Tuesday, May 12, 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 NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), Mastercard Inc. (MA) and AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), as well as two micro-cap stocks Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF) and Precipio, Inc. (PRPO). 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 >>> CPI Inflation Rate Heats Up to +3.8%

Today's Featured Research Reports

Shares of NVIDIA have gained +70.1% over the past year against the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry’s gain of +79.1%. The company is benefiting from the strong growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance accelerated computing. The growing demand for generative AI and large language models using graphics processing units (GPUs) based on NVIDIA’s Hopper and Blackwell architectures is aiding data center revenues. 

The continued ramp-up of Ada RTX GPU workstations in the ProViz end market, following the normalization of channel inventory, is acting as a tailwind. Collaborations with more than 320 automakers and tier-one suppliers are likely to advance its presence in the autonomous vehicle space.

However, a limited supply of Blackwell GPUs may hinder its ability to meet demand. Rising costs associated with the production of more complex AI systems will hurt margins. The U.S.-China tech war and rising competition from AMD remain major concerns.

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

Mastercard’s shares have declined -12.5% over the past year against the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry’s decline of -24.2%. The company’s rebates and incentives are rising with new and renewed deals, and management expects operating expenses to keep growing as it funds safety, security, digital and B2B initiatives. Geopolitical disruption is weighing on cross-border travel. Valuation remains elevated, supporting a Neutral view.

Nevertheless, Mastercard’s scale and brand strength continue to support steady payment network growth, helped by stable consumer and business spending and higher transaction activity. Cross-border and contactless adoption remain key long-term drivers, and value-added services keep diversifying revenue through cybersecurity, analytics and digital authentication. 

Partnerships and targeted acquisitions also extend reach into new payment flows, including stablecoin infrastructure. Share repurchases and dividends remain supported. 

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

Shares of AbbVie have gained +13.3% over the past year against the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry’s gain of +23.6%. The company beats first-quarter estimates for both earnings and sales. It has successfully navigated Humira's loss of exclusivity (LOE) by launching two other successful new immunology medicines, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are performing extremely well, bolstered by approvals in new indications, and should support top-line growth in the next few years.

AbbVie’s neuroscience portfolio is also rapidly expanding and contributing significantly to top-line growth. AbbVie boasts a robust pipeline and expects important data readouts, regulatory submissions and approvals throughout 2026. It has been on an acquisition spree in the past couple of years to bolster its early-stage pipeline that should drive long-term growth. 

However, the company faces several headwinds, such as Humira LOE impact, slowing oncology sales and continued macro headwinds for Aesthetics.

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

Waterstone Financial’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Savings and Loan industry over the past year (+50.3% vs. +16.7%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $331.09 million delivered a strong earnings rebound in Q1 2026 as higher asset yields and easing funding costs expanded net interest margin to 2.97% from 2.47%, driving EPS growth. Mortgage banking returned to profitability, supported by a 31% increase in originations and a sharp refinancing recovery. 

The company maintains strong capital and liquidity, with risk-based capital above 20% and substantial unused FHLB borrowing capacity. Management also remains shareholder-friendly through dividends and sizable buybacks, including authorization covering nearly 12% of shares outstanding. 

However, risks include weakening credit quality, heavy near-term deposit repricing exposure, reliance on wholesale funding and rising operating expenses that could pressure margins if mortgage activity slows. Shares trade below peer valuation levels at 11.05X earnings and 0.95X book value. 

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

Shares of Precipio have outperformed the Zacks Medical Info Systems industry over the past year (+302.8% vs. -34.2%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $50.81 million has its investment thesis centered on the scalability of its pathology platform and integrated lab-and-diagnostics model. Its core pathology business continues to demonstrate operating leverage, supporting margin expansion and stronger cash generation as volumes grow. 

Management is also positioning the Products division for broader commercialization through expanded sales capabilities and distributor relationships. The hybrid operating structure supports recurring customer engagement and cross-selling opportunities, including the planned AML molecular testing launch.

However, the story remains execution-sensitive due to liquidity constraints and product-margin volatility. Investors must balance scalability potential against financing risks. Valuation levels imply a cautious market despite improving profitability, creating upside if execution improves.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Sony Group Corp. (SONY) and CVS Health Corp. (CVS).

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>>>