The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Visa, Lam Research, Caterpillar, Q.E.P and Altigen

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 19, 2026 – 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: Visa Inc. V, Lam Research Corp. LRCX, Caterpillar Inc. CAT, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. QEPC and Altigen Communications, Inc. ATGN.

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for Visa, Lam Research and Caterpillar

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Visa Inc., Lam Research Corp. and Caterpillar, as well as two micro-cap stocks Q.E.P. Co., Inc. and Altigen Communications, Inc. The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.

These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

Today's Featured Research Reports

Visa’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry over the year-to-date period (+2.9% vs. -6.8%). The company’s third quarter earnings beat estimates. Its scale and brand strength keep it at the center of global digital payments, with growth still driven by higher payment volumes, cross-border activity, and increasing transaction counts. 

Fiscal Q3 2026 results showed broad momentum across consumer payments, commercial, and money movement solutions, and value-added services. Investments in agentic commerce and stablecoin settlement, alongside targeted acquisitions and disciplined capital returns, should continue to extend its network value over time. 

However, client incentives and marketing spend are rising while adjusted net margin decreased to 54.1% in fiscal Q3 2026. Cash activity remains uneven across regions, valuation is still rich and regulatory and litigation risks remain elevated. As such, we have a Neutral recommendation on the stock.

(You can read the full research report on Visa here >>>)

Shares of Lam Research have outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry over the year-to-date period (+92.2% vs. +36.7%). The company is benefiting from AI-driven investment in memory, leading-edge foundry and advanced packaging. Rising process complexity is increasing demand for etch and deposition tools, while NAND conversions, advanced DRAM and larger packages expand its served market. 

Customer Support is scaling through upgrades, high utilization and early adoption of Equipment Intelligence and Dextro services. Record fiscal 2026 results, higher margin targets and a sizable September-quarter outlook reinforce execution. Cash generation and capital returns add support. 

However, equipment spending remains cyclical, China exposure is volatile, and export controls can disrupt demand. Competition, capacity limits and international exposure also remain risks. Overall, structural AI demand and rising technology content support the Outperform view.

(You can read the full research report on Lam Research here >>>)

Caterpillar’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry over the year-to-date period (+50.8% vs. +47.4%). The company’s outlook is supported by broad demand across construction, mining and power markets, with rising sales to users and a record backlog improving revenue visibility. Order momentum remains strong across all primary segments. Power & Energy is benefiting from data-center power needs and healthy oil and gas activity, while capacity additions expand the company’s ability to serve multi-year demand. 

The Construction Industries segment remains supported by infrastructure, rental fleet investment and large projects. Mining demand is aided by elevated fleet age, commodity investment and technology adoption. 

Higher services revenues and cash generation add resilience and support shareholder returns. While tariffs remain a headwind, improved volume, pricing and management’s higher full-year outlook support an Outperform view. 

(You can read the full research report on Caterpillar here >>>)

Shares of Q.E.P have outperformed the Zacks Tools - Handheld industry over the year-to-date period (+33.3% vs. +20.9%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $157.78 million has an investment case underpinned by strong liquidity, minimal leverage, healthy cash generation and resilient core-channel demand, providing flexibility to fund operations, invest selectively and return capital to shareholders. Stable gross profitability and reliable fulfillment further support the durability of the business despite subdued home-improvement spending.

However, tariff and inflation pressures, rising operating costs and weak end-market demand could constrain earnings recovery. High customer concentration and direct-sourcing competition also create meaningful structural risks, while covenant compliance and asbestos litigation remain additional uncertainties. 

The current valuation suggests investors are pricing in operational resilience and earnings stability, leaving limited room for upside without a meaningful improvement in growth.

(You can read the full research report on Q.E.P here >>>)

Altigen’s shares have gained +29.1% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Communication - Components industry’s gain of +108.1%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $14.15 million has seen its cloud transition gaining momentum as new cloud revenues have begun exceeding legacy churn, supported by its largest-ever cloud customer, larger enterprise wins and an expanding AI portfolio. 

CoreInteract, CoreEngage and CoreInsights broaden its addressable market and create cross-selling opportunities, while the Fiserv relationship offers a scalable channel into financial services. Its installed MAXCloud and MaxCS base also provides a lower-friction path for cloud migrations and AI adoption. 

However, the company's fiscal third-quarter revenues fell 14.2%, margins compressed, and customer concentration remained high at 74% for the top five customers and resellers. Rising development spending and impairment risk add uncertainty. At 0.86X EV/sales, valuation remains below industry levels and historical medians. 

(You can read the full research report on Altigen here >>>)

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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 https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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