The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: MasterCard, Activision, AIG, Monster Beverage and Ecolab

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 06, 2017 – 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 MasterCard (NYSE: MA – Free Report ), Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI – Free Report ), AIG (NYSE: AIG – Free Report ), Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST – Free Report ) and Ecolab (NYSE: ECL – Free Report ).

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

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Thursday: Mastercard, Activision and AIG

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 MasterCard (NYSE: MA – Free Report ), Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI – Free Report ) and AIG (NYSE: AIG – Free Report ).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 MasterCard’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial Services Transaction sector over the last year (up +40% vs. +21.7%) and is also ahead of rival Visa (up +27%) The company remains well positioned for growth on the back of its solid market position, ongoing expansion and digital initiatives and significant opportunities from the secular shift towards electronic payments.

The acquisition of VocaLink and NuData Security complement the company’s efforts to participate in new payment flows and enhance its safety and security offerings. Earnings estimates for 2017 have also been revised upwards over the past 60 days.

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

Shares of Buy-rated Activision have been strong performers this year, with the stock up +55.9% in the year-to-date period vs. the Zacks gaming industry's +36.1% gain in that same time period. The Zacks analyst likes Activision’s enviable product portfolio and increasing digital revenues, both of which should continue to drive growth.

Moreover, the company stands to benefit further from the acquisition of King Digital. The company’s attempts to become a broad-based media company are also prudent. Apart from launching a movie studio and consumer products division, the company is strengthening its presence in the lucrative e-sports market. However, the "hit"-driven and competitive nature of the video game industry begets caution.

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

Buy-rated AIG’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Insurance - Multi Line industry over the last three months, losing -3.5% vs. +5.4%. AIG recently appointed its new CEO, who the Zacks analyst believes will speed up turnaround activities at the company.

The company has been taking up several measures like strategic divestitures, asset sales, increase in share buybacks, dividend hikes, personnel changes, cost control, reinsurance deals, and lowering of hedge fund investments in order to deliver better earnings result by curbing possible volatilities. Though some of these efforts have paid off to some extent several other changes are required to effect a turnaround. The company's commercial lines business has also underperformed. Regulatory uncertainty and exposure to catastrophes are other headwinds.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today includeMonster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST – Free Report ) and Ecolab (NYSE: ECL – Free Report ).

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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Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Activision Blizzard, Inc (ATVI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Ecolab Inc. (ECL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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