Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For September 21, 2020

Upgrades

B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for AllianceBernstein Holding LP AB from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, AllianceBernstein Holding had an EPS of $0.61, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.56. The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.06 and a 52-week-low of $13.24. At the end of the last trading period, AllianceBernstein Holding closed at $27.76.
According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Greif Inc GEF was changed from Underperform to Buy. In the third quarter, Greif showed an EPS of $0.85, compared to $1.26 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Greif shows a 52-week-high of $50.37 and a 52-week-low of $23.65. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $35.47.
Guggenheim upgraded the previous rating for Illumina Inc ILMN from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Illumina showed an EPS of $0.62, compared to $1.35 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Illumina shows a 52-week-high of $404.20 and a 52-week-low of $196.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $295.50.
Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for ManpowerGroup Inc MAN from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, ManpowerGroup had an EPS of $0.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.05. The stock has a 52-week-high of $100.99 and a 52-week-low of $49.57. At the end of the last trading period, ManpowerGroup closed at $70.67.
According to Barclays, the prior rating for NorthWestern Corp NWE was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, NorthWestern showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $0.50 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of NorthWestern shows a 52-week-high of $80.52 and a 52-week-low of $45.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $48.65.
For Portland General Electric Co POR, Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. Portland General Electric earned $0.43 in the second quarter, compared to $0.28 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $63.08 and a 52-week-low of $31.96. At the end of the last trading period, Portland General Electric closed at $35.01.
For Southern Co SO, Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Overweight. For the second quarter, Southern had an EPS of $0.78, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.80. The current stock performance of Southern shows a 52-week-high of $71.10 and a 52-week-low of $41.96. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $52.82.
According to Credit Suisse, the prior rating for United Parcel Service Inc UPS was changed from Neutral to Outperform. In the second quarter, United Parcel Service showed an EPS of $2.13, compared to $1.96 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of United Parcel Service shows a 52-week-high of $167.36 and a 52-week-low of $82.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $159.69.
For Axcelis Technologies Inc ACLS, Stifel upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Axcelis Technologies earned $0.39 in the second quarter, compared to $0.02 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.50 and a 52-week-low of $12.99. At the end of the last trading period, Axcelis Technologies closed at $22.54.
Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating for American States Water Co AWR from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, American States Water showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.64 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $96.64 and a 52-week-low of $65.11. American States Water closed at $69.99 at the end of the last trading period.
Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Capri Holdings Ltd CPRI from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the first quarter, Capri Holdings showed an EPS of $1.04, compared to $0.95 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $39.90 and a 52-week-low of $5.42. At the end of the last trading period, Capri Holdings closed at $20.82.
For Dunkin' Brands Group Inc DNKN, Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. Dunkin Brands Group earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.86 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Dunkin Brands Group shows a 52-week-high of $81.81 and a 52-week-low of $38.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $76.42.
According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for Forterra Inc FRTA was changed from Sector Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Forterra showed an EPS of $0.40, compared to $0.05 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.58 and a 52-week-low of $3.45. At the end of the last trading period, Forterra closed at $11.36.
According to Stifel, the prior rating for KLA Corp KLAC was changed from Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, KLA had an EPS of $2.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.78. The current stock performance of KLA shows a 52-week-high of $218.57 and a 52-week-low of $110.19. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $178.96.
Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Kornit Digital Ltd KRNT from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Kornit Digital had an EPS of $0.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The stock has a 52-week-high of $65.91 and a 52-week-low of $22.17. At the end of the last trading period, Kornit Digital closed at $57.96.
Stifel upgraded the previous rating for Lam Research Corp LRCX from Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, Lam Research had an EPS of $4.78, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.62. The stock has a 52-week-high of $387.69 and a 52-week-low of $181.38. At the end of the last trading period, Lam Research closed at $307.21.
For Oracle Corp ORCL, RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to the current rating Outperform. For the first quarter, Oracle had an EPS of $0.93, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.81. The stock has a 52-week-high of $61.86 and a 52-week-low of $39.71. At the end of the last trading period, Oracle closed at $59.76.
For Public Storage PSA, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Public Storage showed an EPS of $2.46, compared to $2.64 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $252.78 and a 52-week-low of $155.37. Public Storage closed at $220.93 at the end of the last trading period.
For Scientific Games Corp SGMS, Jefferies upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Scientific Games earned $2.15 in the second quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Scientific Games shows a 52-week-high of $33.86 and a 52-week-low of $3.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.96.
For Tilray Inc TLRY, Jefferies upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating Hold. For the second quarter, Tilray had an EPS of $0.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.32. The current stock performance of Tilray shows a 52-week-high of $31.07 and a 52-week-low of $2.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.34.
For Tapestry Inc TPR, Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Tapestry had an EPS of $0.25, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.61. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.40 and a 52-week-low of $10.18. At the end of the last trading period, Tapestry closed at $17.35.

Downgrades

According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Automatic Data Processing Inc ADP was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the fourth quarter, Automatic Data Processing showed an EPS of $1.14, compared to $1.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Automatic Data Processing shows a 52-week-high of $182.32 and a 52-week-low of $103.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $135.09.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for HCA Healthcare Inc HCA from Overweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, HCA Healthcare had an EPS of $1.50, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.21. The stock has a 52-week-high of $151.97 and a 52-week-low of $58.38. At the end of the last trading period, HCA Healthcare closed at $132.22.
According to ScotiaBank, the prior rating for ONEOK Inc OKE was changed from Sector Outperform to Sector Perform. ONEOK earned $0.32 in the second quarter, compared to $0.75 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $78.48 and a 52-week-low of $12.16. ONEOK closed at $27.54 at the end of the last trading period.
For Tenet Healthcare Corp THC, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underweight. For the second quarter, Tenet Healthcare had an EPS of $1.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $39.37 and a 52-week-low of $10.00. Tenet Healthcare closed at $28.20 at the end of the last trading period.
For Universal Health Services Inc UHS, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underweight. For the second quarter, Universal Health Services had an EPS of $2.93, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.76. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $153.38 and a 52-week-low of $65.20. Universal Health Services closed at $117.94 at the end of the last trading period.
Wedbush downgraded the previous rating for Darden Restaurants Inc DRI from Outperform to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Darden Restaurants showed an EPS of $1.24, compared to $1.76 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $127.60 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. At the end of the last trading period, Darden Restaurants closed at $90.03.
According to Barclays, the prior rating for Ameren Corp AEE was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. In the second quarter, Ameren showed an EPS of $0.98, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ameren shows a 52-week-high of $87.66 and a 52-week-low of $58.74. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $76.85.
For CMS Energy Corp CMS, Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. CMS Energy earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.33 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $69.17 and a 52-week-low of $46.03. CMS Energy closed at $61.07 at the end of the last trading period.
Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating for Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd MLCO from Outperform to Neutral. Melco Resorts and Enter earned $0.72 in the second quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $25.22 and a 52-week-low of $10.81. At the end of the last trading period, Melco Resorts and Enter closed at $18.10.

Initiations

B of A Securities initiated coverage on KE Holdings Inc BEKE with a Neutral rating. The price target for KE Holdings is set to $59.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $62.00 and a 52-week-low of $31.79. At the end of the last trading period, KE Holdings closed at $58.39.
With a current rating of Buy, Seaport Global initiated coverage on Minerals Technologies Inc MTX. The price target seems to have been set at $65.00 for Minerals Technologies. Minerals Technologies earned $0.85 in the second quarter, compared to $1.11 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $59.18 and a 52-week-low of $27.28. Minerals Technologies closed at $49.62 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Sell, Summit Insights Group initiated coverage on Snowflake Inc SNOW. The price target seems to have been set at $175.00 for Snowflake. The current stock performance of Snowflake shows a 52-week-high of $249.00 and a 52-week-low of $215.24. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $243.00.
With a current rating of Buy, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Carrier Global Corp CARR. The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Carrier Global. Carrier Global earned $0.33 in the second quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.24 and a 52-week-low of $12.26. At the end of the last trading period, Carrier Global closed at $30.80.
With a current rating of Outperform, SMBC Nikko initiated coverage on TTM Technologies Inc TTMI. The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for TTM Technologies. TTM Technologies earned $0.31 in the second quarter, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $16.25 and a 52-week-low of $8.06. TTM Technologies closed at $11.46 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Overweight, Atlantic Equities initiated coverage on Zoetis Inc ZTS. The price target seems to have been set at $191.00 for Zoetis. For the second quarter, Zoetis had an EPS of $0.89, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.90. The current stock performance of Zoetis shows a 52-week-high of $165.82 and a 52-week-low of $90.14. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $160.71.