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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Starbucks, NIKE, Manulife, Intuit and Vertex

Zacks.com featured highlights include: Twitter, Lockheed Martin, Intercontinental Exchange, CBRE and Keurig Dr Pepper

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 28, 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 Starbucks SBUX, NIKE NKE, Manulife MFC, Intuit INTU and Vertex VRTX.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for Starbucks, Nike and Manulife

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 Starbucks, NIKE and Manulife. 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 >>>

Starbucks’ shares are up +2.3% year to date, underperforming the Zacks Food & Restaurants industry, which is up +10.9% over the same period. Starbucks reported third-quarter fiscal 2017 results, wherein it met analysts’ expectations on earnings but missed on revenues amid persistent decline in U.S. restaurant sales.

However, its bottom line grew 10% with top line remaining the same year over year. Its global comps grew 2% (softer than 4% in the prior quarter), comprising 1% increase in average ticket with 2% growth in traffic. Again, higher investments in its store partner led to a decline of 90 basis points in operating margin.

As expected, Starbucks reduced its long-term EPS growth target to 12% (vs 15-20% expected earlier), which assumes 3-5% comps growth (vs mid-single-digits) and high-single-digit revenue growth (vs 10%). However, the Zacks analyst likes its best-in-class loyalty program, digital offerings to counter tepid sales growth, and increased strategic investments in China, while trimming down non-performing U.S. units.

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

Shares of NIKE have outperformed the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry over the one year (+16.3% vs. +15.2%), driven by strength in international business and the global NIKE Direct business. Also, NIKE has been focused on its Consumer Direct Offense plan.

Driven by its Triple Double strategy, this restructuring plan focuses on using digital methods for rapid innovation and product development, along with strengthening consumer relations by operating through core regions. It also has a positive record of earnings surprises in recent quarters.

However, lackluster sales trend in the company’s key North American market remains a headwind. Notably, sales in the region dipped 3% in first-quarter fiscal 2018, wherein the gross margin was hurt by currency woes and a higher mix of off-price sales.

The company anticipates near-term results to be hurt by the tough retail environment, which led to a bleak second quarter view. Second quarter estimates have been stable ahead of the earnings release.

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

Manulife’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Life Insurance industry in the year to date period, gaining +19.1% vs. +26.8%. However, Manulife continues to witness new business volumes, particularly in Asia, and positive net flows in its wealth and asset management businesses. A deep reach into Asian markets and a growing asset management business would drive long-term earnings growth.

The company remains on track to achieve more than $100 million in expense synergies. However, declining group benefit sales in Canada segment will weigh on results, volatile global equity markets coupled with low bond yields has largely affected the company’s capital position.

Manulife’s third-quarter 2017 core earnings increased year over year. The quarter witnessed new business value growth in Asia. While insurance sales increased, Wealth sales remained flat year over year. This also marks the 31st straight quarter of positive net flows in global Wealth and Asset Management.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Intuit and Vertex.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

Click here for the 6 trades >>

Want more stock market analysis from this author? Make sure to follow @Ryan_McQueeney on Twitter!

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 >>

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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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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Intuit Inc. (INTU) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Manulife Financial Corp (MFC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Nike, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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