Thursday, April 28, 2022
 
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 Visa Inc. (V), The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and Abbott Laboratories (ABT). 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 >>>
 

Shares of Visa have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry over the year-to-date basis (+1.8% vs. -3.5%). The company’s second-quarter fiscal 2022 earnings beat estimates on strong payments volume. Numerous buyouts and alliances paved the way for long-term growth and consistently drove its revenues.

Its investments in technology are solidifying its position in the payments market. A shift in payments to the digital mode is a boon. The coronavirus vaccine rollouts and the gradual revival of consumer confidence will keep driving spending, expanding business volumes in turn.
 

Backed by its strong cash position, the company remains committed to boost its shareholder value. However, high operating expenses stress the margins. Ramped-up client incentives will dent the top line. Its declining cash volume from the Asia Pacific bothers. Its volumes will likely suffer due to the Russia-Ukraine situation.
 

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

Walt Disney shares have declined -38.7% over the past year against the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry’s decline of -40.8%. The company’s profitability is expected to be negatively impacted by rising programming and production costs. Disney expects continued investments in its owned and produced content for direct-to-consumer services to hurt operating income.

Closure of its Shanghai theme park due to COVID-19 doesn’t bode well for the Parks, Experiences, and Products revenues in the near term. Disney’s leveraged balance sheet also remains a concern.
 

However, owing to a strong content portfolio and a cheaper bundle offering. Availability in the Nordics, Latin America and other Asian territories should help expand the user base. Revival in Parks, Experiences and Products businesses also hold promise.
 

(You can read the full research report on Walt Disney here >>>)
 

Abbott shares have declined -1.2% over the past year against the Zacks Medical - Products industry’s decline of -23.9%. The company’s pediatric nutrition sales were negatively impacted by a voluntary recall of certain powder formulas manufactured at one of Abbott's U.S. plants. Barring Nutrition (where the company reported a 4.4% year-over-year decline on an organic basis), the company registered organic sales growth across all its core operating segments. Global COVID-19 testing-related sales were led by the sales of rapid testing products.
 

Within the Diabetes Care, the company has been in the limelight for developments in its flagship, sensor-based continuous glucose monitoring system, FreeStyle Libre. Within Adult Nutrition, the company gained from the strong performance of Ensure and Glucerna brands.
 

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Nike, Inc. (NKE) and United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS).

Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
 

Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>