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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Wal-Mart, 3M, Union Pacific, Humana and Duke Energy

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Jan 16, 2018 – 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 Wal-Mart (WMT - Free Report) , 3M (MMM - Free Report) , Union Pacific (UNP - Free Report) , Humana (HUM - Free Report) and Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) .

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Wal-Mart, 3M and Union Pacific

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 Wal-Mart, 3M and Union Pacific. 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 >>>

Buy-ratedWal-Mart’s shares have been strong performers lately, with the stock up +32.1% over the last six months, outperforming the S&P 500's +13.3% gain in the same time period. Wal-Mart Stores, recently announced plans to drop the “hyphen” and “stores” from its name to officially emerge as an omnichannel retailer.

The company has been riding on its robust past record, which derives strength from constant e-commerce initiatives, like buyouts, alliances, surging grocery business and improved delivery systems. Thanks to these trends, along with solid traffic, Walmart’s third-quarter fiscal 2018 marked its ninth and 13th straight quarter of positive earnings surprise and comps growth, respectively.

Also, the company’s international business remains a growth driver. However, costs associated with technological and e-commerce investments; mix impact from growing e-commerce operations and a compelling pricing strategy have been hurting Walmart’s gross margin for a while now. Stiff competition and volatile consumer spending also pose threats.

(You can read the full research report on Wal-Mart here >>>).

Shares of Buy-rated 3M have gained +11.8% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, which has gained +1.9% over the same period. The Zacks analyst likes 3M's global footprint, diversified product portfolio and ability to penetrate different markets.

Moreover, 3M is continuing with its portfolio restructuring efforts by divesting assets that no longer fit in its strategy and continues to make investments in other lucrative markets. Portfolio management, investment in innovation and business transformation are the three key levers on which 3M intends to focus. 3M also intends to continue investing in capital expenditures and R&D to support organic growth as it aims a prudent capital structure strategy and increased capital deployment.

Furthermore, 3M is standardizing its business processes through a new, global ERP system and expects to save $500 to $700 million annually by 2020. However, high pension expenses continue to be a drag on the company’s bottom line.

(You can read the full research report on 3M here >>>).

Buy-ratedUnion Pacific’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Rail industry as well as fellow railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corporation over the last six months. While Union Pacific has gained 29.5%, the industry it belongs to and Norfolk Southern have rallied 15.5% and 25%, respectively, in the same time period.

The Zacks analyst expects volume growth to aid Union Pacific's results in the fourth quarter of 2017. Key segments like intermodal and chemicals should drive growth. Detailed results should be out on Jan 25. The company's efforts to reward shareholders through share buybacks and dividend payouts are also impressive. Its efforts to cut costs to drive its bottom line are encouraging too.

The positive sentiment surrounding the stock can be made out from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings has been revised 0.7% upward over the last 60 days. However, declining automotive volumes and high debt levels are concerns.

(You can read the full research report on Union Pacific here >>>).

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Humana and Duke Energy.

Wall Street’s Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

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Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

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 >>.

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