Wednesday, April 22, 2026

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 Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Citigroup Inc. (C), as well as two micro-cap stocks Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NRP) and Oil-Dri Corp. of America (ODC). 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 >>>

Ahead of Wall Street

The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.

You can read today's AWS here >>> Pre-Markets Up on Ceasefire, Mostly Solid Q1 Earnings

Today's Featured Research Reports

Exxon Mobil’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry over the past six months (+30.9% vs. +30.7%). The company’s high-value assets in the Permian Basin and Guyana drive robust production growth, doubling upstream earnings since 2019. Notably, in the Permian, XOM intends production to surpass 2.5 million oil-equivalent barrels per day beyond 2030. 

On the other hand, in Guyana, the company’s efforts have turned a 2015 oil discovery into one of the fastest-growing projects in the world. With a lower exposure to debt capital, XOM supports steady cash flows, dividends, buybacks and investments in high-return projects. ExxonMobil has raised its dividend every year for the past 43 years, demonstrating its commitment to returning capital to shareholders. 

Additionally, XOM is constructing the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia plant in Baytown, which is expected to position it as a frontrunner in clean energy initiatives.

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

Shares of IBM have gained +7.3% over the past year against the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry’s gain of +150.4%. The company is poised to benefit from strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI, driving growth in Software and Consulting. IBM’s growth is likely to be driven primarily by analytics, cloud computing, and security in the long haul. 

The company’s core technology platform for AI capabilities watsonx is gaining significant market traction. In collaboration with Adobe It introduced AI-driven Experience Orchestration to help companies turn customer data into real-time actions, improving responsiveness. Such innovative product launches bode well for sustainable growth. 

However, frequent acquisitions have escalated integration risks. Buyouts have negatively impacted the company’s balance sheet in the form of high levels of goodwill and net intangible assets. Stiff competition in the hardware enterprise servers and storage markets is weighing on profits.

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

Citigroup’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry over the past six months (+37.7% vs. +8.7%). The company’s earnings topped estimates in the last four consecutive quarters. First-quarter 2026 results benefited from higher year-over-year net interest income (NII). 

Ongoing transformation initiatives, including consumer business exits, cost cuts and operational streamlining, will likely support revenue growth as stranded costs and transformation spend begin to moderate. Management expects revenues to see a 4-5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2026. Its expansion into private credit boosts diversification, with a strong capital base supporting shareholder returns. 

However, its rising expenses due to investments in business transformation efforts, technological advancement are worrisome. Volatility in fee income and deteriorating asset quality are concerning too.

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

Shares of Natural Resource Partners have outperformed the Zacks Coal industry over the past six months (+15.4% vs. +0.8%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $1.53 billion offers a differentiated, asset-light royalty model that provides exposure to energy and industrial demand while limiting operational risks. 

Natural Resource Partners’ extensive land base supports diversified mineral income and long-term optionality from emerging uses such as carbon sequestration and renewables. The company’s stable cash flow is underpinned by contractual minimum payments and disciplined capital allocation, alongside a significantly improved balance sheet that enhances financial flexibility. 

However, near-term performance remains pressured by weak commodity cycles, particularly in metallurgical coal and soda ash, with suspended JV distributions and potential capital requirements adding uncertainty. Concentration in key counterparties and logistics dependencies elevates risks, leaving cash flow resilience reliant on commodity recovery.

(You can read the full research report on Natural Resource Partners here >>>)

Shares of Oil-Dri Corporation of America have gained +20.1% over the past six months against the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s gain of +37.3%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $1.05 billion presents a mixed investment profile anchored by diversified end-market exposure and a resilient, vertically integrated operating model. 

Oil-Dri Corporation of America’s Fluids Purification segment benefits from demand across edible oils, jet fuel, and renewable fuels, while innovation in premium and lightweight cat litter supports a gradual shift toward higher-value consumer products. Growth in agriculture and horticulture adds further diversification to the B2B portfolio. Strong liquidity and disciplined capital allocation enable continued reinvestment and shareholder returns. 

However, earnings remain sensitive to customer concentration, channel volatility, and external disruptions such as policy shifts and weather events. Retail performance shows reliance on mix improvements rather than consistent organic growth, while B2B results highlight exposure to cyclical demand and customer-specific changes.

(You can read the full research report on Oil-Dri Corporation of America here >>>)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include General Dynamics Corp. (GD), Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH) and Valero Energy Corp. (VLO).

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>>>