Top 7 Research Reports for July 12, 2016

Alcoa's (AA) shares are in the spotlight today following the Aluminum giant's better than expected results after the close on Monday. The just-released updated research report on Alcoa, which you can find here, discusses the company's Q2 earnings report as well as the pros and cons of its plan to split itself into two publicly traded companies.

Besides Alcoa, today's issue of Research Daily features updated research reports from our analyst team on 15 other stocks, including Chevron (CVX), T-Mobile US (TMUS) and Duke Energy (DUK).

Chevron shares have been strong perfomers lately, with estimates steadily going up on the back of stronger oil prices. The analyst thinks that with crude oil advancing approximately 70% from 12-year lows reached in February, Chevron is poised to achieve significant share price appreciation. The recent approval of the $37 billion expansion of Kazakhstan's huge Tengiz oilfield is also expected to boost this stock. (You can read the full research report on CVX here.)

Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy) rated T-Mobile US' TMUS shares have gained around 12% year-to-date. The wireless service business model of T-Mobile hinges on its "Un-Carrier" value proposition and its strategic marketing efforts. The analyst likes the fact that T-Mobile has fired up competition in the U.S. wireless market by allowing customers to stream videos on mobile devices for free. T-Mobile US continues to gain lucrative postpaid wireless customers, which have helped raise the subscriber gain outlook for 2016. (You can read the full research report on TMUS here.)

Buy-rated Duke Energy shares have been strong performers lately given the company's focus on core domestic regulated and highly-contracted renewable business, and stable financial position and attractive dividend (currently yielding 3.8%). The analyst likes this utility's plans to invest about $25 billion to $30 billion in growth projects over the 2016-2020 time frame. Duke Energy's effort to expand its renewable asset base in light of increasingly stringent environmental regulations is another major positive.  (You can read the full research report on DUK here.)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Alcoa (AA), HPQ (HP) and Disney (DIS).

• Alcoa AA Q2 Earnings Impress
• HP HPQ Gaining from Restructuring
• Andarko APC Raised to Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy)
• Disney DIS Down to Zacks Rank # 4 (Sell)

All of today's roughly 80 stock research reports are here.

Sheraz Mian

Director of Research

Note: Sheraz Mian regularly provides earnings analysis on Zacks.com and appears frequently in the print and electronic media. His weekly earnings related articles include Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview. He also provides weekly commentary to Zacks Premium subscribers and manages the Zacks Focus List and Top 10 portfolios. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here.<