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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturer, Holcim and Iberdrola

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 5, 2024 – 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 and ETFs recently featured in the blog include: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturer Co. (TSM - Free Report) , Holcim Ltd. (HCMLY - Free Report) and Iberdrola, S.A. (IBDRY - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Construction Drives Growth: Zacks August Market Strategy

The following is an excerpt from Zacks Chief Strategist John Blank’s full Aug Market Strategy reportTo access the full PDF,click here.

Late summer is here.

The construction sector, both non-residential and residential, is leading the way.

To real output growth.

Construction Industry and U.S. Markets

The Construction sector in the USA has been a ‘hot’ area to invest in over the last two post-COVID years.

In terms of Macro-Economics variable, I can show you how this narrative played out, for both Residential and Non-Residential Construction.

From 2020 to 2022, ultra-easy Fed monetary policy cut down 30-year fixed Housing mortgage rates in the USA, lifting the Average and Median sales price for U.S. homes — whether existing or new — to new sales price heights.

Once the Fed hiked policy rates to 5.33%, sending 30-year fixed mortgage rates up to 7 to 8%? The U.S. housing narrative changed dramatically. As the top right chart shows, Houses Sold has gone sideways for 7 seven years. Meanwhile Houses for Sale have expanded dramatically. Where does this noted imbalance go from here? We shall see!

Then, add on the dramatic Non-residential Construction spending boom, driven up by the U.S. infrastructure package.

The Zacks August 2024 Sector/Industry/Company Telescope

The July 31st, 2024 Zacks Industry Ranks showed a more cyclical set-up.

The late summer ranks showed three Very Attractive sectors: Info Tech and Industrials again. Plus Utilities.

The ranks showed three Attractive sectors: Consumer Discretionary, Financials and Health Care.

Zacks Industry Ranks showed just two Market Weight sectors: Communication Services and Materials.

Energy and Consumer Staples were found at the back, as two Unattractive sectors.

(1) Info Tech stayed Very Attractive. Misc. Tech and Semis led again.

Zacks #1 Rank (STRONG BUY): Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM - Free Report)

Company Description: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturer Co. is the world's largest dedicated integrated circuit foundry.

As a foundry, the company manufactures integrated chips (ICs) for its customers based on their proprietary IC designs using its advanced production processes.

TSM's goal is to establish itself as one of the world's leading semiconductor companies by building upon the strengths that have made it the leading IC foundry in the world.

(2) Industrials stayed Very Attractive. Business Products, Conglomerates, Machinery – Electrical, and Construction – Building Services kept looking strong.

Zacks #1 Rank (STRONG BUY): Holcim Ltd. ADR (HCMLY - Free Report)

Company Description: Holcim Ltd. provides building solutions. Its business segment includes Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates and Solutions & Products.

Holcim Ltd., formerly known as LaFarge-Holcim, is based in Zug, Switzerland.

(3) Utilities rose to Very Attractive from Market Weight. Utility - Telephone and Utility-Gas Distribution looked best.

Zacks #1 Rank (STRONG BUY): Iberdrola (IBDRY - Free Report)

Company Description: Iberdrola, S.A. operates as an energy group, which provides utilities and wind power.

It is primarily involved in electricity distribution, gas distribution and telecommunications.

In its electricity distribution segment, it plans, develops and operates the distribution network, provides the service within regulatory quality of service, measures usage at the supply points, bills access and full rates until the last resort rate is established and runs demand management programs.

The main work of gas distribution segment involves carrying gas from the network to the end user's installation.

The company also operates telecommunications infrastructure which consists of different networks such as backbone (fiber optic and PLC), transmission, data-switching, voice-switching and radio.

Iberdrola, S.A. is based in Bilbao, Spain.

(4) Consumer Discretionary stayed Attractive. Non-food Retail/Wholesale looked good.

(5) Financials rose to Attractive from Market Weight. Banks-Major looked best.

(6) Health Care rose to Attractive from Market Weight. Medical Products looked best.

(7) Communications Services stayed at Market Weight. Telco Equipment was the best.

(8) Materials rose to Market Weight from Unattractive. Containers & Glass look strong.

(9) Energy fell to Unattractive from Attractive. Oil/Gas Pipelines looked the best.

(10) Consumer Staples fell to Unattractive from Market Weight. Tobacco and Food/Drug Retail were the strongest groups.

Conclusion

Seeing a cyclical Zacks sector set-up is a strong tell.

Real U.S. (and global) growth remains strong.

Enjoy the rest of my August 2024 Zacks Market Strategy report!

Warm regards,

John Blank, PhD
Zacks Chief Equity Strategist and Economist

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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.

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