The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Home Depot, U.S. Bancorp, Alibaba, Manulife And Amphenol

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 17, 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 includeHome Depot (NYSE: (NYSE:HD) – Free Report), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: (NYSE:USB) – Free Report), Alibaba (NYSE: (NYSE:BABA) – Free Report)Manulife (NYSE: (NYSE:MFC) – Free Report) and Amphenol (NYSE: (NYSE:APH) – Free Report).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Home Depot, U.S. Bancorp and Alibaba

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 Home Depot (NYSE:HD – Free Report), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB – Free Report) and Alibaba (NYSE:BABA – 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 >>>

Home Depot's shares are up +10.3% over the last one year, matching the Zacks Retail sector (also up +10.3%) and marginally behind the broader market (S&P 500 up +12.7%) in that same time period. The company has been consistently gaining from its interconnected strategy, focus on Pro customers, and housing market recovery. These factors helped the company post a stellar second-quarter fiscal 2017 performance, which marked its highest ever quarterly sales and earnings.

Pro category sales continued to outperform, driven by constant efforts to enrich customers’ experiences. The sturdy first half performance and expectations of improved home prices encouraged the company to raise its fiscal 2017 view. However, gross margin remains plateaued, and is likely to fall 10 bps in fiscal 2017. Also, competition from online retailers may impact results.

(You canread the full research report on Home Depot here >>>).

Shares of U.S. Bancorp have underperformed the Zacks categorized Major Regional Banks industry over the last one year, gaining +22.6% vs. +34.2%. The company’s second-quarter 2017 earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate. High interest income was recorded on rising rates. Increased average loans and deposits balances reflect organic growth.

But the Zacks analyst thinks the company’s prospects will likely get support from its solid business model, core franchise and diverse revenue streams. Additionally, the approval of Financial Choice Act is anticipated to support U.S. Bancorp’s profitability moving ahead. Notably, the bank received the Fed's approval for its 2017 capital plan. However, escalating expenses and litigations remain key concerns.

(You can read the full research report on U.S. Bancorp here >>>).

Alibaba's shares have outperformed the broader market as well as the peer e-commerce space over the last year (it is up more than +62.7%), with the trend expected to remain in place given continued growth in its core e-commerce business and growing cloud computing services. The company’s fiscal fourth-quarter results exceeded expectations on revenues but lagged the same on earnings.

The Zacks analyst likes its continued efforts to develop new products, international growth opportunities, strong financial position and growing cloud computing services. However, macro headwinds, continued investments and increasing competition from Tencent Holdings and Baidu remain the overhangs.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Manulife (NYSE:MFC – Free Report) and Amphenol (NYSE:APH – Free Report).

Want to see all of today's Zacks Strong Buys?
Today's 5 additions are just the appetizer. You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can also access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Strong Sells and other private research. See the stocks 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 >>.

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