The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights:Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon and Walgreens
CHICAGO, July 3, 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 Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT-Free Report), Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL-Free Report), Google (Nasdaq:GOOG-Free Report), Amazon (Nasdaq:AMZN-Free Report) and Walgreens (NYSE:WAG-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:
Microsoft Continues Surface Expansion
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT-Free Report) recently announced that it would expand the availability of its Surface family of tablets to businesses, allowing customers to purchase the devices from authorized resellers in the United States.
Earlier, Surface was available only through the Microsoft Store in the U.S. and Canada. But now, a number of authorized distributors (Ingram Micro, SYNNEX Corp and Tech Data Corp)will sell the devices to authorized resellers, which will distribute the Surface through their brick and mortar stores around the world. These resellers include CDW, CompuCom Systems Inc., En Pointe Technologies, Insight Enterprises Inc., PC Connection Inc., PCM Inc., SHI International Corp., Softchoice, Softmart and Zones Inc.
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a new program called AppsForSurface for independent software vendors (ISVs). Under the program, Microsoft will provide devices and funds for Surface-specific software development for their easy adoption at enterprise, government and academic organizations. This move could potentially boost enterprise adoption of Microsoft's Windows 8 and RT tablets.
Microsoft Surface was launched worldwide on Oct 26, 2012, with a price tag of $499.0, which makes it comparatively expensive. Microsoft offers two versions of its Surface tablets to the consumer, one with Windows RT and another with Windows 8 Pro.
According to IDC, only 900,000 Surface tablets were sold during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 and its market share was just 1.8%. In comparison, Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL-Free Report) led the race with a 39.6% share of the worldwide tablet market, followed by Samsung with a 17.9%share, and ASUS with a 5.5% share.
The addition of authorized resellers is just the latest effort by the company to expand the availability of its Surface range in 2013. Last month, Microsoft reduced the price of the Surface RT model to $199 from $499 for schools purchasing it directly from Microsoft. In mid-December, the company added more retail outlets from where its tablet could be sold. Further, Microsoft transformed several holiday stores into permanent Microsoft retail outlets. Most recently, it tied up with Best Buy to create Windows Stores within Best Buy stores.
So far, Surface has been sold only at Microsoft stores and the apps have focused on consumers and individual business users. But this new move should help Microsoft expand its presence in the enterprise segment, which has been its greatest support in the PC segment.
Although Microsoft has fallen back in the tablet race, there is still time to create its own niche. Combining the functionality of a tablet and laptop, Surface can create interest and attract new users. We should also not forget its deep pockets, which gives it the power to conceive of and implement strategies like AppsForSurface.
Microsoft is a late entrant in the tablet market and beating the competition at this point will be an uphill task. Other successful tablets such as Apple's iPads, Google's (Nasdaq:GOOG-Free Report) Nexus 7, Samsung's Galaxy tablets and Amazon's (Nasdaq:AMZN-Free Report) Kindle Fire already have a strong presence in the market.
The popularity of tablets has eaten into Microsoft's core computing market, with the weak economic conditions making matters worse. Given its dominant position in the PC market, Microsoft has been one of the worst affected by this weakness.
Currently, Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Walgreens' Focus on Retail Pharmacy
Indiana Walgreens WAG Free Report Indiana State Jul 1, 2013As advocated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pharmacists in Indiana are entitled to provide immunizations to all adolescents and adults with a prescription. Following the new state legislation, five of these vaccines will be available without a prescription and without any prior appointment at Walgreens pharmacies on a regular basis.
Subsequently, Influenza, Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap), Human papillomavirus (HPV), or Meningococcal vaccines will be accessible at Walgreens pharmacies across Indiana to patients aged over 11 years. The easy accessibility to these vaccines is intended to improve protection for individuals against meningitis, pneumonia and whooping cough among other infectious disease.
Moreover, patients over 65 years of age in the state will not require a prescription for Pneumococcal vaccine. The flu shots will also be available from Aug 2013.
Our View
With the new state legislation in place, demand for vaccines in Indiana is likely to soar. While Walgreens' decision appears to be a rational and lucrative opportunity to garner incremental revenues.
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 AMZN - FREE
Get the full Report on GOOG - FREE
Get the full Report on MSFT - FREE
Get the full Report on WAG - FREE
Get the full Report on AAPL - 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
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