The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: FleetCor, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Johnson and Johnson

CHICAGO, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 the FleetCor (NYSE:FLT-Free Report), Sanofi (NYSE:SNY-Free Report), Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO-Free Report), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY-Free Report) and Johnson and Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report).

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Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

Anatomy of Success: FleetCor (FLT)

One of the toughest parts of investing is staying in a stock that's going up and not getting out prematurely. For whatever reason, too many investors are quick to cut their profits short and let their losses run. Of course, the opposite of that is what should be done.

But by following the Zacks Rank and the trajectory of earnings estimate revisions, not only will you know when to buy, but also learn how to ride your best stocks for bigger gains. And when the time comes, know when to sell.

FleetCor (NYSE:FLT-Free Report)

FleetCor is one of those stocks that looked set to outperform over a 1-3 month timeframe, but then turned into a longer-term holding, resulting in even more impressive gains.

The company operates as a provider of specialized payment products in the Financial Services industry.

And it quickly became a favorite holding in many portfolios.

On August 17, 2012, FLT was singled out as a top stock when it received a Zacks #1 Rank.

Even as many investors were still shunning financial stocks, this one stood out from the others, ready to outperform.

Over the course of the next 14 months (10/4/13), they received 59 upward earnings estimate revisions in a row, produced 4 positive EPS surprises, and rewarded investors with a 163.38% gain compared to the market's 41.60%.

During that time, their 12 Month Forward Earnings Estimates steadily climbed from $2.91 to $4.25, and was the clear catalyst for FLT's stellar gains.

Positive Phase III Results for Sanofi

Sanofi (NYSE:SNY-Free Report) announced encouraging data from a phase III study (EDITION II, n = 811) evaluating its new insulin candidate, U300. Sanofi expects to submit regulatory applications in the U.S. and Europe for the candidate in the first half of 2014.

The EDITION II study assessed the safety and efficacy of U300 versus Lantus in patients with type II diabetes already under basal and oral antidiabetic medications. Data from the study revealed that U300 was similar in efficacy to Lantus in terms of blood sugar reduction. However, 23% fewer patients experienced night-time low blood sugar events with U300 as compared to Lantus.

Sanofi also announced positive top-line data from EDITION III, EDITION IV and EDITION JP I studies. The EDITION III (n =878) study compared U300 with Lantus in type II diabetes patients, who have not received insulin therapy. Moreover, their disease was not controlled by oral medications. Meanwhile, EDITION IV (n = 549) and JP1 (conducted on Japanese patients, n = 243) studies compared U300 with Lantus in type I diabetes patients on basal and mealtime insulin. The three studies met the primary endpoint. Full results from these studies will be presented in the first half of 2014.

Lantus, which generated sales of €4.2 billion in the first nine months of 2013, is one of the top-selling drugs at Sanofi. U300 on approval is expected to further strengthen Sanofi's product portfolio. Although Sanofi holds a strong position in the diabetes market, we note that the market is highly crowded with players like Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO-Free Report) andEli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY-Free Report).

Sanofi, a large cap pharma company, carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the large cap pharma space include Johnson and Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report), which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

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SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.