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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights ExxonMobil, Automatic Data Processing and Cadence Design, BranchOut Food
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 28, 2026 – 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: ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. (XOM - Free Report) , Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP - Free Report) and Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS - Free Report) , as well a micro-cap stock BranchOut Food Inc. (BOF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Analyst Reports for ExxonMobil, Automatic Data Processing and Cadence
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 ExxonMobil Holdings Corp., Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Cadence Design Systems, Inc., as well a micro-cap stock BranchOut Food 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.
ExxonMobil’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry over the year-to-date period (+37.4% vs. +14.9%). The company’s investment case remains balanced between advantaged upstream growth and persistent market risk.
Record Permian output, continued Guyana development and LNG expansion support long-duration production and cash flow, while structural cost savings and low leverage strengthen financial flexibility and shareholder returns. However, earnings remain exposed to volatile oil, gas, refining and chemical markets, with Middle East disruptions adding operating uncertainty.
The pause of the Baytown blue hydrogen project due to insufficient demand also highlights weaker commercial visibility for emerging businesses and greater policy sensitivity. Product Solutions results can swing sharply with market conditions, while returns from newer investments depend on execution, customer adoption and durable demand over time.
Shares of Automatic Data Processing have gained +4.6% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Internet - Software industry’s gain of +11.7%. The company’s global scale, broad HCM suite and AI-enabled service model support steady revenue growth and operating efficiency.
Automatic Data Processingss expanding enterprise offerings and targeted acquisitions deepen workforce management and compensation capabilities, while recurring cash generation supports dividends and share repurchases. However, the PEO business faces margin compression from zero-margin benefit pass-throughs, workers’ compensation and selling costs.
Competition for clients and skilled associates remains a risk and Employer Services retention is expected to ease modestly. Regulatory complexity also raises execution demands across ADP’s footprint, even as it supports demand for compliance expertise. The Zacks analyst maintain a Neutral recommendation on it in anticipation of a cheaper entry for investors.
Cadence’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the year-to-date period (+3% vs. -5%). The company is benefiting from higher design complexity and rising customer spend on AI-driven automation. Amid rapid AI expansion, the Cadence.ai portfolio has been gaining strength and the new product launches (like ChipStack, ViraStack and InnoStack AI Super Agents) are expected to aid in sustaining the momentum.
The hardware systems continue to gain traction from AI, high-performance computing ("HPC"), robotics and automotive companies. Record backlog and a higher 2026 revenue outlook support visibility, while recurring revenues remain a stabilizing feature of the model.
Management now expects 2026 revenues in the band of $6.26-$6.34 billion compared with $5.3 billion in 2025. Stiff competition in the EDA space, along with heavy reliance on international markets and high goodwill and intangible assets on the balance sheet, remain concerns.
Shares of BranchOut Food have outperformed the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry over the year-to-date period (+22.3% vs. -0.7%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $63.25 million has its investment case increasingly supported by better revenue visibility, expanding recurring retail programs, a growing ingredient business and broader product applications.
Rising factory utilization and improved sourcing could strengthen unit economics as production scales, while European private-label opportunities add another potential growth channel. However, the outlook remains balanced by meaningful execution and financial risks. Liquidity remains tight, growth requires substantial working capital, and continued financing could lead to dilution.
Manufacturing is concentrated at a single facility, while customer concentration remains high. Sustained operating leverage will depend on converting higher volumes into improved profitability while keeping manufacturing and corporate costs under control.
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 ExxonMobil, Automatic Data Processing and Cadence Design, BranchOut Food
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 28, 2026 – 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: ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. (XOM - Free Report) , Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP - Free Report) and Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS - Free Report) , as well a micro-cap stock BranchOut Food Inc. (BOF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Analyst Reports for ExxonMobil, Automatic Data Processing and Cadence
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 ExxonMobil Holdings Corp., Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Cadence Design Systems, Inc., as well a micro-cap stock BranchOut Food 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
ExxonMobil’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry over the year-to-date period (+37.4% vs. +14.9%). The company’s investment case remains balanced between advantaged upstream growth and persistent market risk.
Record Permian output, continued Guyana development and LNG expansion support long-duration production and cash flow, while structural cost savings and low leverage strengthen financial flexibility and shareholder returns. However, earnings remain exposed to volatile oil, gas, refining and chemical markets, with Middle East disruptions adding operating uncertainty.
The pause of the Baytown blue hydrogen project due to insufficient demand also highlights weaker commercial visibility for emerging businesses and greater policy sensitivity. Product Solutions results can swing sharply with market conditions, while returns from newer investments depend on execution, customer adoption and durable demand over time.
(You can read the full research report on ExxonMobil here >>>)
Shares of Automatic Data Processing have gained +4.6% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Internet - Software industry’s gain of +11.7%. The company’s global scale, broad HCM suite and AI-enabled service model support steady revenue growth and operating efficiency.
Automatic Data Processingss expanding enterprise offerings and targeted acquisitions deepen workforce management and compensation capabilities, while recurring cash generation supports dividends and share repurchases. However, the PEO business faces margin compression from zero-margin benefit pass-throughs, workers’ compensation and selling costs.
Competition for clients and skilled associates remains a risk and Employer Services retention is expected to ease modestly. Regulatory complexity also raises execution demands across ADP’s footprint, even as it supports demand for compliance expertise. The Zacks analyst maintain a Neutral recommendation on it in anticipation of a cheaper entry for investors.
(You can read the full research report on Automatic Data Processing here >>>)
Cadence’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the year-to-date period (+3% vs. -5%). The company is benefiting from higher design complexity and rising customer spend on AI-driven automation. Amid rapid AI expansion, the Cadence.ai portfolio has been gaining strength and the new product launches (like ChipStack, ViraStack and InnoStack AI Super Agents) are expected to aid in sustaining the momentum.
The hardware systems continue to gain traction from AI, high-performance computing ("HPC"), robotics and automotive companies. Record backlog and a higher 2026 revenue outlook support visibility, while recurring revenues remain a stabilizing feature of the model.
Management now expects 2026 revenues in the band of $6.26-$6.34 billion compared with $5.3 billion in 2025. Stiff competition in the EDA space, along with heavy reliance on international markets and high goodwill and intangible assets on the balance sheet, remain concerns.
(You can read the full research report on Cadence here >>>)
Shares of BranchOut Food have outperformed the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry over the year-to-date period (+22.3% vs. -0.7%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $63.25 million has its investment case increasingly supported by better revenue visibility, expanding recurring retail programs, a growing ingredient business and broader product applications.
Rising factory utilization and improved sourcing could strengthen unit economics as production scales, while European private-label opportunities add another potential growth channel. However, the outlook remains balanced by meaningful execution and financial risks. Liquidity remains tight, growth requires substantial working capital, and continued financing could lead to dilution.
Manufacturing is concentrated at a single facility, while customer concentration remains high. Sustained operating leverage will depend on converting higher volumes into improved profitability while keeping manufacturing and corporate costs under control.
(You can read the full research report on BranchOut Food 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.