Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For January 19, 2021

Upgrades

For Wells Fargo & Co WFC, Seaport Global upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. Wells Fargo earned $0.64 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.93 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $49.88 and a 52-week-low of $20.76. At the end of the last trading period, Wells Fargo closed at $32.03.
For Werner Enterprises Inc WERN, Credit Suisse upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to Neutral. In the third quarter, Werner Enterprises showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.57 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Werner Enterprises shows a 52-week-high of $47.43 and a 52-week-low of $28.99. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $41.94.
According to Rosenblatt, the prior rating for MarketAxess Holdings Inc MKTX was changed from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, MarketAxess Holdings showed an EPS of $1.78, compared to $1.42 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $606.45 and a 52-week-low of $275.50. At the end of the last trading period, MarketAxess Holdings closed at $523.00.
Needham upgraded the previous rating for IPG Photonics Corp IPGP from Hold to Buy. IPG Photonics earned $1.29 in the third quarter, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $252.00 and a 52-week-low of $98.04. At the end of the last trading period, IPG Photonics closed at $243.92.
According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Synchrony Financial SYF was changed from Neutral to Overweight. For the third quarter, Synchrony Finl had an EPS of $0.63, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.22. The current stock performance of Synchrony Finl shows a 52-week-high of $39.19 and a 52-week-low of $12.15. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $38.78.
For Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc SC, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Neutral. For the third quarter, Santander Consumer USA had an EPS of $1.58, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.67. The stock has a 52-week-high of $27.20 and a 52-week-low of $9.74. At the end of the last trading period, Santander Consumer USA closed at $23.65.
According to Mizuho, the prior rating for Eli Lilly and Co LLY was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Eli Lilly had an EPS of $1.54, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.48. The current stock performance of Eli Lilly shows a 52-week-high of $191.78 and a 52-week-low of $117.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $190.79.
According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for Illinois Tool Works Inc ITW was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the third quarter, Illinois Tool Works had an EPS of $1.83, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.04. The current stock performance of Illinois Tool Works shows a 52-week-high of $224.69 and a 52-week-low of $115.94. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $203.18.
Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for International Game Technology PLC IGT from Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, Intl Game Tech showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.21 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.93 and a 52-week-low of $3.59. Intl Game Tech closed at $17.95 at the end of the last trading period.
Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Gilead Sciences Inc GILD from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Gilead Sciences earned $2.11 in the third quarter, compared to $1.75 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $85.97 and a 52-week-low of $56.56. Gilead Sciences closed at $63.33 at the end of the last trading period.
According to VTB Capital, the prior rating for EPAM Systems Inc EPAM was changed from Sell to Hold. EPAM Systems earned $1.65 in the third quarter, compared to $1.39 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $360.89 and a 52-week-low of $151.97. EPAM Systems closed at $348.17 at the end of the last trading period.
For Emerson Electric Co EMR, Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. Emerson Electric earned $1.10 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $84.44 and a 52-week-low of $37.75. Emerson Electric closed at $82.74 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Exane BNP Paribas, the prior rating for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc CLF was changed from Neutral to Outperform. In the third quarter, Cleveland-Cliffs showed an EPS of $0.04, compared to $0.33 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Cleveland-Cliffs shows a 52-week-high of $18.77 and a 52-week-low of $2.63. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.48.
According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for The Carlyle Group Inc CG was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Carlyle Group showed an EPS of $0.40, compared to $0.55 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $34.98 and a 52-week-low of $15.21. At the end of the last trading period, Carlyle Group closed at $33.70.
According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for CMC Materials Inc CCMP was changed from Sell to Neutral. The stock has a 52-week-high of $174.87 and a 52-week-low of $85.26. At the end of the last trading period, CMC Materials closed at $164.68.
According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for Brown & Brown Inc BRO was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Brown & Brown showed an EPS of $0.52, compared to $0.39 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.76 and a 52-week-low of $30.70. At the end of the last trading period, Brown & Brown closed at $46.30.
For American Express Co AXP, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. American Express earned $1.30 in the third quarter, compared to $2.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $138.13 and a 52-week-low of $67.00. American Express closed at $122.16 at the end of the last trading period.
For Facebook Inc FB, BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. Facebook earned $2.40 in the third quarter, compared to $2.12 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $304.67 and a 52-week-low of $137.10. Facebook closed at $251.36 at the end of the last trading period.
For Darden Restaurants Inc DRI, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, Darden Restaurants showed an EPS of $0.74, compared to $1.12 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $128.44 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. Darden Restaurants closed at $121.04 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

For Peloton Interactive Inc PTON, UBS downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Sell. Peloton Interactive earned $0.20 in the first quarter, compared to $1.19 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Peloton Interactive shows a 52-week-high of $171.09 and a 52-week-low of $17.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $157.81.
For Chewy Inc CHWY, UBS downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Sell. Chewy earned $0.08 in the third quarter, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $115.27 and a 52-week-low of $20.62. Chewy closed at $108.05 at the end of the last trading period.
For ViacomCBS Inc VIAC, Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Underweight. ViacomCBS earned $0.91 in the third quarter, compared to $1.10 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of ViacomCBS shows a 52-week-high of $46.86 and a 52-week-low of $10.10. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $45.30.
For Staar Surgical Co STAA, Benchmark downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Staar Surgical had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.12. The stock has a 52-week-high of $92.27 and a 52-week-low of $23.20. At the end of the last trading period, Staar Surgical closed at $88.06.
Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Restaurant Brands Intl showed an EPS of $0.68, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $67.33 and a 52-week-low of $25.08. Restaurant Brands Intl closed at $62.81 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Credit Suisse, the prior rating for iQIYI Inc IQ was changed from Neutral to Underperform. For the third quarter, iQIYI had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.70. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.03 and a 52-week-low of $14.51. iQIYI closed at $19.76 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Total SE TOT was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Total had an EPS of $0.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.13. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $54.50 and a 52-week-low of $22.13. Total closed at $44.26 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Essent Group Ltd ESNT from Overweight to Neutral. Essent Gr earned $1.11 in the third quarter, compared to $1.47 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $52.99 and a 52-week-low of $17.52. Essent Gr closed at $48.08 at the end of the last trading period.
Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for Editas Medicine Inc EDIT from Equal-Weight to Underweight. In the third quarter, Editas Medicine showed an EPS of $0.12, compared to $0.66 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $99.95 and a 52-week-low of $14.01. Editas Medicine closed at $76.14 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Barclays, the prior rating for Discovery Inc DISCA was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. Discovery earned $0.81 in the third quarter, compared to $0.87 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $38.44 and a 52-week-low of $17.12. At the end of the last trading period, Discovery closed at $36.76.
According to Jefferies, the prior rating for PlayAGS Inc AGS was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, PlayAGS showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PlayAGS shows a 52-week-high of $11.49 and a 52-week-low of $0.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.29.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Silicon Laboratories Inc SLAB with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Silicon Laboratories is set to $143.00. For the third quarter, Silicon Laboratories had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.96. The stock has a 52-week-high of $139.41 and a 52-week-low of $65.09. At the end of the last trading period, Silicon Laboratories closed at $136.03.
Jefferies initiated coverage on XPeng Inc XPEV with a Hold rating. The price target for XPeng is set to $54.40. XPeng earned $0.32 in the third quarter. The current stock performance of XPeng shows a 52-week-high of $74.49 and a 52-week-low of $17.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.76.
With an Overweight rating, JP Morgan initiated coverage on Roku Inc ROKU. The price target seems to have been set at $475.00 for Roku. For the third quarter, Roku had an EPS of $0.09, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of $425.99 and a 52-week-low of $58.22. At the end of the last trading period, Roku closed at $408.30.
Jefferies initiated coverage on NIO Inc NIO with a Hold rating. The price target for NIO is set to $60.00. For the third quarter, NIO had an EPS of $0.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.33. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $66.99 and a 52-week-low of $2.11. NIO closed at $56.25 at the end of the last trading period.
With a Buy rating, Roth Capital initiated coverage on Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd MAXN. The price target seems to have been set at $43.00 for Maxeon Solar Technologies. Maxeon Solar Technologies earned $2.24 in the third quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $40.88 and a 52-week-low of $11.78. Maxeon Solar Technologies closed at $36.36 at the end of the last trading period.
With a Buy rating, Jefferies initiated coverage on Li Auto Inc LI. The price target seems to have been set at $44.50 for Li Auto Inc. Li Auto Inc earned $0.00 in the third quarter. The current stock performance of Li Auto Inc shows a 52-week-high of $47.70 and a 52-week-low of $14.31. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.60.
With a Sell rating, Berenberg initiated coverage on DraftKings Inc DKNG. The price target seems to have been set at $41.00 for DraftKings. In the third quarter, DraftKings earned $0.98. The current stock performance of DraftKings shows a 52-week-high of $64.19 and a 52-week-low of $18.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $53.70.
HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Transcat Inc TRNS with a Buy rating. The price target for Transcat is set to $42.00. Transcat earned $0.27 in the second quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.49 and a 52-week-low of $16.50. At the end of the last trading period, Transcat closed at $35.40.