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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: UnitedHealth, Comcast, Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, Accenture and Charter Communications

Zacks Equity Research
·5-min read

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 5, 2020 – 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: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH, Comcast Corporation CMCSA, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, Microsoft Corporation MSFT, Accenture plc ACN and Charter Communications, Inc. CHTR.

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for UnitedHealth, Comcast and Exxon Mobil

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 UnitedHealth Group, Comcast and Exxon Mobil. 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 >>>

UnitedHealth shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical Insurance industry over the past year (+23.9% vs. +13.1%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company has been benefiting from higher segmental contributions, which helped it counter the coronavirus-led fund crunch. Its numerous acquisitions bolstered its inorganic growth profile.

Its solid balance sheet and consistent cash flow generation encourage investment in business. By retaining its 2020 earnings guidance, the company restores investor confidence. However, it is witnessing a slowdown in its international operations. Commercial membership may also see attrition due to increased joblessness.

UnitedHealth’s earnings of $7.12 per share beat estimates by 37.45% and also soared 98% year over year. Strong earnings were driven by an unprecedented, temporary deferral of care in the company’s risk-based businesses.

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

Shares of Comcast have lost -3.8% over the past six months against the Zacks Cable Television industry’s rise of +4.2%. The Zacks analyst believes that weakness in film business is a headwind for Comcast. Moreover, its balance sheet remains significantly leveraged, which is also a concern.

Comcast’s second-quarter 2020 results were driven by solid growth in high-speed Internet, Business Services and Wireless segments. However, the coronavirus outbreak adversely impacted advertising, the theme park, film and Sky businesses. The fall in advertising revenues reflected reduced advertiser spending due to postponement of sporting events and continued ratings decline.

Further, Comcast persistently suffered video-subscriber attrition due to cord-cutting. Moreover, its Universal Studios Hollywood theme park remains closed. Further, Comcast expects Sky EBITDA for the third and fourth quarters on a combined basis to decline roughly 60% year over year.

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

Exxon Mobil shares have gained +57.8% over the past three months against the Zacks Integrated International Oil industry’s rise of +64.4%. The Zacks analyst believes that major discoveries in the Stabroek Block have enhanced prospects for ExxonMobil's upstream businesses.

ExxonMobil’s bellwether status in the energy space, optimal integrated capital structure that has historically produced industry-leading returns and management’s track record of capex discipline across the commodity price cycle make it a relatively lower-risk energy sector play. Notably, the company estimates gross recoverable resource of more than 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels from offshore Guyana discoveries.

The integrated firm also has a strong balance sheet with significant low debt exposure. However, ExxonMobil recently reported weak second-quarter results owing to coronavirus-induced weak commodity prices and reduced industry refining margins in U.S. & non-U.S. operations. Also, the company expects scheduled maintenance activities to continue to hurt downstream and chemical segments in the September quarter of 2020.

(You can read the full research report on Exxon Mobil here >>>)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Microsoft, Accenture and Charter Communications.

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Zacks Investment Research

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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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Accenture PLC (ACN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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