Monday, September 28, 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 Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Mastercard Inc. (MA) and AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), as well as two micro-cap stocks Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (PPIH) and ImmuCell Corp. (ICCC). 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 >>> Big Week of Jobs & Inflation Data, Micron Earnings

Today's Featured Research Reports

Alphabet’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet - Services industry over the year-to-date period (+10.1% vs. +8.4%). The company’s AI-led product cycle is strengthening Search, Cloud and subscriptions, while broader enterprise adoption and flexible infrastructure models support long-term monetization. 

Search and YouTube remain durable cash generators, and Cloud is deepening customer relationships across AI, data and security. Alphabet’s differentiated silicon and long-term infrastructure contracts may improve returns on AI investment. These positives are offset by rising capital intensity, weaker free cash flow and a larger debt load. 

Advertising concentration, legal remedies and intense AI competition also create uncertainty around margins and returns. Higher infrastructure spending could weigh on near-term cash generation. With stronger Cloud economics balanced by investment and regulatory risk, the shares present an even risk-reward profile.

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

Shares of Mastercard have declined -0.1% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry’s decline of -11.3%. The company’s rising rebates and incentives signal greater competitive pricing pressure, while merchant litigation and alternative payment rails could weaken network economics. A premium valuation leaves less room for execution setbacks. As such, we have a Neutral view.

Nevertheless, Mastercard benefits from the secular shift toward electronic payments, supported by a scalable, asset-light model that can convert rising transaction volumes into attractive incremental economics. Resilient consumer spending and cross-border demand provide revenue visibility, while growing value-added services broaden the earnings base beyond core payment processing. 

Strategic partnerships, acquisitions and expansion into emerging payment flows further extend its addressable market. Strong cash generation also supports continued reinvestment, acquisitions and shareholder returns.

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

AbbVie’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the year-to-date period (+18.4% vs. +15.3%). The company has successfully navigated Humira's loss of exclusivity by launching two other successful 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 key data readouts, regulatory submissions, and approvals over the next few months. 

AbbVie 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 like Humira LOE impact, slowing oncology sales and continued macro headwinds for Aesthetics.

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

Shares of Perma-Pipe International have gained +4.5% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Steel - Pipe and Tube industry’s gain of +39.8%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $260.11 million sees its backlog reach $143.2 million, with 40-50% expected to convert to revenue within 12 months. Second-quarter bookings of more than $67 million exceeded quarterly sales. Growth is being supported across MENA, Canada, leak detection and the Ohio facility, reducing reliance on a single market. 

Capacity ramps in Ohio and Qatar could improve fixed-cost absorption as utilization rises, while leak-detection bookings had already reached about 80% of the full-year target by the second quarter. First-half operating cash flow also improved to $13.3 million. 

Risks include gross-margin pressure from start-up costs, inflation, shipping expenses and project mix, along with higher customer concentration and receivable exposure. Foreign-exchange volatility, geopolitical tensions and trade-related costs could also create variability in results. The stock’s valuation is below peers on EV/sales basis. 

(You can read the full research report on Perma-Pipe International here >>>)

ImmuCell’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical - Products industry over the year-to-date period (+61.4% vs. -20.8%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $90.14 million has its investment case supported by strengthening demand for its First Defense platform, particularly Tri-Shield, alongside rising producer adoption and market penetration. Manufacturing expansion should ease capacity constraints, shorten processing times and support scalable long-term growth. 

Yield improvements, better colostrum sourcing and tighter process discipline offer a path to stronger manufacturing economics. The company’s sharper focus on First Defense is also improving resource allocation by redirecting spending and existing infrastructure toward its core commercial franchise. 

Improving cash generation provides greater flexibility to fund capacity investments with less reliance on external financing. Meanwhile, continued U.S. commercial expansion offers additional growth runway, while international markets remain a longer-term opportunity.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT), SAP SE (SAP) and Equinor ASA (EQNR).

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>>>