Tuesday, October 13, 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 Walmart Inc. (WMT), Visa Inc. (V) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO), as well as two micro-cap stocks Village Super Market, Inc. (VLGEA) and Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP). 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 >>> Mixed Pre-Markets Greet Fresh Q3 Earnings Reports

Today's Featured Research Reports

Walmart’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry over the past year (+6.3% vs. +5.3%). The company’s value positioning and integrated omnichannel model provide a strong foundation for sustained growth. Traffic and market-share gains remain healthy, while e-commerce, marketplace, advertising and membership are expanding the revenue mix and improving digital economics. 

International operations and Sam’s Club add further diversification. However, elevated operating costs, pharmacy-related sales pressure and heavy capital spending can limit earnings leverage and free-cash-flow conversion. 

Continued price reinvestment supports customer loyalty and share gains but may restrain margin expansion, while currency swings can add volatility. While Walmart’s fundamentals remain resilient, stronger returns will depend on disciplined execution, productivity gains and successful monetization of its expanding retail ecosystem.

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

Shares of Visa have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry over the past year (+12.6% vs. -6.5%). The company’s scale and brand strength keep it at the center of global digital payments, with growth still driven by higher payment volumes, cross-border activity and rising transaction counts. 

Fiscal Q3 2026 results showed broad momentum across consumer payments, commercial and money movement solutions and value-added services. Investments in agentic commerce and stablecoin settlement, along with targeted acquisitions and disciplined capital returns, should continue to enhance the value of its network over time. 

However, rising client incentives and marketing expenses are weighing on V’s profitability, with adjusted net margin declining to 54.1% in fiscal Q3 2026. Cash activity remains uneven across regions, while the valuation remains elevated and regulatory and litigation risks persist. As such, we have a Neutral rating on the shares.

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

Novo Nordisk’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the past year (-29.6% vs. +30%). That the company raised its 2026 outlook offers limited comfort, as intensifying competition, pricing pressure and higher spending continue to weigh on growth, clouding hopes for a near-term turnaround. 

Nevertheless, Novo Nordisk was recently rebranded as Novo. Its semaglutide drugs for obesity and diabetes continue to drive growth through volume gains. Label expansions in other indications will likely boost sales. Higher-dose Wegovy is approved in the EU and the United States, which is a positive. 

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill secured FDA approval for obesity and has already surpassed five million prescriptions since launch. Wegovy pill is also approved in the EU. The Ozempic pill has also been launched in the U.S. market for diabetes. Partnerships with OpenAI, AWS and Anthropic to boost drug discovery are a positive. 

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

Shares of Village Super Market have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry over the past year (+37.6% vs. +5.3%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $650.88 million has seen its fiscal 2026 revenues increase 3.7%, supported by steady same-store sales growth, expanding digital demand and strong fresh-food performance. Robust operating cash flow of $108.8 million provides flexibility to fund expansion, store modernization and consistent dividends. 

Planned store openings in fiscal 2027 could drive incremental revenues, while its Wakefern affiliation offers purchasing efficiencies and competitive advantages. Established retail brands, loyalty programs and differentiated merchandising further strengthen customer engagement and market positioning. 

However, the company faces pressures from declining gross margins, rising operating expenses and increased promotional spending. Additionally, its heavily unionized workforce and potential pension obligations could increase operating costs. The stock trades at a discount to industry peers on an EV/sales and EV/EBITDA basis.

(You can read the full research report on Village Super Market here >>>)

Empire Petroleum’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry over the past year (-14.9% vs. +43.9%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $135.21 million has seen persistent liquidity constraints, negative operating cash flow and reliance on external financing. These remain significant concerns, increasing the potential for shareholder dilution. 

Declining production, elevated operating costs, commodity-price volatility and limited hedging further complicate the outlook. Moreover, uncertainty surrounding regulatory resolution in New Mexico and execution risks across development projects could delay anticipated benefits.

Nevertheless, Empire Petroleum’s long-term growth prospects are supported by its expanding Texas infrastructure, broader development inventory and ongoing efforts to enhance production across multiple regions. Its natural gas development initiatives, Louisiana drilling program and thermal recovery operations in North Dakota provide additional opportunities for production growth and improved operating efficiency.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Shopify Inc. (SHOP), Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) and Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST).

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>>>