For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – June 7, 2016 – 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 (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), Intel (INTC), NVIDIA (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:
Technology Stock Roundup
Last week, Microsoft (MSFT) signed a deal with Xiaomi to get its software on its tablets; Salesforce (CRM) acquired Demandware; and Intel (INTC) , NVIDIA (NVDA) , Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD) and others made a strong showing at Computex.
Here are the top stories-
Microsoft, Xiaomi Have A Deal
Xiaomi, which has previously offered a Windows 10 option on its Mi Pad 2 tablet and even played with after-market Windows 10 conversions of its Mi 4 smartphone, is now getting in deeper with Microsoft. The company has acquired 1,500 Microsoft patents covering voice communications, multimedia and cloud computing that should enable it to make a splash in Western markets. With the low end of the Chinese smartphone market getting crowded, Xiaomi needs to expand rapidly in international markets to stem declining sales.
For Microsoft, this is an opportunity to build its ecosystem, since it has gotten Xiaomi to pre-install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Skype applications on its Mi 5, Mi Max, Mi 4s, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3. The deal didn’t mention if Microsoft is charging or waiving its Android patents, but this could be additional revenue opportunity. So even as it dismantles its own smartphone business, Microsoft is able to grow its ecosystem through hardware provided by other emerging companies.
Powered by Microsoft IP through both acquisition and licensing, Xiaomi has a fighting chance of challenging Apple in its traditional markets. But it does look like the Chinese company’s costs jump come September when its new devices start shipping.
Salesforce Acquires Demandware
The convergence of advertising and sales in the digital world is also leading to more robust software platforms to support such operations. Just as SAP and Oracle have been building capabilities in the area, Salesforce, which has traditionally focused on customer relationship software, is also moving to add capabilities in sales.
This is what led to its $2.8 billion acquisition of ecommerce tools provider Demandware. The acquisition, which is expected to close in July, will give Salesforce access to digital commerce platforms, spending on which will grow 14% a year up to 2020, according to Gartner. Post-acquisition, Demandware will operate as a new business division called the Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Computex
The annual hardware show based out of Taipei was stashed with surprises this year. Companies announced chips, computers, VR tech and there was also a rather sweet-looking robot.
Chips : Intel, AMD and NVIDIA had announcements, as did chip designer ARM Holdings. Intel didn’t provide any update on Kaby Lake other than telling us that it will ship this year (the chip is probably getting ready to enter production as we speak after sampling with PC makers). Intel’s important announcement was instead to do with the $1,723 Broadwell E for enthusiasts with Core i7-6950X, 10 CPU cores, per-core overclocking, Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology and compatibility with Haswell-E motherboards.
AMD’s response was the 8-core, 16-thread Zen, which claims 40% increase in performance speeds and will ship by year-end. It also showed off two new APU lines called Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge for laptops that could put Intel silicon to test. AMD’s first 14nm FinFET technology chip is very competitively priced in the Radeon RX 480, potentially lowering BOM for VR headsets. NVIDIA’s GTX 1070 is a graphics card with a difference. And Samsung’s PM971-NVMe is an SSD with 512 GB NAND, a controller and a RAM.
PCs : In this lot, there was the Digital Storm Aura that is a 34-inch all-in-one with the all-new GTX 1080 graphics card and Intel Broadwell E. The backpack gaming PC from MSI with the NVIDIA GTX 980 graphics card was quite sensational. HP Omen X was announced as being made along the same lines but wasn’t showcased. Asus announced one in the do-it-yourself category called Avalon and another water-cooled gaming PC. Dell announced two Windows-based Inspiron hybrids with the $250 version having a Chromebook-like focus on the Internet and the $530 version doing the same thing but in more style.
VR/AR : Microsoft added a couple of updates to its AR headset so it works with traditional 2D apps and a split-screen feature that allows you to see three screens. It also said that it was opening up the Holographic OS to hardware partners. This should allow the company to grow share in the space.
Robot : The ASUS ZenBo has a touch-screen face but the rolling, talking companion can also take vocal orders to recite stuff, read books to your kids or elderly parents, turn on and off lights, TV, music and so forth. At $599, it doesn’t come cheap.
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