The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Disney, Kraft Heinz, Caterpillar, Humana and Regeneron

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Dec 19, 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 Disney DIS, Kraft Heinz KHC, Caterpillar CAT, Humana HUM and Regeneron REGN.

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

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Research Reports for Disney, Kraft Heinz and Caterpillar

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 Disney, Kraft Heinz and Caterpillar. 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 >>>

Disney’s shares have increased +5.6% in the last one year vs. the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry’s -3.4% decline in that same time period. Disney is acquiring majority of Twenty-First Century Fox’s assets, which includes its Film and Television studios accompanied by cable and international TV businesses in a transaction worth $52.4 billion.

The deal provides a shot in the arm to Disney, which for quite some time now has been jostling in the fast changing media landscape, where rise in streaming and cord cutting have become the norm. The buyout of these assets would considerably enhance the media mogul’s bargaining power with Cable TV providers, increase affiliate fees, provide a fresh lease of life to ESPN and create cost synergies.

Further, the addition of Fox's rich library of movies and TV series would greatly enhance Disney’s prospects in the streaming service arena. Bob Iger will continue to spearhead the company through 2021 for a smooth integration of Fox’s assets into Disney.

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

Shares of Kraft Heinz have declined -8.9% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Diversified Food industry which is down -5.5% during the same period. Kraft Heinz’s cost savings have led to better profits amid a soft sales environment. The company expects between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion of cumulative Integration Program savings by the end of 2017, primarily focused on work-force reductions, factory closures and consolidations.

Also, with growing awareness of the nutritional value of food products, the company is emphasizing on organic ingredients, reshaping its existing products and expanding into new categories. However, continued softness in sales has weighed on the company’s performance. Also, the trend in 2017 and 2018 earnings estimate revisions is not satisfactory as it has remained stable over the past 30 days.

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

Strong Buy-rated Caterpillar’s shares have gained +58.2% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Construction and Mining industry which has increased +56.4% over the same period. Caterpillar reported a 26% rise in global retail sales for the three months ended November 2017, marking the fastest pace since 2012. This was driven by improvement across all regions with construction, mining and energy reporting the best performances year to date.

Caterpillar's 2017 guidance of revenues of $44 billion and earnings per share of $6.25 reflects a year-over-year growth of 14% and 83%, respectively. Higher sales in Asia Pacific and North America, improved order rates and backlog will fuel growth in Construction Industries. Resource Industries will gain on higher aftermarket parts sales. Energy & Transportation will be buoyed by improved sale of engines into industrial applications, strength in onshore North America oil and gas and transportation. Further, ongoing efforts to reduce costs will help boost margins.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Humana and Regeneron.

Wall Street’s Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

Click for details >>

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

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com/

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.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Walt Disney Company (The) (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.