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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley, Anheuser-Busch, Cigna and Intuitive Surgical
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 21, 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 UnitedHealth (UNH - Free Report) , Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) , Anheuser-Busch (BUD - Free Report) , Cigna (CI - Free Report) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley and Anheuser-Busch
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 UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley and Anheuser-Busch. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
UnitedHealth’s shares have marginally underperformed the Zacks Medical Insurance industry in the last one year (up +34.2% vs. +34.5%). The Zacks analyst likes the company’s robust Government business and continued strong growth at Optum. Its international business and strong capital position that allows for business investment are other positives.
It has been witnessing an increase in membership over many years. The company raised its 2018 earnings guidance led by tax reform upside. The stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 15.4% upward over the last 90 days. Nevertheless, membership loss in its fee based commercial business and Brazilian business will pull down overall membership growth.
Shares of Morgan Stanley have outperformed the Zacks Investment Banking industry over the last three months (+7.7% vs. +6.1%), supported by the company’s impressive earnings surprise history. It surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters.
The Zacks analyst likes the company’s efforts to lower balance sheet risk, strengthen wealth management operations along with its cost saving initiatives. Further, lower tax rates will aid profitability in the quarters ahead. However, persistent fall in net interest income (despite rising interest rates) remains a concern. Also, overall trading weakness is expected to hurt the company’s top line growth in the near-term.
Anheuser-Busch’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Alcoholic Beverages industry over the last three months, gaining +0.8% vs. an increase of +2.2%. However, both top and bottom line outpaced estimates and improved year over year in the fourth quarter. In fact, the quarter marked earnings beat after seven consecutive negative surprises while revenues surpassed estimates after two straight misses.
The Zacks analyst likes its robust brand portfolio and solid geographical reach. The company keeps introducing near beer alternatives along with no- and low-alcohol beers to resonate with changing demand. Further, SABMiller’s buyout has enhanced its position in the global beer market.
Though the company anticipates delivering strong top-line growth for 2018, backed by solid brands performance and robust commercial plans, it sees volatility in certain key markets. Moreover, it envisions a soft first quarter, owing to difficult comparisons, and phasing of marketing and sales initiatives.
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Cigna and Intuitive Surgical.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley, Anheuser-Busch, Cigna and Intuitive Surgical
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 21, 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 UnitedHealth (UNH - Free Report) , Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) , Anheuser-Busch (BUD - Free Report) , Cigna (CI - Free Report) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley and Anheuser-Busch
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 UnitedHealth, Morgan Stanley and Anheuser-Busch. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
UnitedHealth’s shares have marginally underperformed the Zacks Medical Insurance industry in the last one year (up +34.2% vs. +34.5%). The Zacks analyst likes the company’s robust Government business and continued strong growth at Optum. Its international business and strong capital position that allows for business investment are other positives.
It has been witnessing an increase in membership over many years. The company raised its 2018 earnings guidance led by tax reform upside. The stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 15.4% upward over the last 90 days. Nevertheless, membership loss in its fee based commercial business and Brazilian business will pull down overall membership growth.
Shares of Morgan Stanley have outperformed the Zacks Investment Banking industry over the last three months (+7.7% vs. +6.1%), supported by the company’s impressive earnings surprise history. It surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters.
The Zacks analyst likes the company’s efforts to lower balance sheet risk, strengthen wealth management operations along with its cost saving initiatives. Further, lower tax rates will aid profitability in the quarters ahead. However, persistent fall in net interest income (despite rising interest rates) remains a concern. Also, overall trading weakness is expected to hurt the company’s top line growth in the near-term.
Anheuser-Busch’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Alcoholic Beverages industry over the last three months, gaining +0.8% vs. an increase of +2.2%. However, both top and bottom line outpaced estimates and improved year over year in the fourth quarter. In fact, the quarter marked earnings beat after seven consecutive negative surprises while revenues surpassed estimates after two straight misses.
The Zacks analyst likes its robust brand portfolio and solid geographical reach. The company keeps introducing near beer alternatives along with no- and low-alcohol beers to resonate with changing demand. Further, SABMiller’s buyout has enhanced its position in the global beer market.
Though the company anticipates delivering strong top-line growth for 2018, backed by solid brands performance and robust commercial plans, it sees volatility in certain key markets. Moreover, it envisions a soft first quarter, owing to difficult comparisons, and phasing of marketing and sales initiatives.
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Cigna and Intuitive Surgical.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them 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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.