The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights:Comcast, Facebook, Pandora Media, Microsoft and FMC
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 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 Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report), Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq:FB-Free Report), Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE:P-Free Report), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT-Free Report) and FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC-Free Report).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:
Comcast Unit Enhances Marketplace
Comcast Business, a unit of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report), has decided to incorporate the AnyMeeting software in its Upware cloud marketplace. The software offers web conferencing and webinar services to small business enterprises.
Both the companies will collaborate to deliver superior web conferencing services to small and medium business (SMB) clients which includes video conferencing in six different methods, VoIP audio conferencing, screen sharing, presentation sharing, recording and mobile access.
Research firm AMI-Partners believes that there is a growing demand for web conferencing services among SMB customers. Over the next three years, the firm expects North America to generate nearly $1.4 billion revenues annually from web conferencing, up from $560 million in 2012, growing at a CAGR of 26%.
Comcast's cloud computing service is highly popular with 50% subscribers using its next-generation web-capable platform – "X1." This platform offers a hybrid IP/QAM video gateway with an advanced user interface and the ability to port third-party apps that tie into a cloud-based infrastructure. X1 service will be available nationwide by the end of 2013.
Comcast is gradually deploying its next-generation Xfinity TV, an on-demand, Web-based service for subscribers with access to both video programming and the Internet. The new Xfinity TV set-top box has an innovative system to quickly navigate between live and on-demand programming. A new user interface incorporates content from Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq:FB-Free Report), Internet Radio of Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE:P-Free Report), and news and weather applications.
Comcast also entered into an agreement with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT-Free Report) to enable its subscribers to access Xfinity TV online content from the Microsoft Xbox. Xfinity TV currently covers 95% of the company's footprint.
Currently, Comcast Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
FMC Boosts Crop Protection Portfolio
FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC-Free Report) announced that it has created a world class platform to cater to the fast-growing biological crop protection market through two strategic deals.
FMC has formed an exclusive global strategic alliance with bioscience company Chr. Hansen, to develop and commercialize biological crop protection products. The company has also acquired the Center for Agricultural and Environmental Biosolutions (CAEB).
Global Strategic Alliance
The global agriculture sector is facing a major productivity challenge, and biological solutions will become the more important way to address this challenge. Under the strategic alliance, Chr. Hansen will provide scouting, screening, scale up and fermentation manufacturing expertise while FMC will complement the services with scouting, screening, formulation capabilities, product development and registration experience, and global market access.
The alliance between the two companies creates a powerful platform and also enables them to participate in the multi-billion dollar biological crop protection market. The alliance accelerates Chr. Hansen's entry in the plant protection market by combining its unique technology platform for bacterial solutions along with FMC's strong route to market and application know-how. The companies will develop new products, knowledge and biological expertise and they remain confident of developing a strong portfolio of biological crop protection solutions.
FMC and Chr. Hansen have already been working on some projects and will collaboratively launch the Nemix C product for use in sugarcane in late 2013 in Brazil. Nemix C is a biological product and increases growth and yield through enhanced root development and protection.
Chr. Hansen develops natural ingredient solutions for the food, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Both FMC and Chr. Hansen plan to expand into new markets with existing and new products.
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.
Get the full Report on CMCSA - FREE
Get the full Report on FB - FREE
Get the full Report on P - FREE
Get the full Report on MSFT - FREE
Get the full Report on FMC - FRE
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
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 http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
Share this article