Wednesday, October 14, 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 Mastercard Inc. (MA), AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) and Sandisk Corp. (SNDK). 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 Jumps Back to Spring Levels, Pre-Markets Fall

Today's Featured Research Reports

Mastercard’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry over the past year (+7.2% vs. -5.2%). The company 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. 

However, rising rebates and incentives signal greater competitive pricing pressure, while merchant litigation and alternative payment rails could weaken network economics. Its premium valuation also limits upside. As such, we have a Neutral recommendation on the stock.

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

Shares of AstraZeneca have underperformed the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry over the past year (-7.2% vs. +7.5%). The company’s several blockbuster drugs like Farxiga, Brilinta, Symbicort and Soliris have lost patent exclusivity and are facing generic erosion. Recent pipeline setbacks are a concern. Estimates remain mixed ahead of Q3 earnings. The company has a mixed record of earnings surprises in recent quarters.

Nevertheless, AstraZeneca’s key drugs like Lynparza, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Ultomiris and Fasenra should keep driving revenues. New drugs are also contributing to growth. Two new drugs, Etcamah in breast cancer and Baxfendy in hypertension, are already approved this year. 

AstraZeneca’s pipeline is also strong, with several pivotal data readouts lined up over the next 18 months. Backed by its new products and pipeline drugs, AstraZeneca expects to generate $80 billion in total revenues by 2030. 

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

Sandisk’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer- Storage Devices industry over the past year (+927.2% vs. +229.6%). The company is benefiting from AI inference demand that is lifting enterprise SSD needs and increasing datacenter exposure. BiCS8, BiCS9 and BiCS10 support higher density, performance and power efficiency, while long-term customer agreements improve demand visibility and margin durability. 

Management also targets substantial free cash flow and continued excess-cash returns to shareholders. Offsetting these positives, supply growth remains deliberately constrained, non-NBM business stays exposed to market pricing, and execution across technology transitions is critical. 

HBF adds longer-term optionality but is not yet included in the financial model. These drivers support an Outperform view as structural AI demand, contracted business gains and cash-generation prospects outweigh supply, pricing, customer-mix and execution risks.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Exelon Corp. (EXC), General Mills, Inc. (GIS) and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO).

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>>>