Top Stock Reports for Salesforce, Lowe's & VMware

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

 

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 Salesforce (CRM), Lowe’s (LOW) and VMware (VMW). 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-rated Salesforce’s shares have handily beat the broader Tech sector over the last year, with the stock up more than double the Zacks Technology sector's +23.3% gain. Salesforce reported stellar Q4 results and provided a strong outlook.

 

The Zacks analyst likes the fact that the company achieved the $10-billion mark in revenues faster than any other enterprise software company. The company’s diverse cloud offerings and strong spending on digital marketing remain key catalysts.

 

Additionally, strategic acquisitions and the resultant synergies are anticipated to prove conducive to growth over the long run. Furthermore, the company’s move of utilizing other data center operators like Amazon and Alphabet’s geographical reach to expand its international business is commendable and will help it in achieving its targeted $20 billion sales mark in next few years as well. Nonetheless, stiff competition and an increase in investments for international expansions and data centers could negatively impact near-term profitability.

 

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

 

Shares of Lowe’s have gained +6.8% over the last year, underperforming the Zacks Building Products industry, which has increased +17.1% over the same period. Lowe’s reported lower-than-expected fourth-quarter fiscal 2017 earnings and issued soft guidance for 2018.

 

The company’s revenues beat and comps growth failed to cushion the stock. For fiscal 2018, the company anticipates earnings per share in the band of $5.40-$5.50, which was sharply below analyst expectations. Of late, estimates are trending downwards. However, the Zacks analyst thinks improving job scenario, housing market recovery, merchandising initiatives and post hurricane construction activities along with efforts to enhance omni-channel capabilities bode well for Lowe’s.

 

The buyout of Maintenance Supply Headquarters is also strengthening relationship with Pro customers. Notably, Pro growth rate in the fourth quarter and fiscal 2017 have outpaced do-it-yourself (DIY). Also, Canadian and Mexican businesses have been doing quite well.

 

(You can read the full research report on Lowe’s here >>>).

 

VMware’s shares have gained +32.3% over the last one year, underperforming the Zacks Software industry which is up +36.2% over the same period. VMware reported impressive fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results. Both earnings and revenues increased on a year-over-year basis.

 

The company is benefiting from robust performance of its product offerings like NSX, vSphere and vSAN. The Zacks analyst thinks expanding product portfolio, partnerships with the likes of IBM, Amazon, Pivotal and Alphabet along with continuing enterprise deal wins continue to drive growth. However, several of the growth engines that the company is relying on could take longer to yield results. Thus, heavy spending on R&D may weigh on its margins.

 

Moreover, intensifying competition from Microsoft and Citrix Systems remains a headwind in the near term. Additionally, rumors of a reverse merger with parent Dell Technologies is expected to remain an overhang on the stock in the near term.

 

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

 

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Allstate (ALL), Newmont (NEM) and Best Buy’s (BBY).

 

Wall Street’s Next Amazon

 

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Click for details >>

 

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

Salesforce (CRM) Gains on Strong Product Portfolio & Buyouts

Lowe's (LOW) Banks on Pro Customer Strategy, Margin a Concern

Expanding Portfolio, Strong Partner Base Aids VMware (VMW)

Featured Reports

Best Buy's (BBY) 2020 Strategy to Lift Sales & Optimize Costs

Per the Zacks analyst, Best Buy's 2020: Building the New Blue strategy will continue to fuel results in the coming quarters.

Lithium, DuPont Assets Buy Aid FMC Corp. (FMC) Amid Tax Woes

The Zacks analyst thinks that FMC will gain from expansion actions in its lithium unit and the acquisition of DuPont's crop protection assets.

Repair & Remodeling Activity Drive Masco's (MAS) Revenues

Strong demand for repair and remodeling products across all channels of distribution led to a 4% increase in North American sales in 2017 and is expected to continue in 2018, per the Zacks analyst.

Cimarex (XEC) Banks on Permian Acreage, Debt Burden Hurts

While Cimarex Energy's Permian Basin and Mid-Continent premium acreages bode well, the covering analyst is worried about the company's high-debt burden.

Premium Growth Aids Allstate (ALL), Catastrophe Loss Hurts

Per the Zacks analyst initiatives such as pricing discipline, new products and technology has led to premium growth, but high weather related losses hurt margins.

Discovery (DISCA) Buoyed by Ad Revenue Growth Amid Debt Woes

The Zacks analyst is positive about Discovery's expansion efforts. Strong ad revenues are also encouraging.

Debt Cut, Growth Projects Aid Newmont (NEM) Amid Cost Woes

The Zacks analyst is impressed with Newmont's efforts to reduce debt and improve efficiency.

New Upgrades

Surge in Online Sales, HSN's Buyout Boosts Liberty (QVCA)

The Zacks analyst likes the impressive performance of the company's QVC unit on the back of a surge in online sales and growing demand for smartphones. The HSN buyout is a huge positive.

Intercity Buyout, Demographic Trend to Aid Amedisys (AMED)

The Zacks analyst is bullish on Amedisys' expanding customer base through strategic buyouts like Intercity. Aging U.S. population and home health as a cheaper care modality are other growth drivers.

Impressive Krystexxa Sales Growth Aids Horizon Pharma (HZNP)

Per the Zacks analyst, the impressive growth achieved in Krystexxa sales has boosted Horizon Pharma's topline. The company also expects to continue the growth in 2018.

New Downgrades

Lower Dayrates & Utilization for Floaters Hurt Ensco (ESV)

Reduced rig operating days following lower utilization of floaters continues to hurt Ensco's net cashflow from operations, according to the Zacks analyst.

Escalating Costs Weigh on MarketAxess' (MKTX) Margins

Per the Zacks analyst increasing expenses have weighed on the company's margins and the same are expected to rise over the coming quarters given its ongoing investments in business expansion.

Sluggish Dental Segment Mars Patterson's (PDCO) Prospects

Per the Zacks analyst, dwindling Dental segment revenues is a concern.

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Vmware, Inc. (VMW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Newmont Mining Corporation (NEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Salesforce.com Inc (CRM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Allstate Corporation (The) (ALL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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