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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Berkshire Hathaway, and HSBC Holdings

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – May 5, 2022 – 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: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT - Free Report) , Meta Platforms, Inc. , Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO - Free Report) , Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B - Free Report) and HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Thermo Fisher

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 Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms, Inc., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.. 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 >>>
 
Shares of Microsoft have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past year (+16.1% vs. +3.9%). The company's revenue benefited from the strong performance of Azure, Office 365, Dynamics, LinkedIn, and Server products.
 

However, third-quarter earnings were negatively impacted by the Nuance acquisition to the tune of a penny. Unfavorable forex and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are expected to hurt revenues. The Zacks analyst believes that  Microsoft continues to expect the Nuance acquisition to be minimally dilutive in fiscal 2022 and accretive in fiscal 2023 to non-GAAP earnings. Increasing spending on Azure enhancements amid stiff competition in the cloud space is a headwind.
 

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

Meta Platforms shares have declined -33.5% over the past year against the Zacks Internet - Software industry's decline of -49.4%. The company's results suffered from Apple's iOS changes as well as engagement-related headwinds. Apple's iOS changes have made ad targeting difficult, which, in turn, has increased the cost of driving outcomes.

Meta expects these factors to hurt advertising revenue growth in throughout 2022. Meta's second-quarter guidance reflects macroeconomic and forex concerns. The Zacks analyst believes that Cost inflation and supply chain disruptions are expected to impact advertiser budgets.
 

However, Meta is benefiting from steady user growth across all regions, particularly Asia Pacific. Increased engagement for its products like Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook has been a major growth driver.
 

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

Shares of Thermo Fisher have outperformed the Zacks Medical - Instruments industry over the past year (+16.5% vs. -13.1%). The Zacks analyst believes that the robust year-over-year revenue growth in the Analytical Instruments and the Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services segments appears promising. The company's strategic acquisitions of PPD, Inc. and PeproTech raise investors' confidence.
 

Thermo Fisher's accelerated investments to expand bioproduction capacity also buoy optimism. The upbeat guidance for 2022 is indicative that this growth momentum will continue. However, the year-over-year decline in revenues in the Specialty Diagnostics segment is disappointing. The contraction of both margins does not bode well either.
 

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and HSBC Holdings plc.

Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It's a little-known chemical company that's up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>

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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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