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.
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: UBS Group, IBM, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 20, 2017 – 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 UBS Group AG (NYSE:(UBS - Free Report) – Free Report), IBM Corporation (NYSE:(IBM - Free Report) – Free Report), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:(MSFT - Free Report) – Free Report) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:(JPM - Free Report) – Free Report).
4 Stocks in Focus as Blockchain Technology Gathers Steam
Blockchain is touted as the next game-changer in the tech sector. The underlying technology behind bitcoin mining and trading has rapidly gained traction over the last few years, driven by accelerated multi-industrial adoption.
The technology is primarily used for tracking transactions related to digital assets or documents, particularly in industries like banking, financial services and insurance.
The commercial versions of blockchain currently in use are mostly based on either Ethereum or Hyperledger technology. While Hyperledger is an open source global collaboration hosted by the Linux Foundation, Ethereum has been developed by a Swiss non-profit called Ethereum Foundation.
In April, the Hyperledger Technical Steering Committee (TSC) approved a proposal to incubate Burrow, a permissionable smart contract machine. Burrow is the first Ethereum-derived project to get this kind of approval. We expect the integration between the different approaches of the two communities to improve in the near future. This will accelerate the mainstream adoption of blockchain.
Enhanced Security Drives Blockchain’s Growth
Adoption of the technology has increased due to the fact that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) that blockchain is based on ensures secured data storage and transmission. As every member involved in the consortium using the data can see the changes made, a breach is unlikely. This makes the process even more trustworthy.
Moreover, the decentralized database puts a check on hacking and double counting, thereby decreasing the possibilities of monetary losses via cyber crime.
With increasing instances of cybercrime, which per a recent report by Juniper Research is expected to cost global businesses over $8 trillion in the next five years, the secured ledger-based technology is bound to gain further importance.
Moreover, blockchain technology is projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2021 from $210.2 million in 2016 at a CAGR of 61.5%, per data from MarketsandMarkets.
4 Stocks to Gain from the Blockchain Boom
Swiss Bank UBS Group AG (NYSE:(UBS - Free Report) – Free Report) is playing an instrumental role in bringing blockchain mainstream. The company is a co-founder of the Utility Settlement Coin (USC) system that helps banks and other financial institutions to process faster security transactions among themselves.
Deutsche Bank, Santander and BNY Mellon were already a part of the initiative, which was announced last August. Most recently, six other financial institutions – Barclays, HSBC, State Street, Credit Suisse, MUFG and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce – joined the consortium.
IBM Corporation (NYSE:(IBM - Free Report) – Free Report) is currently the dominant player in the blockchain market. Recently, CNBC quoted Juniper Research, which placed IBM above Microsoft in blockchain related advancements.
IBM uses hyperledger technology for its blockchain applications and is also a key member of the Hyperledger committee. This enables it to gain access to prior notification of any changes in the underlying infrastructure.
IBM has been winning significant deals in recent times. The company has struck bank guarantee deals with ANZ and Westpac and a multi-line insurance contract with American International Group and Standard Chartered PLC.
IBM has also inked a deal with global food suppliers and another one with automobile manufacturer, ZF Friedrichshafen to enhance its Car e-Wallet technology.
IBM has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Microsoft Corporation(Nasdaq:(MSFT - Free Report) – Free Report) is another prominent provider of blockchain technology. The company’s solutions are built on Ethereum. However, it is not a member of the concerned foundation, which is hurting its ability to win customers compared with IBM.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has been aggressively trying to expand its footprint in the technology domain. The collaboration with Accenture and the unveiling of the Coco framework for faster and secure blockchain-based transactions are some of its key initiatives. Moreover, the company recently announced a contract with Israeli Bank Hapoalim that will boost its penetration in the blockchain market.
Microsoft also carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Despite being huge a critic of bitcoins, U.S.-banking giant JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:(JPM - Free Report) – Free Report) has left no stone unturned to develop solutions using the underlying technology.
JPMorgan is currently involved in the development of an enterprise focused version of blockchain called Quorum, which is based on Ethereum technology.
This initiative was taken up by the company after it reportedly exited a behemoth blockchain collaboration in April 2017 that was backed by around 80 financial institutions led by New York based start-up, RS CEV. The consortium aims at developing finance sector related blockchain technology.
JPMorgan currently has a Zacks Rank #3.
To Conclude
The increasing adoption of blockchain technology is expected to cut down on expenses as it will limit data theft related losses. This in turn will have a positive impact on consumer margins and the bottom line. We believe that the above mentioned stocks are solid picks for investors looking to benefit from blockchain’s increasing adoption.
4 Promising Stock Picks to Keep an Eye On
With news stories about computer hacking and identity theft becoming increasingly commonplace, the cybersecurity industry looks like a promising investment opportunity. But which stocks should you buy? Zacks just released Cybersecurity: An Investor’s Guide to Locking Down Profits to help answer this question.
This new Special Report gives you the information you need to make well-informed investment choices in this space. More importantly, it also highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential.
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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: Bigstock
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: UBS Group, IBM, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 20, 2017 – 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 UBS Group AG (NYSE:(UBS - Free Report) – Free Report), IBM Corporation (NYSE:(IBM - Free Report) – Free Report), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:(MSFT - Free Report) – Free Report) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:(JPM - Free Report) – Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:
4 Stocks in Focus as Blockchain Technology Gathers Steam
Blockchain is touted as the next game-changer in the tech sector. The underlying technology behind bitcoin mining and trading has rapidly gained traction over the last few years, driven by accelerated multi-industrial adoption.
The technology is primarily used for tracking transactions related to digital assets or documents, particularly in industries like banking, financial services and insurance.
The commercial versions of blockchain currently in use are mostly based on either Ethereum or Hyperledger technology. While Hyperledger is an open source global collaboration hosted by the Linux Foundation, Ethereum has been developed by a Swiss non-profit called Ethereum Foundation.
In April, the Hyperledger Technical Steering Committee (TSC) approved a proposal to incubate Burrow, a permissionable smart contract machine. Burrow is the first Ethereum-derived project to get this kind of approval. We expect the integration between the different approaches of the two communities to improve in the near future. This will accelerate the mainstream adoption of blockchain.
Enhanced Security Drives Blockchain’s Growth
Adoption of the technology has increased due to the fact that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) that blockchain is based on ensures secured data storage and transmission. As every member involved in the consortium using the data can see the changes made, a breach is unlikely. This makes the process even more trustworthy.
Moreover, the decentralized database puts a check on hacking and double counting, thereby decreasing the possibilities of monetary losses via cyber crime.
With increasing instances of cybercrime, which per a recent report by Juniper Research is expected to cost global businesses over $8 trillion in the next five years, the secured ledger-based technology is bound to gain further importance.
Moreover, blockchain technology is projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2021 from $210.2 million in 2016 at a CAGR of 61.5%, per data from MarketsandMarkets.
4 Stocks to Gain from the Blockchain Boom
Swiss Bank UBS Group AG (NYSE:(UBS - Free Report) – Free Report) is playing an instrumental role in bringing blockchain mainstream. The company is a co-founder of the Utility Settlement Coin (USC) system that helps banks and other financial institutions to process faster security transactions among themselves.
Deutsche Bank, Santander and BNY Mellon were already a part of the initiative, which was announced last August. Most recently, six other financial institutions – Barclays, HSBC, State Street, Credit Suisse, MUFG and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce – joined the consortium.
UBS currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
IBM Corporation (NYSE:(IBM - Free Report) – Free Report) is currently the dominant player in the blockchain market. Recently, CNBC quoted Juniper Research, which placed IBM above Microsoft in blockchain related advancements.
IBM uses hyperledger technology for its blockchain applications and is also a key member of the Hyperledger committee. This enables it to gain access to prior notification of any changes in the underlying infrastructure.
IBM has been winning significant deals in recent times. The company has struck bank guarantee deals with ANZ and Westpac and a multi-line insurance contract with American International Group and Standard Chartered PLC.
IBM has also inked a deal with global food suppliers and another one with automobile manufacturer, ZF Friedrichshafen to enhance its Car e-Wallet technology.
IBM has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Microsoft Corporation(Nasdaq:(MSFT - Free Report) – Free Report) is another prominent provider of blockchain technology. The company’s solutions are built on Ethereum. However, it is not a member of the concerned foundation, which is hurting its ability to win customers compared with IBM.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has been aggressively trying to expand its footprint in the technology domain. The collaboration with Accenture and the unveiling of the Coco framework for faster and secure blockchain-based transactions are some of its key initiatives. Moreover, the company recently announced a contract with Israeli Bank Hapoalim that will boost its penetration in the blockchain market.
Microsoft also carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Despite being huge a critic of bitcoins, U.S.-banking giant JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:(JPM - Free Report) – Free Report) has left no stone unturned to develop solutions using the underlying technology.
JPMorgan is currently involved in the development of an enterprise focused version of blockchain called Quorum, which is based on Ethereum technology.
This initiative was taken up by the company after it reportedly exited a behemoth blockchain collaboration in April 2017 that was backed by around 80 financial institutions led by New York based start-up, RS CEV. The consortium aims at developing finance sector related blockchain technology.
JPMorgan currently has a Zacks Rank #3.
To Conclude
The increasing adoption of blockchain technology is expected to cut down on expenses as it will limit data theft related losses. This in turn will have a positive impact on consumer margins and the bottom line. We believe that the above mentioned stocks are solid picks for investors looking to benefit from blockchain’s increasing adoption.
4 Promising Stock Picks to Keep an Eye On
With news stories about computer hacking and identity theft becoming increasingly commonplace, the cybersecurity industry looks like a promising investment opportunity. But which stocks should you buy? Zacks just released Cybersecurity: An Investor’s Guide to Locking Down Profits to help answer this question.
This new Special Report gives you the information you need to make well-informed investment choices in this space. More importantly, it also highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential.
Get the new Investing Guide now>>
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Get the full Report on UBS - FREE
Get the full Report on IBM - FREE
Get the full Report on MSFT - FREE
Get the full Report on JPM - FREE
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com/
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.