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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights NVIDIA, Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, MicroSectors FANG+ ETN, Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – August 4, 2025 – 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: NVIDIA NVDA, Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF MAGS, MicroSectors FANG+ ETN FNGS, Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund XLK, Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF VGT. Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog: Big Tech Roars on AI Frenzy: ETFs to Play Wall Street witnessed a tech-fueled surge late Wednesday, as AI leaders Microsoft and Meta Platforms delivered blowout earnings, adding about $450 billion in combined market capitalization. Shares of Microsoft and Meta soared — a clear signal that AI investments are paying off big. Microsoft's Cloud & AI Drive Record Results Microsoft reported stellar Q4 FY2025 results, with earnings per share hitting $3.65 — beating estimates by $0.30 — and revenues climbing 18% YoY to $76.4 billion. The key growth driver? Its Azure cloud and AI infrastructure, with Azure projected to grow 37% in constant currency next quarter. Microsoft now forecasts record capital expenditures of $30 billion this quarter as it aggressively expands its AI footprint. The company has also become the second-ever public firm to cross a $4 trillion market cap, joining NVIDIA. Meta Surges on AI-Powered Advertising Meta also delivered a strong Q2, reporting EPS of $7.14, far exceeding the $5.83 estimate. Revenues jumped 22% to $47.5 billion, fueled by AI-driven ad technologies that boosted campaign automation and recommendations. Its user base continues to expand, with 3.48 billion daily active users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Meta also raised its 2025 capex forecast to as much as $72 billion, reflecting deeper AI investments. The AI Boom: Still in Early Stages Despite concerns about high capital expenditure, the long-term growth potential of AI remains enormous. According to the UNCTAD, the global AI market is expected to explode from $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033 — a 25-fold increase. Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI continues to fuel its AI ambitions, integrating ChatGPT across Azure and its Microsoft 365 ecosystem. At the same time, Microsoft is developing its own models like Phi AI and MAI-01 to compete with OpenAI and Google. Consumer Push & Strategic Spending Ahead On the consumer front, Microsoft is set to end Windows 10 support in October, likely boosting Windows 11 upgrades. AI features continue to roll out across Copilot, Edge and Windows, creating fresh revenue streams. Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to spend $80 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025, joining Google and Amazon in a multi-billion-dollar arms race to dominate the AI future. ETFs in Focus Given this trend, investors may want to invest in Big Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, MicroSectors FANG+ ETN, Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF. Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week. Don't miss out on this valuable resource. It's free! Get it now >> Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 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 NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK): ETF Research Reports Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT): ETF Research Reports MicroSectors FANG+ ETN (FNGS): ETF Research Reports This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Expeditors International of Washington, GXO Logistics and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – August 4, 2025 – 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: Expeditors International of Washington EXPD, GXO Logistics GXO and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ZIM. Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog: 3 Transportation Stocks Positioned to Surpass Q2 Earnings Estimates The Zacks Transportation sector is widely diversified in nature, including airlines, railroads, package delivery companies, and truckers, to name a few. Per the latest Earnings Outlook, second-quarter 2025 earnings of the S&P 500 members of the sector are expected to decline 4.7% year over year. Revenues are estimated to inch down 0.5%. With quite a few players in this diversified sector yet to report their financial numbers, we expect the likes of Expeditors International of Washington, GXO Logistics and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services to report better-than-expected earnings despite headwinds like weak freight demand, tariff-induced uncertainty, inflation-related woes and supply chain disruptions. Let's discuss the factors that are likely to have boosted the sector participants' second-quarter performance. The southward movement of oil price bodes well for the bottom-line growth of sector participants. This is because fuel expenses are a significant input cost for any transportation company. Crude oil has been struggling in 2025, with prices sliding to multi-month lows. Tariff concerns, weakening consumer confidence and production increase by OPEC+ have all contributed to this downward pressure. Oil price declined 6% in the April-June period. Efforts to control costs for bottom-line growth amid the prevalent freight demand weakness are also likely to have aided players' performances. Moreover, the fact that e-commerce is still a force to reckon with bodes well. For U.S. airline companies in the sector, the stabilization of air travel demand, despite the tariff-induced economic uncertainties and the resultant reduction in consumer and corporate confidence, is a positive. Shipping companies, despite being hurt by the still-high inflation, tariff-related tensions and lingering supply-chain disruptions, demonstrate resilience, especially those prioritizing growth and operational efficiency. Here's How to Pick the Right Stocks Quite a few transportation stocks are likely to report earnings shortly. It is always a daunting task for investors to pick a winning basket of stocks with the potential to deliver better-than-expected earnings. While there is no foolproof method of choosing outperformers, our proprietary methodology — the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) — helps identify stocks with high chances of delivering a positive surprise in their upcoming earnings announcement. Our research shows that for stocks with this perfect mix of elements, the odds of an earnings beat are as high as 70%. Earnings ESP shows the percentage difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Our Choices Expeditors, a leading third-party logistics provider, is based in Seattle, WA. EXPD currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.11% and a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The company is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 5. While weak volumes (with respect to air-freight tonnage and ocean containers) stemming from soft demand and declining rates are likely to have hurt EXPD's performance, efforts to cut costs in the face of demand weakness are likely to have driven its bottom line. EXPD beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average being 13.3%. Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Quote GXO Logistics, a pure-play contract logistics provider, is headquartered in Greenwich, CT. GXO currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.33% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is slated to report second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 5. Increased e-commerce, automation and outsourcing are likely to aid the company's results. Cost-cutting efforts are also likely to have boosted the bottom-line performance of GXO. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, and missed once, with the average beat being 3.9%. GXO Logistics, Inc. price-eps-surprise | GXO Logistics, Inc. Quote ZIM Integrated Shipping is a global container liner shipping company. ZIM currently has an Earnings ESP of +20.66% and a Zacks Rank of 3. ZIM has an asset-light model, which allows it to focus more on leasing rather than owning vessels. This allows it to adjust capacity rapidly in response to market changes. ZIM's focus on niche markets and high-margin trade routes helps it avoid crowded, low-margin segments, thereby maintaining strong pricing power. This also boosts profitability. The shipping company's operational efficiency is being aided by investments in digitalization and innovative technologies. ZIM beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters by an average of 34.5%. The company is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 20. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. price-eps-surprise | ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. Quote Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 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 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) : Free Stock Analysis Report ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) : Free Stock Analysis Report GXO Logistics, Inc. (GXO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Globe and Mail
29-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Apple, Lenovo, Dell Technologies and HP
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 29, 2025 – 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: Apple AAPL, Lenovo's LNVGY, Dell Technologies' DELL and HP HPQ Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog: Buy, Sell or Hold Apple Stock? Key Tips Ahead of Q3 Earnings Apple is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on July 31. Apple expects the June-end quarter's (third-quarter fiscal 2025) revenues to grow in the low to mid-single digits on a year-over-year basis. The company expects the gross margin between 45.5% and 46.5%, including estimated tariff-impact worth $900 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter revenues is pegged at $88.92 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 3.67%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $1.42 per share, up by a penny over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates a 1.43% increase from the year-ago quarter's actual. AAPL's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the earnings surprise being 4.68%, on average. Let us see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement. Apple's iPhone Sales Likely to Rise Y/Y in Q3 Apple's fortunes are heavily reliant on the iPhone, which is by far its biggest revenue contributor. The device accounted for 49.1% of net sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, wherein sales increased 1.9% year over year to $46.84 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter iPhone net sales is pegged at $40.61 billion, suggesting a 3.3% year-over-year growth. iPhone sales have been suffering from stiff competition in China from Chinese vendors, including Huawei and Xiaomi. However, Apple has recovered some ground, per Counterpoint's latest data. Apple saw year-over-year growth of more than 8% for the period between April 1 and June 22, driven by the strong promotion of iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as well as iPhone prices in May. It is the first time Apple has recorded growth in China since the second quarter of 2023. Huawei continued to maintain its lead with year-over-year growth of more than 12%. China is an important market for Apple as the iPhone maker's manufacturing is primarily concentrated in the country. U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to levy tariffs on trade partners, including China, has negatively impacted Apple's supply chain. Greater China sales decreased 2.3% year over year in the fiscal second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter China sales is pegged at $15.27 billion, suggesting 3.7% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. AAPL's Services to Grow in the Double Digits in Q3 An expanding paid subscriber base has been a key catalyst for the Services business, which has been riding on the increasing popularity of the App Store and an expanding installed base of devices. Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscribers across its Services portfolio, offering Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple Fitness+ and Apple One bundle. The consensus mark for Services is pegged at $26.96 billion, suggesting 11.3% growth on a year-over-year basis. Apple's Mac Sales to Rise Y/Y AAPL has been gaining share in the PC market, thanks to strong demand for the latest Mac devices powered by the M4 family of chips — M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. Apple's strong Mac portfolio helped it gain market share in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Per IDC, Apple had a market share of 9.1%, up 110 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. Shipment grew 21.4% year over year to 6.2 million. Per Gartner, Apple had a market share of 9%, up 70 bps year over year. Apple's estimated shipment growth rate is the largest in IDC's vendor list, followed by ASUS and Lenovo 's growth of 16.7% and 15.2%, respectively. Dell Technologies ' shipment declined 3%, while HP saw shipment growth of 3.2%. According to Gartner's list, Lenovo was placed at the #1 spot with shipment growth of 13.9%, trailed by Apple's 13.4% and ASUS's 8.7%. Dell Technologies' shipment declined 3%, while HP saw growth of 3.2%. The consensus mark for Mac revenues is pegged at $7.16 billion, suggesting 2.2% growth on a year-over-year basis. AAPL Shares Underperform Sector Apple shares have risen 14.5% year to date (YTD), underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 11%. While Apple shares have outperformed HP YTD, the shares have lagged Dell Technologies. HP shares dropped 21.3%, while Dell Technologies returned 13.9%. The AAPL stock is not so cheap, as the Value Score of D suggests a stretched valuation at this moment. In terms of the forward 12-month Price/Earnings, AAPL is trading at 28.23X, higher than the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 27.86X. AI Focus Aids AAPL's Prospects Apple has been seeing better iPhone 16 sales in regions where Apple Intelligence is available. Apple expanded the availability of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 updates in new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified), as well as localized English for Singapore and India. At the end of 2025, Apple Intelligence will be available in eight more languages: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional) and Vietnamese. Apple's AI push is expected to bring consumer-focused AI-enabled PCs into the market, thereby aiding its Mac shipments in the long run. Currently, APPL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that investors should wait for a favorable point to accumulate the stock. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Higher. Faster. Sooner. Buy These Stocks Now A small number of stocks are primed for a breakout, and you have a chance to get in before they take off. At any given time, there are only 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. On average, this list more than doubles the S&P 500. We've combed through the latest Strong Buys and selected 7 compelling companies likely to jump sooner and climb higher than any other stock you could buy this month. You'll learn everything you need to know about these exciting trades in our brand-new Special Report, 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Download the report free now >> 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 Apple Inc. (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report HP Inc. (HPQ): Free Stock Analysis Report Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL): Free Stock Analysis Report Lenovo Group Ltd. (LNVGY): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
29-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Qualcomm, Broadcom and Intel
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 29, 2025 – 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: Qualcomm Inc. QCOM, Broadcom Inc. AVGO and Intel Corp. INTC. Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog: Is Qualcomm a Smart Buy Ahead of Q3 Earnings Release This Week? Qualcomm Inc. is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on July 30, 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues and earnings is pegged at $10.36 billion and $2.68 per share, respectively. Over the past 60 days, earnings estimate for QCOM for fiscal 2025 has declined 0.26% and for fiscal 2026 it has declined 1.99%. Earnings Surprise History The chip manufacturer delivered a four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.43%, on average, beating estimates on each occasion. In the last reported quarter, the company pulled off an earnings surprise of 0.71%. Earnings Whispers Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for Qualcomm for the fiscal third quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is perfectly the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Qualcomm currently has an ESP of +0.60% with a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Factors Shaping the Upcoming Results During the quarter, Qualcomm introduced the cutting-edge Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform. With cutting-edge CPU and GPU capabilities, the solution offers significantly improved AI performance, enhanced gaming, content generation and connectivity features. The newly launched solution has already gained solid market traction. Leading OEMs, such as HONOR and vivo, have already selected the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform for their upcoming devices. Realme is also expected to adopt the new platform. In the Quarter under review, Qualcomm was selected by e& a global technology group to strengthen digital infrastructure across the UAE. Under its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in advanced AI and 5G technologies to drive nationwide digital transformation. Qualcomm has positioned itself as a key player in that initiative. QCOM has joined forces with HUMAIN to develop AI data centers to deliver cloud-to-edge hybrid AI services. It has formed a partnership with Aramco Digital to support the development of advanced edge AI industrial IoT devices and end-to-end solutions. In the third quarter, the company acquired Autotalks to enhance its vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology offerings for safer, smarter transportation systems. Qualcomm has also acquired MovianAI, the former generative AI division of VinAI, a prominent Vietnam-based AI company. The acquisition will give Qualcomm access to VinAI's comprehensive expertise in generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. It has also inked a definitive agreement to acquire Alphawave Semi for an enterprise value of approximately $2.4 billion. With advanced technology solutions that are complementary to power-efficient CPU and NPU cores, Alphawave Semi delivers connectivity products and chiplets that drive faster, more reliable data transfer with higher performance and lower power consumption for 5G wireless, AI and data center applications. These acquisitions will significantly bolster Qualcomm's AI capabilities. Price Performance Over the past year, Qualcomm has lost 10.3% against the industry's growth of 41%, lagging peers like Broadcom Inc. but outperforming Intel Corp.. During this period, Broadcom has gained 93.8%, while Intel has declined 32.2%. Key Valuation Metric From a valuation standpoint, Qualcomm appears to be relatively cheaper compared to the industry and below its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company shares currently trade at 13.44 forward earnings, lower than 34.13 for the industry and the stock's mean of 16.97. Investment Considerations Qualcomm is aiming to be the driving force of the next wave of AI innovation. Its recent strategic acquisitions and innovation initiative are perfectly aligned with that strategy. The buyouts will provide Qualcomm's access to next-generation technology, bolster its R&D initiatives, and facilitate the development of state-of-the-art AI-driven solutions for a wide range of industries, including smartphones, PCs, software-defined vehicles and more. The company is witnessing healthy traction in the premium handset market. However, intensifying competition from low-cost chip manufacturers like MediaTek and Rockchip is impacting margins in the mid-range smartphone market. The company has been taking actions to counter these issues. It is introducing several cutting-edge AI features in its chips for mid-range smartphones, and it has been actively collaborating with major smartphone manufacturers to develop a solution tailored to their requirements. Qualcomm is also expanding its portfolio offerings to enhance resiliency in its business model. The company is expected to benefit from strong demand for its Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform in the automotive market. These factors will likely boost commercial prospects. However, despite some setbacks, Intel has remained a major player in chipset development. The company's growing prowess in the AI PC vertical can pose a challenge to Qualcomm's AI PC expansion. The company is also facing competition from Broadcom, which is a prominent supplier of RF Components to leading smartphone makers. End Note With a Zacks Rank #3, QCOM appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and new investors could be better off if they trade with caution. Intensifying competition in the smartphone vertical is putting pressure on profitability. Declining earnings estimates highlight bearish sentiment. However, the results of a single quarter are not so vital for long-term stakeholders. Investors who already own the stock may consider holding on to it. Qualcomm is ramping up its AI initiatives, diversifying its portfolio to capitalize on the emerging trends across multiple end markets. Growing traction in high-end smartphones, advanced driver assistance, V2X communication, AI PC and IoT space is positive. Strategic buyouts are enhancing portfolio strength. Such development augurs well for long-term sustainable growth. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Higher. Faster. Sooner. Buy These Stocks Now A small number of stocks are primed for a breakout, and you have a chance to get in before they take off. At any given time, there are only 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. On average, this list more than doubles the S&P 500. We've combed through the latest Strong Buys and selected 7 compelling companies likely to jump sooner and climb higher than any other stock you could buy this month. You'll learn everything you need to know about these exciting trades in our brand-new Special Report, 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Download the report free now >> 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 Intel Corporation (INTC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
29-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, Amazon, MAGS, FNGS and TOPT
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 29, 2025 – 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: Microsoft MSFT, Meta Platforms META, Apple AAPL, Amazon AMZN, Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF MAGS, MicroSectors FANG+ ETN FNGS and iShares Top 20 U.S. Stocks ETF TOPT. Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog: Big Tech Earnings Coming Up: Spotlight on Mag 7 ETFs The second-quarter earnings season has turned into high gear, and the so-called "Magnificent 7" companies are in focus. Four of the "Magnificent 7" members — Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple and Amazon — are slated to report this week, accounting for almost a third of the S&P 500 members. The second-quarter earnings of the "Mag 7" companies are expected to be up 14% from the same period last year on 11.9% higher revenues. These expectations are a blend of actual results from Alphabet and Tesla and estimates for the remaining five, of which four are on deck to report this week. Microsoft and Meta Platforms will report after market close on July 30, while Apple and Amazon will report on July 31. NVIDIA is likely to report later next month. The whole group has led the market's rebound from the April lows to new all-time highs. Only Apple is the laggard, as the company has not yet reaped the benefits of AI. Other members of the "Magnificent 7" are leaders in the AI space and are actively investing in setting up datacenters and related infrastructure that will enable them to run the large-language models (read: Mag 7 ETFs Surge: Will the Rally Keep Rolling?). Microsoft Microsoft has an Earnings ESP of -0.64% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). According to our methodology, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Microsoft saw no earnings estimate revision over the past 30 days for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Its earnings track record is impressive, with the four-quarter earnings surprise being 5.21%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates earnings growth of 13.6% and revenue growth of 13.9% from the year-ago quarter. The world's largest software company will continue to grow as artificial intelligence applications drive more cloud infrastructure usage. Microsoft's Azure cloud business is benefiting from the company's partnership with AI leader OpenAI. Wall Street is clearly bullish on the world's largest software company heading into the results, with an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.23 made by 47 brokerage firms. Out of them, 39 are Strong Buy and five are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy, respectively, account for 82.98% and 10.64% of all recommendations. The average price target for Microsoft comes to $552.35, ranging from a low of $475.00 to a high of $626.00. Some analysts have also raised the target price on Microsoft. Evercore ISI raised its price target to $545.00 from $515.00, citing that the company's momentum in Azure and AI will continue to drive "durable double-digit top and bottom line growth." Wedbush lifted the price target to $6000. According to Wedbush, the company "is just hitting its next phase of monetization on the AI front," thanks to the adoption of Copilot, its chatbot, and the cloud-computing platform Azure (read: ETFs to Surge as Microsoft Tops $3.5T, Reclaims Top Spot). Meta Platforms Meta Platforms has an Earnings ESP of +2.91% and a Zacks Rank #1. The social media giant saw a negative earnings estimate revision of five cents for the second quarter over the past seven days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the yet-to-be-reported quarter indicates substantial year-over-year earnings growth of 12.98%. Revenues are expected to increase 14.77% year over year. Meta Platforms delivered an earnings surprise of 17.30%, on average, in the last four quarters. Meta currently has a Wall Street analyst recommendation of 1.35 made by 55 brokerage firms. Of these, 45 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy, respectively, account for 81.82% and 5.45% of all recommendations. Based on short-term price targets offered by 52 analysts, the average price target for Meta Platforms comes to $756.13, ranging from a low of $566.00 to a high of $935.00. Meta's AI strategy now serves as the backbone of its business transformation. The company has now committed $60–70 billion in capital expenditure for this year, with the lion's share earmarked for AI infrastructure. This includes cutting-edge data centers like Prometheus and Hyperion, as well as the deployment of NVIDIA's Grace Hopper Superchip. These bold investments are already delivering results across Meta's platforms. The 30% adoption of Advantage+ is driving a 5% boost in Reels conversion rates. AI-driven recommendations have lifted time spent on Facebook by 7% and on Threads by a remarkable 35%. Instagram Reels engagement is up 24%, fueled by improved algorithmic personalization. The world's largest social media platform projects revenues in the range of $42.5-$45.5 billion for the second quarter. Apple Apple has an Earnings ESP of +3.52% and a Zacks Rank #3. Apple saw a positive earnings estimate revision of a penny over the past 30 days for the fiscal third quarter of 2025. The iPhone maker has a strong track record of positive earnings surprises. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 4.68% in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a modest year-over-year increase of 1.43% for earnings and 3.67% for revenues. The tech giant currently has a Wall Street analyst recommendation of 2.04 made by 37 brokerage firms. Of these, 18 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 48.65% and 8.11% of all recommendations. Based on short-term price targets offered by 33 analysts, the average price target for Apple comes to $231.52. The forecasts range from a low of $139.00 to a high of $300.00. On the last earnings call, the iPhone maker guided "low to mid-single digit" sales growth for the fiscal third quarter. Chief executive Tim Cook warned that Apple is likely to face a $900 million headwind as a result of tariffs. He added that it is "very difficult" to predict beyond June due to uncertainties surrounding the U.S.-China trade policy. Amazon Amazon has an Earnings ESP of +7.37% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company saw a positive earnings estimate revision of a penny over the past seven days for the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings increase of 8.13% and substantial revenue growth of 9.67% for the to-be-reported quarter. Additionally, Amazon's earnings surprise history is impressive, with the four-quarter average surprise being 20.68%. Amazon currently has a Wall Street analyst recommendation of 1.15 made by 55 brokerage firms. Of these, 48 are Strong Buy and six are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 87.27% and 10.91% of all recommendations. Based on short-term price targets offered by 53 analysts, the average price target for Amazon comes to $254.38, ranging from a low of $195.00 to a high of $305.00. Amazon continues to dominate the e-commerce business and is expanding its footprint in cloud computing, advertising and various other sectors. The world's largest online retailer projected revenues of $159-$164 billion for the second quarter of 2025. Blockbuster Prime Day Event sales are likely to boost revenues for the company. Like other tech companies, Amazon is ramping up investments in data centers, chips and the power needed for AI workloads. It is also investing in its own computer chips and those developed by NVIDIA. However, CFO Brian Olsavsky, on the last earnings call, issued a cautious outlook due to uncertain consumer demand in the face of President Trump's shifting tariff policies. ETFs to Tap Given this, investors may want to invest in these stocks through ETFs. Below, we have highlighted some ETFs with the largest exposure to Mag 7. Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF: It is the first-ever ETF offering investors equal-weight exposure to the Magnificent 7 stocks. MicroSectors FANG+ ETN: This ETN is linked to the performance of the NYSE FANG+ Index, which is equal-dollar weighted and designed to provide exposure to a group of highly traded growth stocks of next-generation technology and tech-enabled companies. The note accounts for a 10% share in each of the seven stocks. MicroSectors FANG+ ETN has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (see: all the Technology ETFs here). iShares Top 20 U.S. Stocks ETF: It offers exposure to the potential growth of mega-cap stocks, which may benefit from their scale and resources. The in-focus four firms account for a combined 38% share. TOPT has a Zacks ETF Rank #2. Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week. Don't miss out on this valuable resource. It's free! Get it now >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ 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 for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Higher. Faster. Sooner. 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(META): Free Stock Analysis Report iShares Top 20 U.S. Stocks ETF (TOPT): ETF Research Reports
