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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Mastercard, Home Depot, Disney, Netflix and Medtronic

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – May 14, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) , The Home Depot, Inc. (HD - Free Report) , The Walt Disney Company (DIS - Free Report) , Netflix, Inc. (NFLX - Free Report) and Medtronic plc (MDT - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Mastercard, Home Depot and Disney

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 12 major stocks, including Mastercard, The Home Depot, and The Walt Disney Co.. 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 >>>

Shares of Mastercard have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry in the last one-year period (+28.6% vs. +16.8%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company's several acquisitions helped it expand its addressable markets, drive new revenue streams and strengthen core product solutions.

Further, it is gaining from solid demand for digital and contactless solutions amid the COVID crisis. The company is well-poised to gain from its consistent cash-generating abilities. Strong capital position boosts investment in business.

However, steep costs might stress its margins. Its cross-border volumes will also remain suppressed due to COVID-led restrictions on travel and entertainment.

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

Shares of Home Depot have outperformed the Zacks Building Products - Retail industry in the year-to-date period (+19.4% vs. +16.4%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company outpaced the industry in year-to-date courtesy of its fundamental strength and a robust surprise trend with third straight quarter of earnings and sales beat posted in fourth-quarter fiscal 2020.

During the quarter, the company witnessed continued strong demand for home improvement projects. Also, broad-based strength across its business and geographies led to comparable sales growth.

It also gained from strong growth in its Pro and DIY customer categories. Its interconnected retail strategy and underlying technology infrastructure have helped boost web traffic in fiscal 2020. However, the company has been witnessing soft margins on higher expenses. Negative product mix and pressures from shrink and higher transportation costs have been headwinds.

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

Walt Disney shares have gained +67.9% in the last one-year period against the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry's gain of +68.8%. The Zacks analyst believes that Disney benefits from the growing popularity of Disney+, owing to a strong content portfolio and a cheaper bundle offering as reflected by first-quarter fiscal 2021 results.

Moreover, availability in the Nordics and Latin America will help in further expanding user base. Further, reopening of California theme parks will boost top-line growth.

Nevertheless, disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak are expected to hurt the top line in the near term. Cruise line business remains close and its re-opened resorts are operating at a lower capacity, thereby negatively impacting top-line. Moreover, a leveraged balance sheet remains a headwind.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Netflix and Medtronic.

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