The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Citigroup, Qualcomm, Aetna, Honda and Electronic Arts

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 3, 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 include Citigroup C, Qualcomm QCOM, Aetna AET, Honda HMC and Electronic Arts EA.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Citigroup, Qualcomm and Aetna

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 Citigroup, Qualcomm and Aetna. 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 >>>

Citigroup shares have outperformed the Zacks Major Banks industry over the last one year, gaining +53.6% vs +40%. This price performance is backed by impressive earnings surprise history. The company has surpassed expectations for earnings in all the trailing four quarters. Third-quarter 2017 results reflected lower expenses and higher revenues. However, weak fixed income market revenues and elevated costs of credit were undermining factors.

The Zacks analyst thinks the company’s restructuring and streamlining efforts, strategic investments in core business and expense management will likely support profitability going forward. Moreover, expansion of wealth management business in Australia will act as a tailwind. Yet several issues, including litigation burden, create apprehension. Also, in spite of rising rates, margins are under pressure, due to persistent decline in the company’s legacy holdings portfolio.

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

Shares of Qualcomm have gained +4.4% over the last three months vs. the -4% decline for the Zacks Wireless Equipment industry. Qualcomm posted strong fourth-quarter 2017 financial results with the shipment of 220 million CDMA-based MSM chipsets. The company achieved a 5G data connection with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem chipset on 28GHz mmWave spectrum. Qualcomm is teaming up with Verizon and Novatel Wireless for 5G NR mmWave technology trial. This marks Qualcomm’s leadership in 5G, chipset market and mobile connectivity.

Further, it is extending cash tender offer for its pending NXP Semiconductor deal. Qualcomm has launched Mesh Networking Platform and is planning to buy Scyfer B.V. to boost its Artificial Intelligence Research. However, the company continues to receive charges for unfair business practices and licensing royalty payments. Aggressive competition in the mobile phone chipset market remains a woe.

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

Aetna’s shares outperformed the Zacks Health Maintenance Organization industry year to date, increasing +39.4% vs. a gain of +34.4%. Aetna’s third-quarter earnings surpassed the expectations and grew year over year, driven by strong underwriting margin performance, disciplined pricing, a focus on high quality care management, and a decline in medical cost.

The Zacks analyst expects the company to witness long-term growth from its Government business and International expansion. Its cost-reduction initiatives will aid margins. The sale of its Group Life and Disability business will help it to focus on core growth areas.

Following strong third-quarter results, Aetna raised its earnings guidance, cementing investors' confidence in it. Aetna has, however, been incurring losses in its public exchange business and has been exiting exchanges. Furthermore, its membership growth remains under pressure. Increasing medical benefit ratios are also likely to hurt margins.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today Honda and Electronic Arts.

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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.

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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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Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Honda Motor Company, Ltd. (HMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Aetna Inc. (AET) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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