We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Micron Tech, Harley-Davidson, Sony, TakeTwo Interactive Software and Capcom Co highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 9, 2021 – Zacks Equity Research Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) as the Bull of the Day, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG - Free Report) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Sony Corporation , TakeTwo Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO - Free Report) and Capcom Co., Ltd. (CCOEY - Free Report) .
Micron Technology is the global king of memory chip technology and a driving force in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The company continues to impress analysts and investors alike, with MU shares having more than doubled since the end of August. The stock looks like it still has legs to keep this rally alive.
Micron's savvy management team sizably raised guidance for its fiscal Q2 quarter (February quarter earnings) across the income statement for revenues, margins, and earnings as demand for semiconductors exploded. This has catalyzed analysts to raise their price targets and EPS estimates alike, propelling MU into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
COVID Impact
The world digitized by years in a matter of months during this Pandemic as global economies were forced to leverage advanced technology in order to remain competitive amid the stay-at-home initiative. As economies recover, enterprise and consumer spending are poised to surge, and cutting-edge tech will be one of the first things this capital goes to. We are on the verge of hyperscaling super-cycle, and Micron is positioned to benefit heavily.
The 4th Industrial Revolution is taking off, and COVID-19 has catalyzed its acceleration. The digitalization of 2020 has ignited the world's thirst for advanced tech, and this is just the beginning.
The Business Attraction
The companies two largest segments are dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND (aka NAND flash memory), with end markets that include data centers, mobile tech, PCs, graphics, and automotive. These end markets have proliferated demand for Micron's cutting-edge chips.
DRAM is expected to maintain a long-term compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of mid-to-high teens. The rapidly expanding NAND market is expected to yield Micron a CAGR of approximately 30% as long-term demand for this technology accelerates. Micron's management team is also anticipating sizable cost reductions in the coming years.
DRAM made up 70% of the company's total topline according to its November quarter earnings, while Micron's growing NAND division made up 27% of revenues. Roughly 40% of its sales are propelled by its compute and networking segment (CNBU), which has been a beneficiary of the hyperscaling resurgence as businesses start to scale their data centers for cloud-computing, AI, data analytics, etc. CNBU saw 29% year-over-year expansion in its November quarter results (fiscal Q1).
The company's second-largest segment is mobile, which is poised to blast off in the nascent 5G super cycle of smartphones and the internet of this (IoT). Micron has a leading position in this space.
Upcoming Earnings Report
Micron is reporting its February quarter results (fiscal Q2) on March 31st, and expectations are elevated. According to Zacks Consensus estimates, analysts are anticipating an EPS of $0.89 on sales of $6.23 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 98% and 30%, respectively.
This business has a lot to prove in this upcoming report, with investors' expectations reaching new highs. The markets have formed a pattern of buying-the-rumor of a strong quarter and selling-the-news when the robust results are unveiled this past earnings season.
Micron's recent guidance increase earlier this month solidified many investors' already optimistic outlook for the business. Management rose its mid-point revenue guidance by over 7% and EPS by more than 27%.
Forward guidance and management sentiment will be the most important things to focus on in this upcoming quarterly report and earnings call that follows.
The Charts
MU has been a workhorse amid the tech sell-off these past 3 weeks, with every dip in the stock getting bought back up very quickly. You can see this bullish price action in just the last couple of trading days, with each morning dip being bought back up on sizable volume. MU has sizably outperformed the broader semiconductor space since August 21st.
Final Thoughts
Despite MU's substantial rally since August, the stock is still trading at a relative discount to the broader semiconductor sector, with a 12-month forward P/E of 13.2x compared to the sector's 19.4x. MU's resilience to broader tech sell-off illustrates this stock's bullish positioning in the semiconductor space, which is expected to have exuberant demand in the next 12-months.
Harley-Davidson has been the symbol of the mid-life crisis for decades and has profited off the Baby Boomers, but there is a new group of consumers in town and their set of demands are shifting. The Chopper is going out of style and, unfortunately, leading its progenitor Harley-Davidson out with it. Analysts continue to pessimistically lower its already deflated EPS estimates for this seemingly antiquated stock, pushing HOG down to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
The End Of An Era
Harley-Davidson hit its peak sales and profitability in 2014 and has since been experiencing a decline. The massive demographic shift in consumption is catalyzing this demand slump. Millennials recently overtook Boomers as the largest consuming generation, and they are making some profound changes to the retail landscape (e.g., the retail apocalypse). One of the unfortunate victims of this consumption change has been Harley and its iconic motorcycles.
This is not to say the Harley isn't making an effort to shape their brand image around the evolving consumer. The company has come out with a line of fully electric bikes and has a pipeline of sleek new designs and an eBicycle, which are to be released next year.
These brand-changing efforts may be fruitless as millennials and younger generations turn against some of the brands of their parents' and grandparents' generations as they are no longer "fashionable." Unfortunately, I don't believe Harley will be able to shake its chopper brand association quickly.
COVID, Financials & Chart
Harley has experienced 9 straight quarters of topline declines, with its profits tumbling from $254 million in the second quarter of 2018 to a ($68) million decline this past quarter. COVID-19 pummeled Harley's sales and drove the company's bottom line to its lowest level in the company's public history.
This most recent recession was very different from the systemic financial downfall, and I would have thought Harley Davidson would have fared much better in this medically induced recession.
With mortality at the forefront of many consumers' minds, I think there is more demand for "exciting" purchases like Tesla and Malibu Boats, with their respective stocks reaching all-time highs this year.
This stock's drop accentuates the downward trend HOG has been experiencing since mid-2014, and its all-time high remains in 2006. HOG is trading over 50% below that high. The stock has seen a recent boost on the implication of a recovery trade. HOG has marginally recovered to pre-COVID levels, despite its earning estimates not projecting to reach its 2019 levels for years.
Now is the time to pull profits off this mature Baby Boomer brand that is on its way out without significant system changes in its brand recognition. HOG has more than doubled since its 2020 bottom, and it's time to pull those profits.
Final Thoughts
People are no longer excited about Harley's anymore. The business appears to be hitting a level of obsolescence as it looks at its glory days in the rearview mirror.
There is still a glimmer of hope that this motorcycle giant will be able to rebrand itself into something millennial-friendly. The success of this year's product releases will be telling in whether the company can evolve with the progressing consumer.
Additional content:
Consumer Spending on Video Games Jumps: 3 Picks
The videogame industry has been going through a dream run for quite some time, thanks to the pandemic that saw more people buying console games as they stayed at home. And 2021 too seems to have started on a high.
According to a new report from Safe Betting Sites, consumer spending on video games jumped over 40% in January. This includes spending across all categories including hardware, software and accessories.
January Videogame Spending Jumps
According to a report published in APN News, citing data from Safe Betting Sites Consumer spending on videogames in the United States jumped a solid 42% on a year-over-year-basis in January, reaching $4.7 billion. On a month-over-month basis, spending increased 25% to $7.7 billion. Globally, revenues from digital sales increased 15% in January.
The robust revenues were reported across all segments, with software sales jumping 36% increase from $3.06 million to $4.17 million in January. Hardware sales soared a whopping 144% to $319 million in January 2021 from $319 million a year ago. Sales of accessories surged 73% to $222 million from $128 million a year ago.
Videogame Industry on a High
Nintendo's Switch was the best-selling console in January, while Sony Corp.’s PS5 was the second-best performer. The videogame industry has been on a high for more than a year. The pandemic saw most people staying indoors that left them with not too many choices for entertainment. This saw more people buying videogames to spend idle time.
The rise in January comes after a solid fourth quarter in 2020 when sales jumped 26% year over year to $18.6 billion to hit a record high.
In fact, the videogame industry was already doing well for some time and the whole of 2020 proved to be a great year. According to a report from NPD Group, U.S. videogame sales hit $56.9 billion in 2020, increasing 27% year over year. This is also the highest sales generated ever.
Our Choices
The videogame industry has started 2021 on a high too. This thus makes it an opportune time to invest in gaming stocks that are sure to gain in the near term.
Sony Corp. designs, manufactures and sells several consumer and industrial electronic equipment. The company’s product roster comprises audio and video equipment, televisions, displays, semiconductors, electronic components, gaming consoles, computers and computer peripherals and telecommunication equipment.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 92.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 7.9% over the past 30 days. Sony has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
TakeTwo Interactive Software is a leading developer and publisher of video games. The company earns revenues from the sale of disk-based video game products, downloadable contents, subscription, micro-transactions and advertising.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 11.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 8.8% over the past 30 days. TakeTwo carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Capcom Co plans, develops, manufactures, sells and distributes consumer video games. Its operating segment consists of Digital Contents, Arcade Operations, Amusement Equipments and Other Businesses segments.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 43.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 12.5% over the past 60 days. Capcom has a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Shutterstock
Micron Tech, Harley-Davidson, Sony, TakeTwo Interactive Software and Capcom Co highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 9, 2021 – Zacks Equity Research Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) as the Bull of the Day, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG - Free Report) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Sony Corporation , TakeTwo Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO - Free Report) and Capcom Co., Ltd. (CCOEY - Free Report) .
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
Bull of the Day:
Micron Technology is the global king of memory chip technology and a driving force in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The company continues to impress analysts and investors alike, with MU shares having more than doubled since the end of August. The stock looks like it still has legs to keep this rally alive.
Micron's savvy management team sizably raised guidance for its fiscal Q2 quarter (February quarter earnings) across the income statement for revenues, margins, and earnings as demand for semiconductors exploded. This has catalyzed analysts to raise their price targets and EPS estimates alike, propelling MU into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
COVID Impact
The world digitized by years in a matter of months during this Pandemic as global economies were forced to leverage advanced technology in order to remain competitive amid the stay-at-home initiative. As economies recover, enterprise and consumer spending are poised to surge, and cutting-edge tech will be one of the first things this capital goes to. We are on the verge of hyperscaling super-cycle, and Micron is positioned to benefit heavily.
The 4th Industrial Revolution is taking off, and COVID-19 has catalyzed its acceleration. The digitalization of 2020 has ignited the world's thirst for advanced tech, and this is just the beginning.
The Business Attraction
The companies two largest segments are dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND (aka NAND flash memory), with end markets that include data centers, mobile tech, PCs, graphics, and automotive. These end markets have proliferated demand for Micron's cutting-edge chips.
DRAM is expected to maintain a long-term compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of mid-to-high teens. The rapidly expanding NAND market is expected to yield Micron a CAGR of approximately 30% as long-term demand for this technology accelerates. Micron's management team is also anticipating sizable cost reductions in the coming years.
DRAM made up 70% of the company's total topline according to its November quarter earnings, while Micron's growing NAND division made up 27% of revenues. Roughly 40% of its sales are propelled by its compute and networking segment (CNBU), which has been a beneficiary of the hyperscaling resurgence as businesses start to scale their data centers for cloud-computing, AI, data analytics, etc. CNBU saw 29% year-over-year expansion in its November quarter results (fiscal Q1).
The company's second-largest segment is mobile, which is poised to blast off in the nascent 5G super cycle of smartphones and the internet of this (IoT). Micron has a leading position in this space.
Upcoming Earnings Report
Micron is reporting its February quarter results (fiscal Q2) on March 31st, and expectations are elevated. According to Zacks Consensus estimates, analysts are anticipating an EPS of $0.89 on sales of $6.23 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 98% and 30%, respectively.
This business has a lot to prove in this upcoming report, with investors' expectations reaching new highs. The markets have formed a pattern of buying-the-rumor of a strong quarter and selling-the-news when the robust results are unveiled this past earnings season.
Micron's recent guidance increase earlier this month solidified many investors' already optimistic outlook for the business. Management rose its mid-point revenue guidance by over 7% and EPS by more than 27%.
Forward guidance and management sentiment will be the most important things to focus on in this upcoming quarterly report and earnings call that follows.
The Charts
MU has been a workhorse amid the tech sell-off these past 3 weeks, with every dip in the stock getting bought back up very quickly. You can see this bullish price action in just the last couple of trading days, with each morning dip being bought back up on sizable volume. MU has sizably outperformed the broader semiconductor space since August 21st.
Final Thoughts
Despite MU's substantial rally since August, the stock is still trading at a relative discount to the broader semiconductor sector, with a 12-month forward P/E of 13.2x compared to the sector's 19.4x. MU's resilience to broader tech sell-off illustrates this stock's bullish positioning in the semiconductor space, which is expected to have exuberant demand in the next 12-months.
Bear of the Day:
Harley-Davidson has been the symbol of the mid-life crisis for decades and has profited off the Baby Boomers, but there is a new group of consumers in town and their set of demands are shifting. The Chopper is going out of style and, unfortunately, leading its progenitor Harley-Davidson out with it. Analysts continue to pessimistically lower its already deflated EPS estimates for this seemingly antiquated stock, pushing HOG down to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
The End Of An Era
Harley-Davidson hit its peak sales and profitability in 2014 and has since been experiencing a decline. The massive demographic shift in consumption is catalyzing this demand slump. Millennials recently overtook Boomers as the largest consuming generation, and they are making some profound changes to the retail landscape (e.g., the retail apocalypse). One of the unfortunate victims of this consumption change has been Harley and its iconic motorcycles.
This is not to say the Harley isn't making an effort to shape their brand image around the evolving consumer. The company has come out with a line of fully electric bikes and has a pipeline of sleek new designs and an eBicycle, which are to be released next year.
These brand-changing efforts may be fruitless as millennials and younger generations turn against some of the brands of their parents' and grandparents' generations as they are no longer "fashionable." Unfortunately, I don't believe Harley will be able to shake its chopper brand association quickly.
COVID, Financials & Chart
Harley has experienced 9 straight quarters of topline declines, with its profits tumbling from $254 million in the second quarter of 2018 to a ($68) million decline this past quarter. COVID-19 pummeled Harley's sales and drove the company's bottom line to its lowest level in the company's public history.
This most recent recession was very different from the systemic financial downfall, and I would have thought Harley Davidson would have fared much better in this medically induced recession.
With mortality at the forefront of many consumers' minds, I think there is more demand for "exciting" purchases like Tesla and Malibu Boats, with their respective stocks reaching all-time highs this year.
This stock's drop accentuates the downward trend HOG has been experiencing since mid-2014, and its all-time high remains in 2006. HOG is trading over 50% below that high. The stock has seen a recent boost on the implication of a recovery trade. HOG has marginally recovered to pre-COVID levels, despite its earning estimates not projecting to reach its 2019 levels for years.
Now is the time to pull profits off this mature Baby Boomer brand that is on its way out without significant system changes in its brand recognition. HOG has more than doubled since its 2020 bottom, and it's time to pull those profits.
Final Thoughts
People are no longer excited about Harley's anymore. The business appears to be hitting a level of obsolescence as it looks at its glory days in the rearview mirror.
There is still a glimmer of hope that this motorcycle giant will be able to rebrand itself into something millennial-friendly. The success of this year's product releases will be telling in whether the company can evolve with the progressing consumer.
Additional content:
Consumer Spending on Video Games Jumps: 3 Picks
The videogame industry has been going through a dream run for quite some time, thanks to the pandemic that saw more people buying console games as they stayed at home. And 2021 too seems to have started on a high.
According to a new report from Safe Betting Sites, consumer spending on video games jumped over 40% in January. This includes spending across all categories including hardware, software and accessories.
January Videogame Spending Jumps
According to a report published in APN News, citing data from Safe Betting Sites Consumer spending on videogames in the United States jumped a solid 42% on a year-over-year-basis in January, reaching $4.7 billion. On a month-over-month basis, spending increased 25% to $7.7 billion. Globally, revenues from digital sales increased 15% in January.
The robust revenues were reported across all segments, with software sales jumping 36% increase from $3.06 million to $4.17 million in January. Hardware sales soared a whopping 144% to $319 million in January 2021 from $319 million a year ago. Sales of accessories surged 73% to $222 million from $128 million a year ago.
Videogame Industry on a High
Nintendo's Switch was the best-selling console in January, while Sony Corp.’s PS5 was the second-best performer. The videogame industry has been on a high for more than a year. The pandemic saw most people staying indoors that left them with not too many choices for entertainment. This saw more people buying videogames to spend idle time.
The rise in January comes after a solid fourth quarter in 2020 when sales jumped 26% year over year to $18.6 billion to hit a record high.
In fact, the videogame industry was already doing well for some time and the whole of 2020 proved to be a great year. According to a report from NPD Group, U.S. videogame sales hit $56.9 billion in 2020, increasing 27% year over year. This is also the highest sales generated ever.
Our Choices
The videogame industry has started 2021 on a high too. This thus makes it an opportune time to invest in gaming stocks that are sure to gain in the near term.
Sony Corp. designs, manufactures and sells several consumer and industrial electronic equipment. The company’s product roster comprises audio and video equipment, televisions, displays, semiconductors, electronic components, gaming consoles, computers and computer peripherals and telecommunication equipment.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 92.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 7.9% over the past 30 days. Sony has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
TakeTwo Interactive Software is a leading developer and publisher of video games. The company earns revenues from the sale of disk-based video game products, downloadable contents, subscription, micro-transactions and advertising.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 11.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 8.8% over the past 30 days. TakeTwo carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Capcom Co plans, develops, manufactures, sells and distributes consumer video games. Its operating segment consists of Digital Contents, Arcade Operations, Amusement Equipments and Other Businesses segments.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 43.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 12.5% over the past 60 days. Capcom has a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.