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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Applied Materials, Philip Morris, Valero Energy, Crimson Wine and Global Self Storage
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 18 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks and ETFs 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: Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) , Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) , Valero Energy Corp. (VLO - Free Report) , Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. (CWGL - Free Report) and Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Analyst Reports for Applied Materials, Philip Morris and Valero Energy
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 Applied Materials, Inc., Philip Morris International Inc. and Valero Energy Corp., as well as two micro-cap stocks Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. and Global Self Storage, Inc. The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
Applied Materials’ shares have outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry over the year-to-date period (+64.3% vs. +23.3%). The company is benefiting from AI-driven investment that is concentrating wafer fabrication spending in leading-edge foundry-logic, DRAM and advanced packaging, where its materials engineering portfolio has broad exposure.
New process tools, rising advanced packaging demand and a larger connected service base support continued share capture and value-based pricing. Longer customer forecasts and planned manufacturing expansion improve visibility into another growth year, while recurring services and disciplined capital returns add resilience.
However, risks remain from capital spending cyclicality, reliance on large customers, China-related export controls, competitive intensity and the execution burden of scaling capacity. Even so, the current demand mix and margin trajectory support an Outperform view over the next cycle.
Shares of Philip Morris have outperformed the Zacks Tobacco industry over the year-to-date period (+21.4% vs. +17%). The company has been benefiting from strong pricing power, favorable product mix and steady growth in its smoke-free portfolio. IQOS, ZYN and VEEV continue to support the company’s transition across key markets, with smoke-free products contributing about 42% of second-quarter 2026 revenues.
In the first half, net revenues rose 9.8% and adjusted EPS increased 15.6%, while productivity savings helped offset higher investments in innovation, marketing and commercial initiatives.
However, cigarette volumes remain in structural decline, with full-year shipments expected to fall 2-3%. The U.S. business also remains under pressure from weaker first-half results, elevated spending and execution risks related to ZYN and IQOS ILUMA. Regulatory restrictions on tobacco products remain another key concern for long-term demand and profitability.
Valero Energy’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry over the year-to-date period (+151.8% vs. +138.8%). The company’s performance reflects a favorable mix of refining scale, feedstock flexibility, export reach and disciplined capital returns. Tight global product inventories and constrained refining capacity support margin capture, while access to discounted heavy crude reinforces its complex system.
Renewable diesel and ethanol add earnings diversity, and the St. Charles optimization project should lift high-value output. Ample liquidity and low net leverage support buybacks and operational investment.
However, risks remain from refining margin normalization, California supply changes, low-carbon policy and Port Arthur repair execution. Commodity volatility can also delay the release of excess cash and make shareholder returns less predictable. Even so, asset quality, earnings breadth and financial flexibility support an Outperform view.
Shares of Crimson Wine have underperformed the Zacks Beverages - Alcohol industry over the year-to-date period (-10.2% vs. +15.1%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $94.04 million is facing risks which include weakness in wine-club and tasting-room activity, pressure on direct-to-consumer margins, and uncertainty from a major distributor’s bankruptcy. Elevated leverage, reduced liquidity, refinancing concentration and a more constrained capital-allocation profile also increase sensitivity to operating performance and the pace of earnings normalization.
Nevertheless, Crimson’s investment case is supported by its vertically integrated estate model, which strengthens sourcing control, supports premium positioning and promotes long-term cost efficiency.
The Raeburn acquisition has broadened the brand portfolio and strengthened wholesale scale, while the planned Double Canyon asset sale could simplify the portfolio and improve financial flexibility. Wholesale momentum is supporting growth, and the high-margin direct-to-consumer channel remains strategically important despite softer demand.
Global Self Storage’s shares have gained +5.9% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry’s gain of +11.1%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $58.25 million has its investment case supported by its focus on underserved secondary and tertiary markets, high occupancy, long tenant retention, disciplined pricing and technology-enabled operations.
Global Self Storage’s fragmented-market opportunity, third-party management platform, redevelopment activity and available liquidity provide multiple avenues for expansion. However, elevated operating-cost growth, weaker net operating income (NOI) and AFFO, limited revenue monetization at already-high occupancy and a relatively small portfolio constrain near-term earnings leverage.
The high payout ratio also limits dividend flexibility, while rising overhead and potential equity dilution warrant monitoring. The valuation suggests that further upside will likely depend on stronger operating performance, improved cash-flow generation and successful execution of SELF’s growth initiatives.
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
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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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Applied Materials, Philip Morris, Valero Energy, Crimson Wine and Global Self Storage
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 18 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks and ETFs 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: Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) , Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) , Valero Energy Corp. (VLO - Free Report) , Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. (CWGL - Free Report) and Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Analyst Reports for Applied Materials, Philip Morris and Valero Energy
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 Applied Materials, Inc., Philip Morris International Inc. and Valero Energy Corp., as well as two micro-cap stocks Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. and Global Self Storage, Inc. The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
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 >>>
Today's Featured Research Reports
Applied Materials’ shares have outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry over the year-to-date period (+64.3% vs. +23.3%). The company is benefiting from AI-driven investment that is concentrating wafer fabrication spending in leading-edge foundry-logic, DRAM and advanced packaging, where its materials engineering portfolio has broad exposure.
New process tools, rising advanced packaging demand and a larger connected service base support continued share capture and value-based pricing. Longer customer forecasts and planned manufacturing expansion improve visibility into another growth year, while recurring services and disciplined capital returns add resilience.
However, risks remain from capital spending cyclicality, reliance on large customers, China-related export controls, competitive intensity and the execution burden of scaling capacity. Even so, the current demand mix and margin trajectory support an Outperform view over the next cycle.
(You can read the full research report on Applied Materials here >>>)
Shares of Philip Morris have outperformed the Zacks Tobacco industry over the year-to-date period (+21.4% vs. +17%). The company has been benefiting from strong pricing power, favorable product mix and steady growth in its smoke-free portfolio. IQOS, ZYN and VEEV continue to support the company’s transition across key markets, with smoke-free products contributing about 42% of second-quarter 2026 revenues.
In the first half, net revenues rose 9.8% and adjusted EPS increased 15.6%, while productivity savings helped offset higher investments in innovation, marketing and commercial initiatives.
However, cigarette volumes remain in structural decline, with full-year shipments expected to fall 2-3%. The U.S. business also remains under pressure from weaker first-half results, elevated spending and execution risks related to ZYN and IQOS ILUMA. Regulatory restrictions on tobacco products remain another key concern for long-term demand and profitability.
(You can read the full research report on Philip Morris here >>>)
Valero Energy’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry over the year-to-date period (+151.8% vs. +138.8%). The company’s performance reflects a favorable mix of refining scale, feedstock flexibility, export reach and disciplined capital returns. Tight global product inventories and constrained refining capacity support margin capture, while access to discounted heavy crude reinforces its complex system.
Renewable diesel and ethanol add earnings diversity, and the St. Charles optimization project should lift high-value output. Ample liquidity and low net leverage support buybacks and operational investment.
However, risks remain from refining margin normalization, California supply changes, low-carbon policy and Port Arthur repair execution. Commodity volatility can also delay the release of excess cash and make shareholder returns less predictable. Even so, asset quality, earnings breadth and financial flexibility support an Outperform view.
(You can read the full research report on Valero Energy here >>>)
Shares of Crimson Wine have underperformed the Zacks Beverages - Alcohol industry over the year-to-date period (-10.2% vs. +15.1%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $94.04 million is facing risks which include weakness in wine-club and tasting-room activity, pressure on direct-to-consumer margins, and uncertainty from a major distributor’s bankruptcy. Elevated leverage, reduced liquidity, refinancing concentration and a more constrained capital-allocation profile also increase sensitivity to operating performance and the pace of earnings normalization.
Nevertheless, Crimson’s investment case is supported by its vertically integrated estate model, which strengthens sourcing control, supports premium positioning and promotes long-term cost efficiency.
The Raeburn acquisition has broadened the brand portfolio and strengthened wholesale scale, while the planned Double Canyon asset sale could simplify the portfolio and improve financial flexibility. Wholesale momentum is supporting growth, and the high-margin direct-to-consumer channel remains strategically important despite softer demand.
(You can read the full research report on Crimson Wine here >>>)
Global Self Storage’s shares have gained +5.9% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry’s gain of +11.1%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $58.25 million has its investment case supported by its focus on underserved secondary and tertiary markets, high occupancy, long tenant retention, disciplined pricing and technology-enabled operations.
Global Self Storage’s fragmented-market opportunity, third-party management platform, redevelopment activity and available liquidity provide multiple avenues for expansion. However, elevated operating-cost growth, weaker net operating income (NOI) and AFFO, limited revenue monetization at already-high occupancy and a relatively small portfolio constrain near-term earnings leverage.
The high payout ratio also limits dividend flexibility, while rising overhead and potential equity dilution warrant monitoring. The valuation suggests that further upside will likely depend on stronger operating performance, improved cash-flow generation and successful execution of SELF’s growth initiatives.
(You can read the full research report on Global Self Storage here >>>)
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
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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.