For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – December 2, 2024 – 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: Chevron Corp. CVX, AstraZeneca PLC AZN and Arista Networks, Inc. ANET.

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Chevron, AstraZeneca and Arista Networks

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 Chevron Corp., AstraZeneca PLC and Arista Networks, Inc. These research reports have been hand-picked from roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

Chevron’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas – Integrated – International industry over the past two years (-11.6% vs. +0.4%). The Zacks analyst believes that the energy major is highly exposed to the perils of oil price fluctuations.

Moreover, its planned acquisition of Hess Corporation faces regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges. Chevron has been a laggard compared to its European peers to jump onto the clean energy bandwagon.

However, Chevron has improved its cash from operations, allowing management to raise dividends regularly.

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

AstraZeneca’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the last six months (-12.5% vs. -5.3%). The Zacks analyst believes that AstraZeneca’s diabetes franchise faces stiff competition, while pricing pressure hurts sales in the respiratory unit.

Yet, alongside investments in emerging markets, key drugs like Lynparza, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Fasenra, Ultomiris and Farxiga should keep driving the company’s revenues. AstraZeneca’s pipeline is strong, with important pipeline data readouts lined up.

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

Shares of Arista Networks have outperformed the Zacks Communication - Components industry over the past year (+83.1% vs. +75.7%). Per the Zacks analyst, the company is benefiting from solid demand, driven by strong momentum in AI workloads, cloud networking and data center. Innovation in areas such as deep packet buffers, embedded optics and reversible cooling augurs well for its long-term growth.

However, Arista is up against some of the toughest competitors in cloud networking solutions. Customer concentration risk is also a concern.