Monday, September 29, 2025

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 12 major stocks, including Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), CME Group Inc. (CME) and EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG), as well as a micro-cap stock AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (ASRV). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.

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 >>>

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You can read today's AWS here >>> Pre-markets Up at Record Highs - Will Jobs Numbers Be a Wet Blanket?

Today's Featured Research Reports

Shares of Wells Fargo have gained +22.4% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry’s gain of +32.6%. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The Fed's June 2025 removal of the $1.95 trillion asset cap allows growth in deposits, loans and fee-based services. After clearing the 2025 Fed stress test, Wells Fargo raised its dividend, backed by strong liquidity and capital. 

Also, the strategic investments in talent and technology, along with new partnerships, support long-term growth. However, despite the recent Fed rate cut, net interest income (NII) recovery is likely to be slow, pressuring near-term revenue growth. 

Further, mortgage banking income is also weak given the ongoing volatility in mortgage rates. Also, rising expenses due to higher technology and compensation costs will likely hurt its profitability.

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

CME’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry over the past year (+28.2% vs. +7.1%). The company’s strong market position, driven by varied derivative product lines, bodes well. Efforts to expand and cross-sell through strategic alliances, acquisitions, new product initiatives and a stable global presence are encouraging. 

While higher electronic trading volume adds scalability, product innovation and a growing proportion of volume from customers outside the United States have been driving results. Solid liquidity supports wealth distribution to shareholders. 

However, escalating expenses due to higher technology costs are likely to put pressure on its margins. Also, its diversified product portfolio is significantly exposed to volatile interest rates, stricter government regulations and limited credit availability in unstable capital and credit markets.

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

Shares of EOG Resources have declined -4.3% over the past year against the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry’s decline of -13.6%. The company expects its gathering, processing & transportation costs to rise in 2025, which will affect profits. EOG could also be adversely impacted by growing renewable energy demand. Also, the integration risks from the Encino acquisition remain. As such, the upstream energy stock warrants a cautious stance.

Nevertheless, EOG Resources is an oil and gas exploration and production company with an attractive growth profile, upper-quartile returns and a disciplined management team. With highly productive acreages in premier oil shale plays, the company has numerous untapped high-quality drilling sites. 

Notably, EOG’s production outlook looks bright as it has more than 12 billion barrels of oil equivalent multi-basin resource base. Additionally, EOG maintains a strong balance sheet and continues to reward shareholders with regular and special dividends.

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

AmeriServ Financial’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry over the past year (+15.8% vs. +14.3%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $48.40 million has seen its net interest income rise by 17.1% YoY to $10.4 million despite margin compression, driven by higher asset yields and reduced funding costs, underscoring strong balance sheet and ALM discipline. 

Core deposits increased 5.7% YoY, boosting liquidity and reducing reliance on wholesale funding. Capital levels remain robust with a 12.50% total risk-based capital ratio. Efficiency improved as non-interest expenses fell 11.9%. Its dividend yield of 4.1% remains higher than the industry’s average of 2.7%. 

However, rising non-performing assets and a $3 million spike in net charge-offs point to growing credit risk, especially in CRE. Non-interest income declined 5.2%, highlighting limited fee revenue diversification. Digital investments lag peers, posing a long-term competitiveness concern. Despite structural risks, AmeriServ trades at just 0.43x P/B, well below industry and sector averages. 

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Phillips 66 (PSX), Synchrony Financial (SYF) and Packaging Corporation of America (PKG).

Mark Vickery
Senior Editor

Note: 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>>>