The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: BlackRock, Charter Communications, Intuitive, Statoil And Diageo
Zacks Investment Research | Apr 23, 2018 09:24PM ET
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 24, 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 BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) , Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) , Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) , Statoil (OL:STL) (NYSE:STO) and Diageo (LON:DGE) (NYSE:DEO) .
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for BlackRock, Charter Communications and Intuitive Surgical
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 BlackRock, Charter Communications and Intuitive Surgical. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
BlackRock’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Investment Management industry in the last six months, (+10.7% vs. -1.5%). This performance was supported by impressive earnings surprise history as the company surpassed expectations in three of the trailing four quarters. Its first-quarter 2018 results were supported by higher revenues and growth in assets under management (AUM).
The company is undertaking initiatives to restructure its actively managed equities business and expand globally via acquisitions to further boost top-line growth. Also, its efficient capital deployment activities will continue to enhance shareholder value. However, mounting expenses, mainly due to continued rise in marketing costs, might hurt the bottom-line growth to some extent. The company's high dependence on overseas revenues remains a matter of concern.
Shares of Charter Communications have outperformed the Zacks Cable TV industry over the past three months (-17.4% vs. -18.1%). Charter’s residential and commercial internet and voice customer growth continues to accelerate, which is evident from the revenue growth and subscriber gain. The Zacks analyst thinks the recently announced partnership with Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) to develop back-end software to support services for Xfinity and Spectrum mobile offerings is significantly positive for the company’s growth prospects.
The collaboration will help in saving costs for both the companies. However, the company continues to struggle due to sluggish growth in a saturated and competitive multi-channel U.S. video market. Charter also faces stiff competition from online TV streaming service providers. The company's high debt level and consolidation-related woes are other potential hazards.
Strong Buy-ranked Intuitive Surgical’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical Instruments industry over the last year, gaining +66.5% vs +1%. Intuitive Surgical ended the first quarter of 2018 on a solid note, with both earnings and revenues surpassing expectations. The company’s flagship da Vinci procedures recorded solid growth and holds promise for the quarters ahead.
The company also saw solid expansion outside the United States in the recent past. A suite of regulatory approvals buoys optimism. Solid growth in prostatectomy procedure volumes lent Intuitive Surgical a competitive edge in the broader prostate surgery market. However, the company expects U.S. sales to decline in the quarters ahead, which raises concern.
Furthermore, looming foreign exchange volatility also adds to the woes. Intense competition in niche space and long sale and purchase order cycles of da Vinci unit has been currently plaguing the company.
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Statoil and Diageo.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
Zacks Investment Research
Get The News You Want
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.