CHICAGO, June 13, 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 IBM Corp. (NYSE:IBM-Free Report), Cognizant Technology Solutions (Nasdaq:CTSH-Free Report), Genpact Ltd. (NYSE:G-Free Report), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ-Free Report) and Urban Outfitters Inc. (Nasdaq:URBN-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 Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Insourcing: A Silver Lining Ahead?
They say 'figures don't lie,' so if statistics are reliable yardsticks to gauge the performance of the U.S. economy, this data is sure to catch the eye of everyone: the rise in a cheap and productive labor force.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, non-farm business sector labor productivity increased at a 0.5% annual rate during the first quarter of 2013, while unit labor costs declined 4.3%. Although the numbers are not huge, they are significant enough, and indicate an evolving trend in one of the most hotly-debated topics in the country, Insourcing.
As the U.S. labor market improves with more productivity at lesser wages, several companies have begun wondering whether to continue with their outsourcing strategy for cost advantages or whether they should revert to insourcing. Let's dig a little deeper for the answer.
A Resilient Economy
Despite continued softness in most European markets, the U.S. economy has shown resilience with 175,000 new jobs added in May. The average increase in new jobs in the last 12-months aggregate 172,000, which if compared with other developed economies would rank as one among the highest. A healthy rebound in the housing market (See: REITs Breakthrough: Real or Bubble?) and a continuous uptrend in stock prices across most indices have been the primary growth drivers for the economy.
The unemployment rate has increased marginally in May to 7.6% from 7.5% in Apr, as the labor participation rate inched higher to 63.4% with the influx of 420,000 job-seekers in the labor force. These are encouraging signs for the economy and signify higher hopes for new job prospects. However, the labor participation rate has still got a long way to go to reach its zenith of 67.3%, attained in 2000 when the baby boomer generation was an integral part of the labor force.
The Tilting Scales Against Outsourcing
The dramatic change in the labor market has unruffled the ergonomics and tilted the equilibrium against outsourcing. As most of Americans have learned the hard way of survival through the pangs of a prolonged recession, wages have declined and productivity has increased as a percentage of total product or service costs.
On the other hand, as wages in emerging markets have been steadily rising largely due to increased global demand, new labor laws and greater worker voice, the profit perspective has failed to justify the cause of shifting the manufacturing operations outside.
In addition, technological advancements and eroding geographical barriers have been encouraging most companies to modify their supply-chain mechanism and often co-locate some of the vital operations such as research and development, design and marketing and assembly closer to the markets served. This is also serving the purpose of better aligning their products with faster innovation in tune with changes in consumer behavior.
Consequently, de-verticalization of manufacturing operations have been gradually getting replaced with re-verticalization, making companies skewed towards insourcing.
Changes in Legislation
In order to further propel the rising tide of insourcing of jobs, the Senate is currently working on the 'Senate Immigration Bill,' under which foreign outsourcing firms will need to pay more to avail the services of temporary foreign workers on H-1B visas, thereby discouraging its use and offering a larger pool of domestic workers to these companies.
The bill also pledges to stop issuing new H-1B visas after 2014 for those companies that employ over 75% of their workforce in the U.S. on temporary visas, and the threshold is further expected to be scaled down to 50% by 2016.
To make matters favorable for domestic workers, even foreign workers who work at the offices of their customers, typically known as 'outplacements,' will be prohibited to work on temporary visas, forcing companies to look for local talent. Even while scouring the local job market, the bill imposes strict guidelines for advertising jobs to further deter foreign recruits.
All these measures are likely to have some adverse effects on companies like IBM Corp. (NYSE:IBM-Free Report), Cognizant Technology Solutions (Nasdaq:CTSH-Free Report), Genpact Ltd. (NYSE:G-Free Report) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ-Free Report), as they have a significant chunk of their jobs outsourced.
To Conclude
So although a silver lining does appear on the horizon, outsourcing has ingrained the economy as a key element for exploiting cost advantages. Consequently, it might take considerable effort to dethrone outsourcing from its current position and establish the insourcing of jobs as the next big thing in the economy.
Healthy Sales Trend at Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters Inc. (Nasdaq:URBN-Free Report) in a recent regulatory filing stated that so far in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, it has been witnessing high single-digit growth in comparable retail segment net sales.
Urban Outfitters' initiatives to optimize inventory level and focus on increasing customer count through store expansion, online and mobile marketing endeavors and expansion of direct-to-consumer business have paid off well amid the sluggish economic environment.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock posted better-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2014 earnings. The quarterly earnings of 32 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents and jumped 39.1% year over year.
Total net sales of Urban Outfitters climbed 14% to $648.2 million during the first quarter, reflecting healthy performance of its Direct-to-Consumer business coupled with sturdy sales through new store openings and double-digit growth at wholesale operations. Despite robust sales results, it missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $650 million.
Going forward, Urban Outfitters is optimistic that fiscal 2014 will present considerable opportunity for gross-margin improvement. The company expects to enhance margins by approximately 50 basis points through improvements in brands and lower markdowns.
We expect Urban Outfitters to sustain its growth momentum going forward on the back of new store openings, increase in direct penetration, growing wholesale operations, technology advancements and merchandising improvements.
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 IBM - FREE
Get the full Report on CTSH - FREE
Get the full Report on G - FREE
Get the full Report on HPQ - FREE
Get the full Report on URBN - FREE
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
[email protected]
http://www.zacks.com
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.
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article