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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: JPMorgan, Coca-Cola, Comcast and United Technologies
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 27, 2018 – 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 JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) , Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) , Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) and United Technologies .
Top Stock Reports for JPMorgan, Coca Cola, Comcast and United Technologies
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 17 major stocks, including JPMorgan, Coca-Cola, Comcast and United Technologies. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
JPMorgan’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Major Regional Banks industry over the past six months (up +8.1% vs. +3%). This price performance is backed by impressive earnings surprise history, with the company surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. Its first-quarter 2018 results reflect improved revenues and lower credit cost.
The bank’s efforts to expand into new markets, higher interest rates and rising loan demand will likely continue to benefit its financials. Also, lower tax rates will aid profitability in the quarters ahead. However, fee income growth challenges (mainly due to a slowdown in capital market activities and dismal mortgage banking performance) remains a major concern for the company. Also, litigation hassles are a major concern.
Shares of Coca-Cola have outperformed the Zacks Soft Drinks Beverages industry in the last year, (-1.4% vs. -2%). Coca-Cola started 2018 on a solid note, beating expectations on both counts in the first quarter. Apart from a notably rise in soda volumes, it gained from its growing beverage portfolio and restructuring efforts.
Organic sales grew 5%, led by price/mix growth of 1% and concentrate sales growth of 4%. Currency also had a 2% positive impact on revenues. Again, lower SG&A expenses (down 24.2%), higher gross margin (up 270 bps) and higher operating margin (up 600 bps) helped it come up with better earnings (up 8%). However, total sales decreased 16%, marking the 12th consecutive quarterly decline in revenues.
Although the top line has yet to show sustained improvement, the Zacks analyst likes the strategic efforts to make its portfolio that of a total beverage company with improved marketing and innovation, focus on driving revenues by improved price/mix, digital focus and productivity initiatives toward driving margins.
Comcast’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Cable Television industry in the last three months, losing -18.4% vs. -16.3%. However, Comcast’s first-quarter results benefited from increasing number of high speed internet subscribers and incremental revenues from the broadcasting of Winter Olympics and Super Bowl.
The company expects to continue investments on Theme Parks, which also reported impressive top-line growth in the quarter. Comcast submitted a firm bid for Sky Communications. The acquisition is likely to provide synergies worth $500 million.
Meanwhile, the Zacks analyst thinks the nationwide rollout of the DOCSIS 3.1 technology and the completion of the nationwide rollout of Comcast’s wireless services under the Xfinity Mobile brand will boost subscriber base going forward. Moreover, partnerships with the likes of Charter and Netflix are positives.
However, the company continues to lose voice and video subscribers due to cord-cutting and stiff competition. Additionally, high debt level is a headwind.
Shares of United Technologies have gained +2% in the last six months, outperforming the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, which has lost -11.7% over the same period. United Technologies’ first-quarter 2018 earnings trumped expectations and rose 19.6% year over year.
The Zacks analyst thinks the impressive growth can be attributed to solid performances across the segments. Also, the company issued a bullish guidance for 2018 on healthy demand trends and is likely to deliver sustainable earnings growth in future with the Rockwell merger.
Meanwhile, United Technologies remains focused on four key priorities: flawless execution, innovation, structural cost reduction and disciplined capital allocation to fuel its growth engine. However, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may affect the company’s bottom-line growth.
In addition, a disruption in deliveries from suppliers, capacity constraints, production disruptions, price changes or decreased availability of raw materials or commodities is likely to have an adverse effect on the company’s ability to meet delivery schedules.
Breaking News: Cryptocurrencies Now Bigger than Visa
The total market cap of all cryptos recently surpassed $700 billion – more than a 3,800% increase in the previous 12 months. They’re now bigger than Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and even Visa! The new asset class may expand even more rapidly in 2018 as new investors continue pouring in and Wall Street becomes increasingly involved.
Zacks’ has just named 4 companies that enable investors to take advantage of the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies via the stock market.
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: JPMorgan, Coca-Cola, Comcast and United Technologies
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 27, 2018 – 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 JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) , Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) , Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) and United Technologies .
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for JPMorgan, Coca Cola, Comcast and United Technologies
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 17 major stocks, including JPMorgan, Coca-Cola, Comcast and United Technologies. 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 >>>
JPMorgan’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Major Regional Banks industry over the past six months (up +8.1% vs. +3%). This price performance is backed by impressive earnings surprise history, with the company surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. Its first-quarter 2018 results reflect improved revenues and lower credit cost.
The bank’s efforts to expand into new markets, higher interest rates and rising loan demand will likely continue to benefit its financials. Also, lower tax rates will aid profitability in the quarters ahead. However, fee income growth challenges (mainly due to a slowdown in capital market activities and dismal mortgage banking performance) remains a major concern for the company. Also, litigation hassles are a major concern.
(You can read the full research report on JPMorgan here >>>).
Shares of Coca-Cola have outperformed the Zacks Soft Drinks Beverages industry in the last year, (-1.4% vs. -2%). Coca-Cola started 2018 on a solid note, beating expectations on both counts in the first quarter. Apart from a notably rise in soda volumes, it gained from its growing beverage portfolio and restructuring efforts.
Organic sales grew 5%, led by price/mix growth of 1% and concentrate sales growth of 4%. Currency also had a 2% positive impact on revenues. Again, lower SG&A expenses (down 24.2%), higher gross margin (up 270 bps) and higher operating margin (up 600 bps) helped it come up with better earnings (up 8%). However, total sales decreased 16%, marking the 12th consecutive quarterly decline in revenues.
Although the top line has yet to show sustained improvement, the Zacks analyst likes the strategic efforts to make its portfolio that of a total beverage company with improved marketing and innovation, focus on driving revenues by improved price/mix, digital focus and productivity initiatives toward driving margins.
(You can read the full research report on Coca-Cola here >>>).
Comcast’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Cable Television industry in the last three months, losing -18.4% vs. -16.3%. However, Comcast’s first-quarter results benefited from increasing number of high speed internet subscribers and incremental revenues from the broadcasting of Winter Olympics and Super Bowl.
The company expects to continue investments on Theme Parks, which also reported impressive top-line growth in the quarter. Comcast submitted a firm bid for Sky Communications. The acquisition is likely to provide synergies worth $500 million.
Meanwhile, the Zacks analyst thinks the nationwide rollout of the DOCSIS 3.1 technology and the completion of the nationwide rollout of Comcast’s wireless services under the Xfinity Mobile brand will boost subscriber base going forward. Moreover, partnerships with the likes of Charter and Netflix are positives.
However, the company continues to lose voice and video subscribers due to cord-cutting and stiff competition. Additionally, high debt level is a headwind.
(You can read the full research report on Comcast here >>>).
Shares of United Technologies have gained +2% in the last six months, outperforming the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, which has lost -11.7% over the same period. United Technologies’ first-quarter 2018 earnings trumped expectations and rose 19.6% year over year.
The Zacks analyst thinks the impressive growth can be attributed to solid performances across the segments. Also, the company issued a bullish guidance for 2018 on healthy demand trends and is likely to deliver sustainable earnings growth in future with the Rockwell merger.
Meanwhile, United Technologies remains focused on four key priorities: flawless execution, innovation, structural cost reduction and disciplined capital allocation to fuel its growth engine. However, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may affect the company’s bottom-line growth.
In addition, a disruption in deliveries from suppliers, capacity constraints, production disruptions, price changes or decreased availability of raw materials or commodities is likely to have an adverse effect on the company’s ability to meet delivery schedules.
(You can read the full research report on United Technologies here >>>).
Breaking News: Cryptocurrencies Now Bigger than Visa
The total market cap of all cryptos recently surpassed $700 billion – more than a 3,800% increase in the previous 12 months. They’re now bigger than Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and even Visa! The new asset class may expand even more rapidly in 2018 as new investors continue pouring in and Wall Street becomes increasingly involved.
Zacks’ has just named 4 companies that enable investors to take advantage of the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies via the stock market.
Click here to access these stocks. >>
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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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.