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The Zacks Analyst Blog T-Mobile, Salesforce, Alibaba and Old Point Financial
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – April 14, 2025 – 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 T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) , Salesforce, Inc. (CRM - Free Report) and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA - Free Report) and Old Point Financial Corp. (OPOF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for T-Mobile, Salesforce and Alibaba
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 T-Mobile US, Inc., Salesforce, Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., as well as a micro-cap stock Old Point Financial 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.
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens and attempts to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
T-Mobile’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Wireless National industry over the past year (+62.2% vs. +45.5%). The company is gaining from healthy growth in service revenues driven by industry-leading postpaid net customer addition. In 2024, the company added 6.1 million postpaid net customers while postpaid net account additions were 1.1 million, both metrics being the best in the industry.
Solid growth in free cash flow accentuates efficient capital management and implies that the company is well-positioned to invest in growth initiatives and pay debt and dividends. Strategic acquisitions to extend portfolio offerings are a positive.
However, the highly competitive and saturated nature of the U.S. wireless market could adversely affect its financial results. Its strategy of introducing several promotional activities to outperform competition strains margin. Declining prepaid ARPU is a concern. We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation.
Shares of Salesforce have underperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past year (-12.8% vs. -6%). The company is facing stiff competition and unfavorable currency fluctuations, which are concerning. Softening IT spending amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties may hurt its growth prospects.
Nevertheless, Salesforce is benefiting from a robust demand environment as customers are undergoing a major digital transformation. Its sustained focus on aligning products with customer needs is driving the top line. Continued deal wins in the international market are another growth driver.
The buyout of Slack has positioned it as a leader in enterprise team collaboration and improved its competitive standing compared to Microsoft Teams. Salesforce’s strategy of continuous expansion of generative AI offerings will help it tap the growing opportunities in the space. The Zacks analyst estimates suggest that Salesforce revenues are expected to witness a CAGR of 8.9% through fiscal 2025-2028.
Alibaba’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry over the past year (+49.3% vs. +4.8%). The company’s recent performance benefited from the monetization of Taobao and Tmall Group, cloud businesses and AI-integrated products. BABA is riding on strong momentum in its international commerce retail business, driven by strength in AliExpress’ Choice.
Growing international commerce wholesale business, thanks to strength in cross-border-related value-added services, is a tailwind. Expanding China's wholesale commerce business is a positive. Robust local consumer services and Cainiao logistics services are further driving top-line growth.
However, non-GAAP earnings of $2.93 per ADS fell short of estimates, suggesting a complex growth narrative. Current market valuations, with the stock trading at multi-year highs, suggest limited immediate upside potential.
Shares of Old Point Financial have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past year (+158.2% vs. +5.1%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $188.30 million has recorded 2024 earnings and projected 2025 EPS of $2.02 which support valuation upside at 12.5X forward P/E, fueled by rising net interest income, lower provisions and tight cost control.
Efficiency gains are evident with a 2% drop in noninterest expenses and an improved efficiency ratio to 78%, lifting ROAE to 9.96% and ROAA to 0.77%. Steady dividends offer reliable income, while Old Point’s regional franchise in Hampton Roads and Richmond drives customer engagement and fee income. The net interest margin rose to 3.53%, bolstering core earnings.
However, a 6% loan book contraction and rising nonperforming assets (to 0.19% of assets) pose risks to revenues and asset quality. Declining noninterest income (-5%) and stiff competition could pressure earnings diversity and margins, potentially limiting growth and profitability.
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.
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 Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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 T-Mobile, Salesforce, Alibaba and Old Point Financial
For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – April 14, 2025 – 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 T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) , Salesforce, Inc. (CRM - Free Report) and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA - Free Report) and Old Point Financial Corp. (OPOF - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for T-Mobile, Salesforce and Alibaba
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 T-Mobile US, Inc., Salesforce, Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., as well as a micro-cap stock Old Point Financial 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 >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens and attempts to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> U.S./China Trade at +125% Standoff, PPI Slides, Big Banks Report Q1
Today's Featured Research Reports
T-Mobile’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Wireless National industry over the past year (+62.2% vs. +45.5%). The company is gaining from healthy growth in service revenues driven by industry-leading postpaid net customer addition. In 2024, the company added 6.1 million postpaid net customers while postpaid net account additions were 1.1 million, both metrics being the best in the industry.
Solid growth in free cash flow accentuates efficient capital management and implies that the company is well-positioned to invest in growth initiatives and pay debt and dividends. Strategic acquisitions to extend portfolio offerings are a positive.
However, the highly competitive and saturated nature of the U.S. wireless market could adversely affect its financial results. Its strategy of introducing several promotional activities to outperform competition strains margin. Declining prepaid ARPU is a concern. We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation.
(You can read the full research report on T-Mobile here >>>)
Shares of Salesforce have underperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past year (-12.8% vs. -6%). The company is facing stiff competition and unfavorable currency fluctuations, which are concerning. Softening IT spending amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties may hurt its growth prospects.
Nevertheless, Salesforce is benefiting from a robust demand environment as customers are undergoing a major digital transformation. Its sustained focus on aligning products with customer needs is driving the top line. Continued deal wins in the international market are another growth driver.
The buyout of Slack has positioned it as a leader in enterprise team collaboration and improved its competitive standing compared to Microsoft Teams. Salesforce’s strategy of continuous expansion of generative AI offerings will help it tap the growing opportunities in the space. The Zacks analyst estimates suggest that Salesforce revenues are expected to witness a CAGR of 8.9% through fiscal 2025-2028.
(You can read the full research report on Salesforce here >>>)
Alibaba’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry over the past year (+49.3% vs. +4.8%). The company’s recent performance benefited from the monetization of Taobao and Tmall Group, cloud businesses and AI-integrated products. BABA is riding on strong momentum in its international commerce retail business, driven by strength in AliExpress’ Choice.
Growing international commerce wholesale business, thanks to strength in cross-border-related value-added services, is a tailwind. Expanding China's wholesale commerce business is a positive. Robust local consumer services and Cainiao logistics services are further driving top-line growth.
However, non-GAAP earnings of $2.93 per ADS fell short of estimates, suggesting a complex growth narrative. Current market valuations, with the stock trading at multi-year highs, suggest limited immediate upside potential.
(You can read the full research report on Alibaba here >>>)
Shares of Old Point Financial have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past year (+158.2% vs. +5.1%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $188.30 million has recorded 2024 earnings and projected 2025 EPS of $2.02 which support valuation upside at 12.5X forward P/E, fueled by rising net interest income, lower provisions and tight cost control.
Efficiency gains are evident with a 2% drop in noninterest expenses and an improved efficiency ratio to 78%, lifting ROAE to 9.96% and ROAA to 0.77%. Steady dividends offer reliable income, while Old Point’s regional franchise in Hampton Roads and Richmond drives customer engagement and fee income. The net interest margin rose to 3.53%, bolstering core earnings.
However, a 6% loan book contraction and rising nonperforming assets (to 0.19% of assets) pose risks to revenues and asset quality. Declining noninterest income (-5%) and stiff competition could pressure earnings diversity and margins, potentially limiting growth and profitability.
(You can read the full research report on Old Point Financial 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 >>
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 Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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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.