The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Toyota, CVS, 3M, Gilead and Goldman

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –December 11, 2019 – 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: Toyota Motor TM, CVS Health CVS, 3M MMM, Gilead Sciences GILD and Goldman Sachs GS.

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Toyota, CVS Health and 3M

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 Toyota Motor, CVS Health and 3M. 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 >>>

Toyota’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Foreign Automotive industry year to date (22.2% vs. 12.1%). The Zacks analyst believes that expanding portfolio of product lines is driving the firm’s sales.

In order to capitalize on the accelerated global shift to electric cars, the auto giant of Japan is deepening focus on developing electric and autonomous vehicles, which will bolster the company’s product competitiveness. Its healthy balance sheet, improving cash flows and investor-friendly moves are other positives. However, anticipating a slowdown in India, Indonesia and Thailand, the company narrowed its annual vehicle sales target for fiscal 2020.

High research and development expenses on advanced technologies for the development of EVs and driverless cars are likely to dent near-term margins. As such, investors are recommended to wait for a better entry point.

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

Shares of CVS Health have gained 17.2% in the past three months against the Zacks Retail Pharmacies and Drug Stores industry’s rise of 10.6%. The Zacks analyst is pleased with the company’s solid progress in terms of the 2020 selling season. It has started to witness increased customer traffic and incremental sales in pharmacy front store and MinuteClinics.

It successfully executed its strategic priorities, resulting in all three of the company’s segments performing in line with, or above its expectations. The Health Care Benefits segment, launched after the Aetna acquisition, is showing strong momentum.

The company posted better-than-expected third-quarter results on the back of robust progresses. However, persistent reimbursement pressure and the impact of recent generic introductions dented the company’s retail LTC business growth. Also, Omnicare business performance should continue to remain soft through the rest of 2019.

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

3M's shares have gained 0.5% over the past six months against the Zacks Diversified Operations industry's rise of 6.5%. The Zacks analyst believes that 3M stands to gain from the efforts to innovate products, restructuring actions and shareholder-friendly policies over the long run.

Its acquisition of the technology business of M*Modal is benefiting the health information systems business, while the Acelity buyout will likely strengthen the medical solutions business. In third-quarter 2019, the company’s earnings surpassed estimates by 4.5%, while sales lagged the same by 1.3%.

For 2019, 3M lowered its adjusted earnings per share guidance to $8.99-$9.09 from $9.25-$9.75 mentioned earlier. Organic sales will likely decline 1-1.5% versus previously mentioned 1% decline to 2% growth. Forex woes will likely adversely impact sales by 2%, while rising costs and restructuring charges might be concerning.

(You can read the full research report on 3M here >>>)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Gilead Sciences and Goldman Sachs.

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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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Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
3M Company (MMM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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