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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Adobe, Abbott Laboratories, Barrick Gold, HSBC Holdings and Square

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 10, 2020 – 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: Adobe Inc. ADBE, Abbott Laboratories ABT, Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD, HSBC Holdings plc HSBC and Square, Inc. SQ

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for Adobe, Abbott and Barrick Gold

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 Adobe Systems, Abbott Laboratories and Barrick Gold. 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 >>>

Adobe shares have outperformed the Zacks Software industry year to date (+38.2% vs. +30.4%). The Zacks analyst is optimistic about Adobe’s market position, compelling product lines, solid adoption of Creative Cloud and Adobe marketing cloud.

Adobe is benefiting from strong demand for its creative products. Its Creative Cloud, Document Cloud and Adobe Experience Cloud products are driving the top-line growth. Further, rising subscription revenues and solid momentum across the mobile apps are major positives.

Additionally, growth in emerging markets, robust online video creation demand and improving average revenue per user are tailwinds. However, lower end-market demand and exposure to Europe remain overhangs. Further, high acquisition expenses do not bode well for margin expansion.

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

Shares of Abbott have gained +15.6% over the past six months against the Zacks Medical Products industry’s fall of -7.5%. The Zacks analyst believes that the branded generics and international diabetes businesses should drive growth in the coming quarters. New product launches and acquisitions should boost sales further.

Abbott posted better-than-expected numbers for the second quarter. However, the figures declined year over year. Despite $615 million of COVID-19 diagnostic testing-related sales, this year-over-year decline was primarily due to the pandemic-led fall in procedure volumes in many businesses.

However, the company’s Diabetes Care, Nutrition, and EPD arms collectively grew more than 9% in the first half of 2020 leveraging on the pandemic situation. Apart from the launch of COVID-19 tests, the company also obtained FDA for Libre 2 as an iCGM. It also received CE Mark for TriClip.

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

Barrick Gold shares have gained +5.2% over the past three months against the Zacks Mining - Gold industry’s rise of +20.1%. The Zacks analyst believes that Barrick’s debt-reduction actions are expected to lower interest expenses. It also has a strong liquidity position and generates healthy cash flows.

Annual earnings estimates for Barrick have been moving up over the past month. The company is expected to gain from progress of its key growth projects. A significant portion of its exploration budget has been allocated to the Americas.

Moreover, its merger with Randgold and joint venture with Newmont provide additional upside. The joint venture combines the respective mining operations, assets, reserves and resources. The merger also formed an industry-leading gold company. Higher gold prices are also likely to support margins. Barrick also has extensive regional presence across many of the world’s most prolific gold districts.

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

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

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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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Adobe Systems Incorporated (ADBE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Square, Inc. (SQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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