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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Procter & Gamble, PetroChina, Biogen, Accenture and Norfolk Southern

Zacks Equity Research
Updated
Ross Stores (ROST) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 03, 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 Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG – Free Report), PetroChina (NYSE:PTR – Free Report), Biogen (Nasdaq:BIIB – Free Report), Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC – Free Report).

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

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Procter & Gamble, PetroChina and Biogen

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 Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG – Free Report), PetroChina (NYSE:PTR – Free Report) and Biogen (Nasdaq:BIIB – Free Report). 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 >>>

Buy-rated Procter & Gamble’s estimates are trending upward over the last 60 days, hinting analysts’ optimism about the company. P&G is known for its strong brand recognition, diversified portfolio, impressive product development capabilities and marketing prowess, as well as strong cash flow productivity. The company is investing in its brands and products as well as redesigning the supply chain to improve productivity and organic growth.

Procter & Gamble is speeding up innovations and investments to counter the softening industry growth. Its productivity improvements and cost-saving efforts are also consistently helping to boost profit level. However, major foreign exchange headwind, weak volumes, divestitures and slowing market growth have been hurting sales.

A soft consumer-spending environment in developed markets and uncertainties in emerging countries also add to the worries. Shares of Procter & Gamble have underperformed the Zacks Soap and Cleaning Materials industry so far this year (+8.2% vs. +18.1%).

(You can read the full research report on Procter & Gamble here >>>).

ADRs of PetroChina have declined -12.6% over the last six months, underperforming the Zacks International Integrated Energy industry, which has gained +6.2% over the same period. But with higher oil prices helping the state-run giant report a jump in first-half profits, the stock might return to favor.

The energy titan's biggest unit – exploration and production – swung to profitability as oil price soared 50%. PTR also experienced strong natural gas demand, while operational optimization helped control costs. However, the analyst is concerned over China’s decision to cut natural gas prices for industrial users that reduced margins in PTR’s gas-wholesale business.

A limited international operation and an ambitious investment program give investors more reason to be cautious on the stock. Hence, while being incrementally positive on PTR, the analyst expects the ADRs to remain soft.

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

Shares of Buy-rated Biogen have outperformed the Zacks Biomedicals/Genetics industry in the last six months (+14.8% vs. +13.3%). Biogen has a strong position in the MS market, backed by a wide range of products. Newly launched Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy is also off to a promising start.

Spinraza has witnessed faster-than-expected adoption in the U.S. and Biogen is ramping up launch efforts outside the U.S. The Zacks analyst is also encouraged by Biogen’s efforts to diversify beyond MS to other areas like Alzheimer’s.

The company also spun off its hemophilia business in Feb 2017, which allows it to focus on neurology, its key area of expertise. Estimates have moved up ahead of the Q3 earnings results. The company has a positive record of earnings surprises in recent quarters.

However, Biogen has its own set of challenges. Despite its position in the MS market, the emergence of new PML cases for Tecfidera are likely to weigh heavily on the stock along with pipeline setbacks. Meanwhile, the recent Ocrevus launch by Roche may create pressure on Tysabri’s sales.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC – Free Report).

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.

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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 >>.

Get the full Report on PG - 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.


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Norfolk Souther Corporation (NSC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
PetroChina Company Limited (PTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Procter & Gamble Company (The) (PG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Accenture PLC (ACN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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Zacks Investment Research