The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Wynn Resorts, Amazon.com, Sysco, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron And ExxonMobil

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – May 09, 2016 – 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 Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), Inc (AMZN), Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) (SYY), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRKa) (BRK.B), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) (CVX) and ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Corporation (XOM).

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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Dow 30 Stock Roundup

The Dow declined over the week following disappointing domestic and foreign economic data and a decline in oil prices. The index increased on Monday following gains in consumer discretionary, consumer staples and financials stocks. The index declined on Tuesdayfollowing lower-than-expected manufacturing data from China and disappointing economic data from Europe. The index moved lower on Wednesday following continuing decline in energy stocks and mixed economic data. The index gained marginally on Thursday as gains led by a rally in oil prices were offset by discouraging economic data and lackluster earnings reports. The Dow has lost 0.3% over the first four trading days of the week.

Last Week’s Performance

The index increased 0.7% on Monday following gains in consumer discretionary, consumer staples and financials stocks. Rise in shares of Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) and Amazon.com, Inc ( AMZN) boosted consumer discretionary sector. Meanwhile, gains in Sysco Corporation’s (SYY) shares helped the consumer staples sector to finish in the green.

Gains in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) had a positive impact on broader financial sector. However, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) dropped 0.1% and posted an eight consecutive trading day decline for the first time since July 28, 1998. Separately, U.S. dollar index declined following lower-than-expected factory activity and construction spending data which raised worries over slow economic expansion.

The ISM manufacturing index decreased from 51.8% in March to 50.8% in April, lower than the consensus estimate of 51.3%. Also, construction spending increased 0.3% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,137.5 billion in March.

The index declined 0.8% on Tuesday following lower-than-expected manufacturing data from China and disappointing economic data from Europe. Markit and Caixin Media jointly reported that China’s manufacturing PMI fell from 49.7 in March to 49.4 in April. Further, the official manufacturing PMI fell from 50.2 in March to 50.1 in April.

Moreover, the European Commission reduced its economic growth forecast for both the eurozone and the European Union (EU). Disappointing economic news from China and Europe raised global growth worries and weighed on Fed rate hike chances, which in turn resulted in a sell-off in financial stocks.

Additionally, oil prices declined following China’s growth worries, concerns over global crude supply glut and stronger dollar. Iraq reported an increase in crude supply from southern fields. Moreover, crude production from OPEC members like Saudi Arabia and Iran also increased.

In economic news, Autodata reported that domestic vehicle sales in April came in at 13.8 million, which was more than the consensus estimate of 13.5 million and March’s reading of 13.3 million.

The index lost 0.6% on Wednesday following continuing decline in energy stocks and mixed economic data. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported yesterday that the U.S. commercial crude oil inventories rose 2.8 million barrels to 543.4 million for the week ended April 29. It was nearly 1 million barrels higher than analysts’ expectations.

Further, this was more than the increase of 1.3 million barrels reported by the American Petroleum Institute (API) a day earlier. Moreover, total motor gasoline inventories rose by 0.5 million barrels last week. Rise in crude oil and gasoline inventories had a negative impact on oil prices.

A report from Automatic Data Processing, Inc. revealed that private sector employers added 153,000 jobs in April, lower than analysts’ expectations of 193,000. However, the ISM Services Index increased from 54.5% in March to 55.7% in April. Trade deficit fell to the lowest settlement in more than a year after imports slumped to its lowest level in last five years. New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.1% in March.

The index gained marginally on Thursday as gains led by a rally in oil prices were offset by discouraging economic data and lackluster earnings reports. Oil prices increased after a wildfire hit Fort McMurray, the oil city of Canada, which in turn affected crude production.

Following this fire, Canada lost 690,000 bpd of its total oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Moreover, International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that recent unrest in Libya has curbed the country’s oil production by 1 million bpd, higher than IEA’s previous forecast of 750,000 bpd.

Initial claims increased 17,000 to 274,000 for the week ending Apr 30, reaching its highest level in the last five weeks. Initial claims were more than the consensus estimate of 262,500. It was also the biggest increase in more than a year.

Components Moving the Index

Chevron Corp. (CVX) reported a first quarter loss per share of 39 cents, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents. Last year, Chevron earned $1.37 per share during the period. Quarterly revenue fell 32% year over year to $23,553 million but was able to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23,547 million on stable production.

At 2,666 thousand oil-equivalent barrels per day (MBOE/d), Chevron’s total production of crude oil and natural gas remained essentially unchanged from the year-earlier level. The U.S. output came in at 701 MBOE/d, while the company’s international operations (accounting for 74% of the total) produced 1,965 MBOE/d.

Chevron’s downstream segment achieved earnings of $735 million, almost 50% lower than the profit of $1,423 million last year. The results were dragged down by lower margins on refined product sales.

ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM) posted first-quarter 2016 earnings of 43 cents per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. The bottom line, however, deteriorated from $1.17 per share in the year-ago quarter.

Total revenue in the quarter decreased to $48,707 million from $67,618 million in the year-ago quarter. The top line, however, was ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $48,137 million.

The upstream segment incurred a loss of $76 million in the reported quarter, a sharp decline from earnings of $2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2015. Lower liquids and gas realizations hurt earnings by $2.6 billion. The effect of sales mix lowered earnings by $100 million.

The downstream segment recorded profits of $906 million, down $761 million from the first quarter of 2015. Weaker margins affected earnings by $860 million. Volume and mix effects increased earnings by $10 million.

The chemical unit contributed approximately $1.4 billion which was $373 million higher than the first quarter of 2015.

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