Key Research Findings for Amazon.com, Wells Fargo, and Amgen
Research Reports Overview: The Zacks Research Daily highlights new reports on 16 major stocks, including Amazon, Wells Fargo, and Amgen, along with two micro-cap stocks, IDT Corp. and Village Super Market, showcasing unique insights into smaller companies.
Amazon's Performance: Amazon's shares have outperformed the industry, driven by growth in Prime and AWS, but faces challenges with weak operating income guidance and high AI investment costs.
Wells Fargo's Growth: Wells Fargo has seen a significant increase in share value, benefiting from improved net interest income and a lifted asset cap, although it faces pressures from rising costs and weak mortgage banking income.
Amgen and Micro-Cap Stocks: Amgen's growth is supported by strong sales of key medicines despite competitive pressures, while IDT and Village Super Market show promising financial health and growth potential, albeit with some risks.
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- Earnings Season Begins: Apple is set to report earnings next Thursday, with expectations of growth driven by the iPhone 17 replacement cycle, potentially ending its eight-week decline and boosting investor confidence.
- Tech Stocks Under Pressure: Meta and Microsoft are down over 18% from their 52-week highs, Apple is down 13%, and Tesla nearly 10%, setting a low bar for upcoming earnings that may allow these giants to exceed market expectations.
- Small Caps Leading: The Russell 2000 index has rallied over 10% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 is up about 1%, indicating a strong performance from small caps that is further driving overall market gains.
- Federal Reserve Meeting: The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is expected to keep interest rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, with investors keenly awaiting Chair Powell's comments to gauge future monetary policy direction.
- Price Target Cut: Cantor Fitzgerald lowered Marsh & McLennan's price target from $226 to $208 while maintaining an Overweight rating, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future growth potential.
- Target Price Reduction: Piper Sandler cut the price target for Intercontinental Exchange from $292 to $195, despite maintaining an Overweight rating, which may affect investor confidence in the stock.
- Price Target Increase: Citizens raised the price target for Red Rock Resorts from $65 to $68, with analysts maintaining a Market Outperform rating, reflecting optimism about the company's future performance.
- Target Price Boost: Keybanc increased AAR Corp's price target from $93 to $109, with analysts keeping an Overweight rating, signaling confidence in the company's recovery in the aviation sector.

- Rising Global Economic Risks: The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report reveals that nearly half of business leaders expect turbulence over the next two years, with only 1% anticipating calm, indicating significant uncertainty in the global economy.
- Escalating Geoeconomic Confrontation: The report highlights that geoeconomic confrontation has surged to the top of business concerns, potentially leading to substantial contractions in global trade, which could adversely affect economic growth and market stability.
- AI Risks on the Rise: The potential adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence have surged to fifth place among short-term risks, with implications for increased income inequality and societal divides, which could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth.
- Significant Extreme Weather Impact: Global insured losses from natural disasters are projected to reach $107 billion by 2025, reflecting a trend of increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, placing immense pressure on the insurance market.
- Rising Geoeconomic Risks: The World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report indicates that geoeconomic concerns have surged to the top of business worries, potentially leading to a significant contraction in global trade, impacting corporate operations and strategic decisions.
- AI Risk Escalation: The survey reveals that the potential adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence have jumped from 30th to 5th place among short-term risks, which could result in massive labor market disruptions and increased income inequality, affecting consumer spending and social stability.
- Extreme Weather Impact: Global insured losses from natural disasters are projected to reach $107 billion by 2025, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, necessitating enhanced risk management and response strategies to protect assets.
- Importance of Collaboration: The report underscores the critical need for “coalitions of the willing,” emphasizing that collaboration among governments, academia, businesses, and citizens is essential for addressing economic shocks and global challenges, fostering sustainable development and resilience.
- Ticker Change: Marsh McLennan will change its NYSE ticker symbol from 'MMC' to 'MRSH' on January 14, 2026, aligning with the company's upcoming brand transition to enhance brand recognition and market presence.
- Earnings Release Schedule: The company plans to announce its fourth-quarter financial results on January 29, 2026, before market open, which is expected to attract investor attention and potentially impact stock performance, reflecting its leadership in risk management and consulting.
- Investor Teleconference: Following the earnings release, CEO John Doyle and CFO Mark McGivney will host a teleconference at 8:30 a.m. EST, providing a Q&A session to enhance investor engagement and transparency.
- Global Business Overview: Marsh McLennan operates in 130 countries with annual revenues exceeding $24 billion and over 90,000 employees, and this brand and ticker change will further solidify its leadership position in the global risk management and consulting sectors.
- Salary Growth Trend: According to Mercer's survey, the average employee salary in Thailand is projected to increase by 5.2% in 2026, slightly above 5% in 2025, indicating that nearly all companies (99.6%) plan to raise salaries, thereby enhancing employee satisfaction and retention rates.
- Industry Variance: The Energy sector is expected to see the highest salary increase at 6.0%, followed by Consumer Goods at 5.7% and Automotive at 5.5%, reflecting intensified competition for specialized skills in certain industries, which may lead to increased talent mobility.
- Incentive Adjustments: The survey reveals that 95.3% of companies offer short-term incentive plans, with long-term incentives rising from 19.3% to 38.2%, indicating a strategic shift in attracting and retaining talent aimed at boosting employee engagement and loyalty.
- Increased Flexible Benefits: 23.5% of companies are now offering flexible benefits, with health insurance, leisure club subscriptions, and medical check-ups as leading components, which not only enhance overall employee welfare but may also strengthen the company's competitive edge in the talent market.









