Yahoo Finance The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Novartis, American Express, ConocoPhillips, Netflix and Schlumberger
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 23, 2024 – 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: Novartis AG NVS, American Express Co. AXP, ConocoPhillips COP, Netflix, Inc. NFLX and Schlumberger Ltd. SLB.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Analyst Reports for Novartis, American Express & ConocoPhillips
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 Novartis AG, American Express Co. and ConocoPhillips. 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 >>>
Shares of Novartis have gained +2.3% over the past year against the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's gain of +16.2%. The company's efforts to restructure its business are encouraging. With the separation of Sandoz, it has become a pure-play pharmaceutical company.
Drugs like Entresto, Kesimpta, Zolgensma, Kisqali and Leqvio continue to fuel growth and offset the impact of generic competition. The uptake of Pluvicto and Scemblix has been outstanding and should fuel top-line growth. The acquisition of Chinook Therapeutics has strengthened its renal pipeline.
However, generic competition for key drugs like Gilenya and pipeline setbacks are concerning. Earnings estimates for the first quarter are static ahead of the quarterly results.
(You can read the full research report on Novartis here >>>)
American Express shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry over the past year (+44.1% vs. +17.1%). The company's growth initiatives, like launching new products, reaching new agreements and forging alliances, are boosting its revenues. Consumer spending on T&E, which carries higher margins for AmEx, is advancing well.
American Express' balance sheet looks strong with ample cash. Solid cash-generation abilities enable the pursuit of business investments and prudent deployment of capital via buybacks and dividends.
However, with higher utilization of the firm's cards, expenses in the form of card member services and card member rewards are likely to go up and strain its margins. Its current debt level amid a high-interest rate environment induces a rise in interest expenses. As such, the stock warrants a cautious stance.
(You can read the full research report on American Express here >>>)
Shares of ConocoPhillips have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry over the past year (+27.8% vs. +20.3%). The company is poised for a robust oil and natural gas production outlook, benefiting from its extensive untapped drilling locations in cost-effective and diverse upstream assets such as Eagle Ford shale, Permian Basin and Bakken shale.
ConocoPhillips is strategically expanding its presence in the liquefied natural gas market to address the growing demands of energy transition toward a low-carbon future. Further, ConocoPhillips' minimal debt exposure provides resilience during periods of low commodity prices and enhances its capacity to increase dividends.
However, a significant reliance on crude exposes the exploration and production firm to oil price fluctuations. On the cost front, inflationary pressures may contribute to a significant increase in production and operating expenses in 2024, thereby squeezing margins.
(You can read the full research report on ConocoPhillips here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Netflix, Inc. and Schlumberger Ltd..
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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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Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Schlumberger Limited (SLB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
ConocoPhillips (COP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
American Express Company (AXP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
