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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Cisco Systems, Shopify, Starbucks and Smith-Midland
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 2, 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: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) , Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) , Starbucks Corp. (SBUX - Free Report) , and Smith-Midland Corp. (SMID - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for Cisco, Shopify and Starbucks
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 12 major stocks, including Cisco Systems, Inc., Shopify Inc. and Starbucks Corp., as well as a micro-cap stock Smith-Midland Corp.. 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.
Cisco's shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Networking industry over the past year (+60.8% vs. +59.6%). The company's prospects are benefiting from broad demand across networking, security and collaboration. AI infrastructure orders, integrated silicon and an end-of-support refresh opportunity support a multi-year networking cycle, while newer security products and Splunk's recovery broaden the growth base.
Cisco also retains operating leverage and continues to return cash to shareholders. Offsetting these positives, a hardware-led revenue mix is expected to limit gross-margin expansion, while services recovery should remain gradual. Competition across networking and security still requires sustained product execution.
Acquisition exposure and an elevated valuation leave less room for disappointment. The breadth of durable growth drivers outweighs these execution, margin and valuation risks, supporting the Outperform recommendation.
Shares of Shopify have gained +0.1% over the past year against the Zacks Internet - Services industry's gain of +34.3%. The company's growth case remains supported by broad merchant gains, deeper payments adoption and expansion across online, offline and B2B channels. AI tools are becoming a larger part of merchant discovery and operations, while Catalog, Sidekick and agentic integrations extend Shopify into emerging commerce surfaces.
International localization and enterprise wins add runway, and rising free cash flow margins show that investment is being funded with greater operating discipline. Management's third-quarter outlook points to continued revenue growth and further expense leverage.
Risks remain from discretionary spending exposure, competition from scaled commerce platforms and a revenue mix that can keep gross profit growth below revenue growth. Even so, Shopify's widening ecosystem and cash generation support a balanced view.
Starbucks' shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry over the past year (+11.4% vs. -13.7%). The company's prospects are benefiting from improving customer traffic, strong comparable sales and expanding margins. Global comparable sales increased 7.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by transaction and ticket growth.
North America benefited from stronger traffic, delivery, food attachment and beverage modifications, while International comps improved despite the China model transition. Sales leverage, lower inflation and tariff refunds supported margin expansion, and new store growth added scale. Raised fiscal 2026 guidance and expanding margins improve visibility into the recovery.
However, restructuring costs, labor investments, unfavorable mix and elevated operating costs remain concerns. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days.
Shares of Smith-Midland have underperformed the Zacks Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates industry over the past year (-34.3% vs. -19.1%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $120.94 million is facing a growing backlog across barriers, utilities and other precast products provides improved revenue visibility, with additional activity not captured in reported backlog offering further support to the production pipeline.
Nevertheless, Smith-Midland's investment case is supported by efforts to build a more recurring and diversified revenue base. Expansion of the barrier rental fleet should improve revenue stability and cash-flow characteristics, while the Easi-Set modular building platform can broaden construction exposure and support manufacturing utilization.
Utility products are emerging as another infrastructure growth avenue, aided by demand from data-center and related projects. The licensing model further extends the company's geographic reach through a capital-light revenue stream tied to proprietary products.
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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 Cisco Systems, Shopify, Starbucks and Smith-Midland
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 2, 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: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) , Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) , Starbucks Corp. (SBUX - Free Report) , and Smith-Midland Corp. (SMID - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for Cisco, Shopify and Starbucks
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 12 major stocks, including Cisco Systems, Inc., Shopify Inc. and Starbucks Corp., as well as a micro-cap stock Smith-Midland Corp.. 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
Cisco's shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Networking industry over the past year (+60.8% vs. +59.6%). The company's prospects are benefiting from broad demand across networking, security and collaboration. AI infrastructure orders, integrated silicon and an end-of-support refresh opportunity support a multi-year networking cycle, while newer security products and Splunk's recovery broaden the growth base.
Cisco also retains operating leverage and continues to return cash to shareholders. Offsetting these positives, a hardware-led revenue mix is expected to limit gross-margin expansion, while services recovery should remain gradual. Competition across networking and security still requires sustained product execution.
Acquisition exposure and an elevated valuation leave less room for disappointment. The breadth of durable growth drivers outweighs these execution, margin and valuation risks, supporting the Outperform recommendation.
(You can read the full research report on Cisco here >>>)
Shares of Shopify have gained +0.1% over the past year against the Zacks Internet - Services industry's gain of +34.3%. The company's growth case remains supported by broad merchant gains, deeper payments adoption and expansion across online, offline and B2B channels. AI tools are becoming a larger part of merchant discovery and operations, while Catalog, Sidekick and agentic integrations extend Shopify into emerging commerce surfaces.
International localization and enterprise wins add runway, and rising free cash flow margins show that investment is being funded with greater operating discipline. Management's third-quarter outlook points to continued revenue growth and further expense leverage.
Risks remain from discretionary spending exposure, competition from scaled commerce platforms and a revenue mix that can keep gross profit growth below revenue growth. Even so, Shopify's widening ecosystem and cash generation support a balanced view.
(You can read the full research report on Shopify here >>>)
Starbucks' shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry over the past year (+11.4% vs. -13.7%). The company's prospects are benefiting from improving customer traffic, strong comparable sales and expanding margins. Global comparable sales increased 7.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by transaction and ticket growth.
North America benefited from stronger traffic, delivery, food attachment and beverage modifications, while International comps improved despite the China model transition. Sales leverage, lower inflation and tariff refunds supported margin expansion, and new store growth added scale. Raised fiscal 2026 guidance and expanding margins improve visibility into the recovery.
However, restructuring costs, labor investments, unfavorable mix and elevated operating costs remain concerns. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days.
(You can read the full research report on Starbucks here >>>)
Shares of Smith-Midland have underperformed the Zacks Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates industry over the past year (-34.3% vs. -19.1%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $120.94 million is facing a growing backlog across barriers, utilities and other precast products provides improved revenue visibility, with additional activity not captured in reported backlog offering further support to the production pipeline.
Nevertheless, Smith-Midland's investment case is supported by efforts to build a more recurring and diversified revenue base. Expansion of the barrier rental fleet should improve revenue stability and cash-flow characteristics, while the Easi-Set modular building platform can broaden construction exposure and support manufacturing utilization.
Utility products are emerging as another infrastructure growth avenue, aided by demand from data-center and related projects. The licensing model further extends the company's geographic reach through a capital-light revenue stream tied to proprietary products.
(You can read the full research report on Smith-Midland here >>>)
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
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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.