreover, a sturdy balance sheet and consistent cash flow generation is another positive, which has resulted in a solid capital position. This has empowered the company to engage in prudent shareholder-friendly moves through share buybacks and dividend payments.

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

Comcast's shares have gained +5.6% over the past three months against the Zacks Cable Television industry's loss of -0.6%. The Zacks analyst believes that Comcast is benefiting from solid high-speed Internet customer wins.

Its strategy to provide high-speed Internet at an affordable price plays a pivotal role in providing connectivity and improving customer experience. Moreover, coronavirus-led increased media consumption, and work-from-home and online-learning waves bode well for Comcast's Internet business.

Its streaming service, Peacock, has gained significant traction within a short span of time and is a key catalyst in driving broadband sales. However, Comcast persistently suffers from video-subscriber attrition due to cord cutting. Also, theme park revenues are expected to suffer from lower footfall and the indefinite closure of Hollywood Park. 

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include QUALCOMM and Micron Technology.

Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2021

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Last year's 2020 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +386.8%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don't miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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