We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Alphabet and McDonald's
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL –September 12, 2019 – 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: Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) , Kellogg Company (K - Free Report) , Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) and McDonald's Corp. (MCD - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
A.I. Reshaping Food Processing Industry: 4 Stocks in Focus
Food processing is a complex industry, encompassing everything, from sorting raw materials, following the right production process, maintaining machinery to ensuring that the final product is on par with standards. But now, food processing can be easily monitored by AI-powered applications that not only do what humans do but also remarkably increase efficiency.
Let us, thus, consider a few stocks that are riding the AI wave to make significant changes in the food processing industry.
AI’s Promising Prospect in Food & Beverage Market
According to a report by Analytical Research Cognizance, AI in the Food and Beverage market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 65.3% during 2019-2024.
A major reason driving AI implementation is rapidly changing consumer preference. Consumer demand is increasingly shifting toward affordable and easily available food options. Therefore, faster and efficient food processing has become imperative, which can only be offered by AI applications.
First, AI is used to sort different products and ingredients faster. Second, AI monitors and detects any contamination in food on a real-time basis (mostly via AI-enabled cameras).
Third, equipment cleaning accounts for about a third of energy and water supplies of a food processing plant. AI-based sensor technology can save both and ensure proper usage.
Assisting Decision-Making
In fact, AI applications aren’t just limited to assisting in food processing but realizing the kind of products customers seeks. This not only helps in determining what products a company should come up with but also finding crucial details on consumer preferences across various age groups and regions etc.
This data can help companies manufacture the products in demand and channel them in the right places for increased sales. The Coca-Cola Company and Kellogg Company are already putting this to use.
4 Stocks in Focus
We have chosen four stocks that either implement AI to food processing or offer AI programs that streamline productivity in the food processing industry. All of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold).
Alphabet Inc. is developing AI algorithms that can assist in various functions in a food processing unit. The company’s TensorFlow machine learning is being used by Kewpie Corporation, a prominent Japanese food company, to involuntarily detect anomalies.
Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #2. In fact, the company’s stock has outperformed the Zacks Internet – Services Industry on a year-to-date basis (+15.3% vs +2.4%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 8% over the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Coca-Cola Company has installed self-service soda fountains that allow customers to customize their drinks and in turn help the company learn more about customer preferences. In fact, the beverage giant came up with cherry-flavored Sprite based on this implemented AI.
Coca-Cola carries a Zacks Rank #2. In fact, the company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Beverages – Soft drinks Industry on a year-to-date basis (+14.9% vs +13.4%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.5% over the past 60 days.
Kellogg Company is using AI-powered applications that allow customers to customize their granola from over 50 ingredients. The company is forming a community for its Bear Naked brand of granola. Kellogg uses IBM’s Chef Watson, which suggests what ingredients to mix and if it would taste good together.
Kellogg carries a Zacks Rank #3. In fact, the company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Food – Miscellaneous Industry over the last six months (+16.2% vs +12.9%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.5% over the past 60 days.
McDonald's Corp. recently acquired AI company Apprente, which is trying to automate the drive-thru. Apprente uses AI to understand speech, and using it in drive-thrus can significantly reduce service time. McDonald’s said it could use the technology in its self-order kiosks and mobile applications someday.
McDonald's carries a Zacks Rank #3. The company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Retail – Restaurants Industry over the last five years (+80.9% vs +55.2%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.4% over the past 90 days.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Alphabet and McDonald's
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL –September 12, 2019 – 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: Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) , Kellogg Company (K - Free Report) , Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) and McDonald's Corp. (MCD - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
A.I. Reshaping Food Processing Industry: 4 Stocks in Focus
Food processing is a complex industry, encompassing everything, from sorting raw materials, following the right production process, maintaining machinery to ensuring that the final product is on par with standards. But now, food processing can be easily monitored by AI-powered applications that not only do what humans do but also remarkably increase efficiency.
Let us, thus, consider a few stocks that are riding the AI wave to make significant changes in the food processing industry.
AI’s Promising Prospect in Food & Beverage Market
According to a report by Analytical Research Cognizance, AI in the Food and Beverage market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 65.3% during 2019-2024.
A major reason driving AI implementation is rapidly changing consumer preference. Consumer demand is increasingly shifting toward affordable and easily available food options. Therefore, faster and efficient food processing has become imperative, which can only be offered by AI applications.
First, AI is used to sort different products and ingredients faster. Second, AI monitors and detects any contamination in food on a real-time basis (mostly via AI-enabled cameras).
Third, equipment cleaning accounts for about a third of energy and water supplies of a food processing plant. AI-based sensor technology can save both and ensure proper usage.
Assisting Decision-Making
In fact, AI applications aren’t just limited to assisting in food processing but realizing the kind of products customers seeks. This not only helps in determining what products a company should come up with but also finding crucial details on consumer preferences across various age groups and regions etc.
This data can help companies manufacture the products in demand and channel them in the right places for increased sales. The Coca-Cola Company and Kellogg Company are already putting this to use.
4 Stocks in Focus
We have chosen four stocks that either implement AI to food processing or offer AI programs that streamline productivity in the food processing industry. All of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold).
Alphabet Inc. is developing AI algorithms that can assist in various functions in a food processing unit. The company’s TensorFlow machine learning is being used by Kewpie Corporation, a prominent Japanese food company, to involuntarily detect anomalies.
Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #2. In fact, the company’s stock has outperformed the Zacks Internet – Services Industry on a year-to-date basis (+15.3% vs +2.4%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 8% over the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Coca-Cola Company has installed self-service soda fountains that allow customers to customize their drinks and in turn help the company learn more about customer preferences. In fact, the beverage giant came up with cherry-flavored Sprite based on this implemented AI.
Coca-Cola carries a Zacks Rank #2. In fact, the company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Beverages – Soft drinks Industry on a year-to-date basis (+14.9% vs +13.4%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.5% over the past 60 days.
Kellogg Company is using AI-powered applications that allow customers to customize their granola from over 50 ingredients. The company is forming a community for its Bear Naked brand of granola. Kellogg uses IBM’s Chef Watson, which suggests what ingredients to mix and if it would taste good together.
Kellogg carries a Zacks Rank #3. In fact, the company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Food – Miscellaneous Industry over the last six months (+16.2% vs +12.9%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.5% over the past 60 days.
McDonald's Corp. recently acquired AI company Apprente, which is trying to automate the drive-thru. Apprente uses AI to understand speech, and using it in drive-thrus can significantly reduce service time. McDonald’s said it could use the technology in its self-order kiosks and mobile applications someday.
McDonald's carries a Zacks Rank #3. The company’s stock price has outperformed the Zacks Retail – Restaurants Industry over the last five years (+80.9% vs +55.2%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.4% over the past 90 days.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release