The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Meta Platforms, Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Morgan Stanley

Zacks Equity Research
·4-min read

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 18, 2023 – 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: Meta Platforms, Inc. META, Walmart Inc. WMT, Johnson & Johnson JNJ, Pfizer Inc. PFE and Morgan Stanley MS

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for Meta, Walmart and J&J

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 Meta Platforms, Inc., Walmart Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. 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 >>>

Meta Platforms shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet - Software industry over the past six months (+52.1% vs. +23.0%) as signs of stabilization in the digital advertizing market have shown up. The company is benefiting from steady user growth across all regions, particularly Asia Pacific. Increased engagement for its offerings like Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook has been a major growth driver.

Meta Platforms is leveraging AI to recommend Reels content, which is driving traffic on Instagram and Facebook. Its innovative portfolio, which includes Threads, Reels and Llama 2, is likely to aid prospects.

However, challenging macroeconomic conditions remain a headwind for Meta's advertising revenues, along with targeting and measurement headwinds due to Apple's iOS changes. Slow monetization of Reels, along with mounting operating losses at Reality Labs, are concerns.

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

Shares of Walmart have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry over the past six months (+20.4% vs. +18.1%). The company's performance is driven by its robust omnichannel operations aimed at improving the overall shopping experience. Walmart strategic focus on enhancing delivery services has been especially rewarding.

This is evident from the constant increase in the market share for groceries, which boosted U.S. comparable sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. During the quarter, the top and bottom lines grew year over year, encouraging management to raise its guidance for fiscal 2024. Strong comp sales growth globally and e-commerce growth across all units were upsides.

While the gross margin increased year over year, it was partly hurt by an adverse category mix, which is likely to linger in the third quarter. Management also expects variable pay expenses to increase year over year in the third quarter.

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

Shares of Johnson & Johnson have gained +7.9% over the past six months against the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's gain of +19.5%. The company's pharma unit is performing at above-market levels.

Growth in 2023 is expected to be driven by existing products like Darzalex, Tremfya, Erleada, Invega Sustenna and Uptravi, and also continued uptake from new launches, including Spravato, Carvykti and Tecvayli. The MedTech unit is showing improving trends, driven by recovery in surgical procedures and contribution from new products.

J&J is making rapid progress with its pipeline and line extensions. However, headwinds like generic competition and pricing pressure continue. Though J&J has taken meaningful steps to resolve its talc and opioid litigation, uncertainty exists regarding the talc litigations.

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

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Pfizer Inc. and Morgan Stanley.

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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.

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

Morgan Stanley (MS) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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