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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Cisco, Procter & Gamble, Citigroup, Qualcomm and General Electric

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 4, 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 Cisco (CSCO - Free Report) , Procter & Gamble (PG - Free Report) , Citigroup (C - Free Report) , Qualcomm (QCOM - Free Report) and General Electric (GE - Free Report) .

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

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Report for Cisco, Procter & Gamble and Citigroup

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 Cisco, Procter & Gamble and Citigroup. 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-rankedCisco's shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer Networking industry over the past year, gaining +46.6% vs. +42.9%. The Zacks analyst thinks Cisco is benefitting from expanding footprint in the rapidly growing security market which represents a significant growth opportunity.

Strong contributions from acquisitions, security, Infrastructure Platforms and applications remains a positive. Strengthening collaboration portfolio which now includes Webex Teams and AI-based Accompany bodes well. Partnerships with Telenor, Apple, IBM, Microsoft and Google Cloud are positive. Divestiture of a portion of Cisco’s NDS video assets is likely to mitigate the sluggishness witnessed in other product segment.

Further, Duo Security acquisition should help the company expand its IT and data security businesses, which will only become more vital going forward. However, weakness in switching and routing is a headwind. Ongoing transition to subscription-based model will continue to hurt the top line.

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

Shares of Buy-rankedProcter & Gamble have gained +8.2% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Soap and Cleaning Materials industry, which gained +4.6% over the same period. The Zacks analyst thinks that this increase was driven by an impressive earnings surprise history, which continued in fourth-quarter fiscal 2018, marking its 13th consecutive beat.

The company’s focus on product improvement, packaging and marketing initiatives, and productivity cost-savings plan bodes well. It is benefiting from higher demand for skincare products, along with fabric and home care products.

However, the company is witnessing strained margins owing to increased commodity and shipping costs, adverse currency, higher business investments and aggressive pricing from private-label products amid intense competition. Moreover, sales remain muted due to weak demand and lower prices.

While the company expects recently announced price increases to help rebound sales and margins, its likely impact on demand and consumption is a worry. Also, softness in the grooming and baby care businesses remains a concern.

(You can read the full research report on Procter & Gamble here >>>).

Citigroup’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Major Regional Banks industry over the past six months (+3.5% vs. -0.9%). Further, the company possesses an impressive earnings surprise history, beating expectations in all the trailing four quarters.

The Zacks analyst thinks the company’s restructuring and streamlining efforts, strategic investments in core business, lower tax rate and expense management will likely support profitability. The recent capital plan approval reflects strong capital position.

Yet several issues, including litigation burden, are cause for concern. Nevertheless, with rising rates, margin pressure seems to be easing. Notably, the bank expects third-quarter 2018 fixed income and equity trading revenues likely to be flat to slightly higher on a year-over-year basis.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Qualcomm and General Electric.

Best Electric Car Stock? You'll Never Guess It.

Zacks Research has released a report that may shock many investors. One stock stands out as the best way to invest in the surge to electric cars. And it's not the one you may think!

Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium battery power is set to shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, revenues that were already at $31 billion in 2016 are expected to blast to over $67 billion by the end of 2022.

See Zacks Best EV Stock 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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