The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Cisco, Anthem, T-Mobile, Roper and HSBC

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –May 17, 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: Cisco CSCO, Anthem ANTM, T-Mobile TMUS, Roper Technologies ROP and HSBC Holdings HSBC.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Cisco, Anthem and T-Mobile

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 Cisco, Anthem and T-Mobile. 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 >>>

Cisco’s shares have gained +20.7% in the past year, outperforming the Zacks Computer Networking industry's increase of +18.1%. Cisco reported stellar third-quarter results. Moreover, both top and bottom line increased year over year. Strength witnessed in the company’s Security and Applications segments drove year-over-year growth. Order strength and improving traction of the subscription-based model were other tailwinds.

The Zacks analyst likes the strong contribution from security, Infrastructure Platforms and applications. Order strength and improving traction of the subscription-based model are other tailwinds. Strengthening collaboration portfolio which now includes Webex Teams and Accompany bodes well. Further, buyout of Duo Security and Luxtera should help the company expand its IT and data center clientele.

However, weakness in switching and routing is a headwind. Arista’s intention of manufacturing switches that connect campus networks is likely to hurt Cisco as it holds a dominant position in that market.

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

Shares of Buy-ranked Anthem have outperformed the Zacks Medical Insurance industry in the past year (up +11.6% vs. -2.9%). The Zacks analyst thinks the company's prudent acquisitions and collaborations complement its organic growth. Its consistently growing top line paves the way for long-term growth.

A diverse product portfolio has also helped the company enhance its underwriting results. Anthem’s strong capital position backs effective capital deployment via share buybacks and regular dividends. A strong outlook for 2019 and growing membership instills investor's confidence in the company.

However, the company has been suffering from high benefit costs and selling, general and administrative expenses. Rising level of debt is another concern.

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

Buy-ranked T-Mobile’s shares have outperformed the Zacks National Wireless industry over the past year, gaining +31.7% vs. +9%. T-Mobile reported solid first-quarter 2019 results, wherein both the top line and the bottom line beat expectations. The company has received shareholder approval for its game-changing merger with Sprint.

This is a step forward in creating the New T-Mobile through which it plans to bring robust competition to the 5G era. The New T-Mobile would have about 127 million customers and a strong closing balance sheet. The Zacks analyst thinks T-Mobile’s network expansion strategy continues to be superior to its rivals.

Its improvement in mobile plans, network performance, deployment of LTE-U technology and attractive unlimited data are key catalysts behind the stellar performance. This is supported by improving scale, healthy free cash flow generation and liquidity. However, a highly competitive and saturated U.S. wireless market remains a major headwind.

(You can read the full research report on T-Mobile here >>>).

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Roper Technologies and HSBC Holdings.

Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?

Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.

See Latest Stocks Today >>

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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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Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Anthem, Inc. (ANTM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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