Top Stock Reports for Apple, Cisco & PepsiCo

Friday, March 27, 2020

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 Apple (AAPL), Cisco Systems (CSCO) and PepsiCo (PEP). 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 >>>

Apple’s shares have outperformed the S&P 500 over the past six months (+15.4% vs. -11.6%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company is benefiting from a steady momentum in the Services segment, driven by strong App Store sales and the robust adoption of Apple Music and Apple Pay.

The company recently launched new iPad and MacBook. Solid adoption of Apple Watch and AirPod are expected to drive its top line. However, it doesn’t expect to achieve its second-quarter revenue guidance due to supply chain disruption amid the coronavirus outbreak, which is expected to hurt iPhone sales. This, in turn, will likely dent investor confidence in the near term.

The company has limited online iPhone purchases to two per person due to the coronavirus-led shortage. Moreover, the company’s intensifying legal woes due to antitrust investigations and App Store-related lawsuits raise a concern.

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

Shares of Cisco have lost 24% over the past year against the Zacks Computer Networking industry’s fall of 24.2%. The Zacks analyst believes that Cisco is benefiting from solid security business. Increasing demand for collaborative solutions, which includes WebEx Teams, post the coronavirus outbreak is positive.

Moreover, a strong uptake of Catalyst 9000 family of switches and Nexus 9K solutions is a key catalyst. Integration with Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Amazon Web Services is expected to fortify footprint in the cloud space.

Despite a grim third-quarter fiscal 2020 outlook, the company’s differentiated end-to-end approach across the network, cloud and endpoints is a major driver for the rest of fiscal 2020. However, lower customer spending, China-related weakness and a growing global economic uncertainty due to the unabated spread of coronavirus are major headwinds.

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

PepsiCo’s shares have lost 12.7% over the past three months against the Zacks Soft Drinks Beverages industry’s fall of 18.1%. The Zacks analyst believes that the company is on track to deliver its productivity savings goal of at least $1 billion annually through 2023.

The company reported earnings and sales beat in fourth-quarter 2019, driven by strength in all segments, robust pricing and volume. This marked the continuation of positive surprise trend, surpassing earnings and sales estimates four times in a row.

Also, recent product launches depict its progress with the expansion of its snacking business. However, the company is grappling with higher SG&A expenses, which is hurting the operating margin. Adverse currency rates are also likely to hurt the company’s results in 2020. Moreover, industry headwinds and stiff competition are concerns.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include McDonald's (MCD), AstraZeneca (AZN) and NextEra Energy (NEE).

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All

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See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>

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>>>

Today's Must Read

Apple (AAPL) Banks on Services to Counter Coronavirus Chaos

Cisco (CSCO) Gains From Security Products & Strategic Deals

Emerging Markets Growth to Propel PepsiCo's (PEP) Revenues

Featured Reports

McDonald's (MCD) Banks on Sales Initiatives Amid COVID-19 Woes

Per the Zacks analyst, McDonald's various sales and digital initiatives as well as positive comps bode well.

AstraZeneca's (AZN) Diverse Portfolio Offsetting Competition

Per the Zacks analyst, AstraZeneca has strong diversified portfolio and is expanding its presence in emerging markets.

Investment in Infrastructure and Renewable Aid NextEra (NEE)

Per the Zacks analyst, NextEra's investment in the range of $50 to $55B to add clean sources in its electricity generation portfolio and strengthen infrastructure will boost its profitability.

Tower Buyouts Amid 5G Hype to Support American Tower (AMT)

Per the Zacks Analyst, American Tower's efforts to expand its telecom-tower portfolio amid favorable trends in mobile-data usage and rising investments in 5G technology are a strategic fit.

Unit Growth to Aid Starbucks (SBUX), Coronavirus Woes Stay

Per the Zacks analyst, Starbucks' rapid unit growth, best-in-class loyalty program and digital offerings bode well.

Molina Healthcare's (MOH) Balance Sheet Aids, High Debt Ails

Per the Zacks analyst, the company gains from its financial strength, which in turn remains attractive to investors.

ADP Rides on Strategic Buyouts Amid Technological Challenges

The Zacks analyst believes that acquisitions help ADP strengthen its position in the HCM market. However, pressure to remain technologically updated to meet varying client demands remains a concern.

New Upgrades

eBay (EBAY) Rides on Solid Momentum Across Managed Payments

Per the Zacks analyst, eBay is benefiting from strengthening managed payments offerings which deliver better shopping experience. This in turn is aiding the company's customer momentum.

D.R. Horton (DHI) Benefits From Acquisitions & Strong Backlog

D.R. Horton is poised to perform well in fiscal 2020 on the back of solid backlog position, acquisition strategy and cost-reduction initiatives, per the Zacks analyst.

Advanced Energy (AEIS) Banks on Acquisition Contributions

Per Zacks analyst, Artesyn Embedded Power buyout is aiding the position of Advanced Energy in the data center computing, and telecom and networking markets. This is driving its top-line growth.

New Downgrades

Air Lease (AL) Gets Plagued by High Costs & Delivery Delays

Per the Zacks analyst, persistent delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing might hamper the company's prospects. Additionally, escalating operating expenses raise concerns.

Azul (AZUL) Endures Low Air-Travel Demand and High Debts

The Zacks analyst is worried about the coronavirus-induced low air-travel demand, which is hurting Azul's top line. High costs and debt levels are bothersome too.

Coronavirus-Led Store Closures a Woe for Guess? (GES)

Guess? has temporarily closed all its stores across the United States and Canada due to coronavirus outbreak. Per the Zacks analyst, this is likely to dent the performance in the first quarter.

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PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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