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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: CSX, Eni, Kimberly-Clark, Caterpillar and Check Point Software

Asbury Automotive (ABG) shares have started gaining and might continue moving higher in the near term, as indicated by solid earnings estimate revisions.

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 15, 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 CSX Corporation CSX, Eni E, Kimberly-Clark KMB, Caterpillar CAT and Check Point Software CHKP.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for CSX Corp., Eni and Kimberly-Clark

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 CSX Corporation, Eni and Kimberly-Clark. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

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You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

CSX Corporation’s shares have gained +25% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Rail industry, which has gained +10.2% over the same period. The Zacks analyst thinks CSX is benefiting from the Precision Scheduled Railroading system, which was implemented by the company’s former CEO — E. Hunter Harrison — who died in December 2017. The system, designed to improve its operational efficiency, is being backed by CSX’s current CEO Jim Foote.

Furthermore, improvement in operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) is in tune with the company’s cost control efforts. Strong performance of its intermodal segment is also a positive for the stock.

Efforts to reward shareholders through dividends and buybacks are commendable as well. Nevertheless, below-par performance of its automotive unit is a concern. The company's high debt levels represent a further challenge.

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

Shares of Buy-ranked Eni have gained +11.8% in the last six months, outperforming the Zacks Integrated Oil industry which has gained +6.9% over the same period. The Zacks analyst thinks start-up of new upstream projects in Ghana and Angola has been backing Eni's oil production. In fact, the company expects oil and natural gas production to rise 4% through 2018.

Notably, the decision to spend €3.5 billion through 2021 for exploration and production operations in 25 countries will likely help Eni reach its daily production target of 900 thousand barrels of oil equivalent in 2021. Apart from upstream businesses, Eni is planning to achieve growth in refining, marketing and chemical operations.

Through 2021, the company projects free cashflow of more than €2 billion from downstream activities. Eni is also committed to returning cash to shareholders through dividend payments as it intends to increase the annual dividend in 2018 by 3.8%.

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

Kimberly-Clark’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Consumer Staples industry over the last three months, losing -7.3% vs. -5.4%.The Zacks analyst likes Kimberly-Clark’s solid cost-saving efforts, which drove earnings growth in the first quarter.

Earnings were also fueled by higher sales, which gained from focus on innovations. The company is well on track with its FORCE and 2018 Global Restructuring plans, which together are expected to deliver cost savings of more than $2 billion over the next four years.

However, higher input costs have been troubling the company for a while now. Commodity cost inflation of $175 million, stemming from greater costs of pulp and other raw materials dented Kimberly-Clark’s adjusted operating profit in first-quarter of 2018. This also compelled management to raise its input cost inflation view for 2018 to a range of $400-$550 million.

(You can read the full research report on Kimberly-Clark here >>>).

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Caterpillar and Check Point Software.

5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now

Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.

New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.

Click here to see the 5 stocks >>

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks 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 https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
CSX Corporation (CSX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Eni SpA (E) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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