Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For June 8, 2021

Upgrades

• According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for CMC Materials Inc CCMP was changed from Neutral to Buy. CMC Materials earned $1.71 in the second quarter, compared to $1.75 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of CMC Materials shows a 52-week-high of $198.60 and a 52-week-low of $126.53. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $144.98.
• For Kosmos Energy Ltd KOS, Johnson Rice upgraded the previous rating of Accumulate to Buy. For the first quarter, Kosmos Energy had an EPS of $0.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $3.69 and a 52-week-low of $0.90. Kosmos Energy closed at $3.39 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Johnson Rice, the prior rating for Diamondback Energy Inc FANG was changed from Hold to Accumulate. Diamondback Energy earned $2.30 in the first quarter, compared to $1.45 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $89.07 and a 52-week-low of $23.63. At the end of the last trading period, Diamondback Energy closed at $87.19.
• For Steven Madden Ltd SHOO, BTIG upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the first quarter, Steven Madden had an EPS of $0.33, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. The stock has a 52-week-high of $43.56 and a 52-week-low of $18.47. At the end of the last trading period, Steven Madden closed at $42.20.
• For Bank of Nova Scotia BNS, Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Bank of Nova Scotia showed an EPS of $1.51, compared to $0.78 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $68.02 and a 52-week-low of $39.56. Bank of Nova Scotia closed at $67.17 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Tellurian Inc TELL, Evercore ISI Group upgraded the previous rating of In-Line to Outperform. In the first quarter, Tellurian showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $5.76 and a 52-week-low of $0.68. At the end of the last trading period, Tellurian closed at $4.94.
• Argus Research upgraded the previous rating for Abercrombie & Fitch Co ANF from Hold to Buy. In the first quarter, Abercrombie & Fitch showed an EPS of $0.67, compared to $3.29 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $44.49 and a 52-week-low of $9.30. At the end of the last trading period, Abercrombie & Fitch closed at $40.16.
• According to Vertical Research, the prior rating for ArcBest Corp ARCB was changed from Hold to Buy. For the first quarter, ArcBest had an EPS of $1.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.36. The stock has a 52-week-high of $93.96 and a 52-week-low of $22.18. At the end of the last trading period, ArcBest closed at $63.00.
• According to UBS, the prior rating for Target Corp TGT was changed from Neutral to Buy. Target earned $3.69 in the first quarter, compared to $0.59 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $232.66 and a 52-week-low of $114.81. Target closed at $230.89 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Citigroup, the prior rating for Biogen Inc BIIB was changed from Sell to Neutral. In the first quarter, Biogen showed an EPS of $5.34, compared to $9.14 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $468.55 and a 52-week-low of $223.25. At the end of the last trading period, Biogen closed at $395.85.
• According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Brady Corp BRC was changed from Underweight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Brady had an EPS of $0.71, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.47. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $58.97 and a 52-week-low of $37.47. Brady closed at $57.99 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Johnson Controls International PLC JCI, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Johnson Controls Intl had an EPS of $0.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.42. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $68.33 and a 52-week-low of $32.70. Johnson Controls Intl closed at $66.20 at the end of the last trading period.
• Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Delta Air Lines Inc DAL from Hold to Buy. Delta Air Lines earned $3.55 in the first quarter, compared to $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $52.28 and a 52-week-low of $24.38. Delta Air Lines closed at $46.08 at the end of the last trading period.
• Baird upgraded the previous rating for Biogen Inc BIIB from Underperform to Neutral. Biogen earned $5.34 in the first quarter, compared to $9.14 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $468.55 and a 52-week-low of $223.25. At the end of the last trading period, Biogen closed at $395.85.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

• According to Johnson Rice, the prior rating for Cabot Oil & Gas Corp COG was changed from Hold to Sell. Cabot Oil & Gas earned $0.38 in the first quarter, compared to $0.14 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.67 and a 52-week-low of $15.76. At the end of the last trading period, Cabot Oil & Gas closed at $16.86.
• According to Johnson Rice, the prior rating for EOG Resources Inc EOG was changed from Accumulate to Hold. In the first quarter, EOG Resources showed an EPS of $1.62, compared to $0.55 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $87.99 and a 52-week-low of $31.22. EOG Resources closed at $87.03 at the end of the last trading period.
• Johnson Rice downgraded the previous rating for Southwestern Energy Co SWN from Buy to Accumulate. Southwestern Energy earned $0.29 in the first quarter, compared to $0.10 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Southwestern Energy shows a 52-week-high of $5.85 and a 52-week-low of $2.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.47.
• UBS downgraded the previous rating for Ellington Financial Inc EFC from Buy to Neutral. In the first quarter, Ellington Financial showed an EPS of $0.43, compared to $0.46 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.35 and a 52-week-low of $10.77. At the end of the last trading period, Ellington Financial closed at $19.25.
• According to Citigroup, the prior rating for Harpoon Therapeutics Inc HARP was changed from Buy to Neutral. Harpoon Therapeutics earned $0.37 in the first quarter, compared to $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $25.23 and a 52-week-low of $10.55. Harpoon Therapeutics closed at $15.27 at the end of the last trading period.
• Keybanc downgraded the previous rating for QTS Realty Trust Inc QTS from Overweight to Sector Weight. QTS Realty Trust earned $0.76 in the first quarter, compared to $0.66 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of QTS Realty Trust shows a 52-week-high of $78.65 and a 52-week-low of $55.91. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $78.15.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

• Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on Vera Therapeutics Inc VERA with an Outperform rating. The price target for Vera Therapeutics is set to $24.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.97 and a 52-week-low of $11.30. Vera Therapeutics closed at $13.45 at the end of the last trading period.
• Berenberg initiated coverage on Vocera Communications Inc VCRA with a Buy rating. The price target for Vocera Communications is set to $46.00. For the first quarter, Vocera Communications had an EPS of $0.09, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.14. The stock has a 52-week-high of $55.60 and a 52-week-low of $19.52. At the end of the last trading period, Vocera Communications closed at $34.75.
• Berenberg initiated coverage on Phreesia Inc PHR with a Buy rating. The price target for Phreesia is set to $70.00. Phreesia earned $0.11 in the first quarter, compared to $0.16 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $81.59 and a 52-week-low of $26.20. Phreesia closed at $51.99 at the end of the last trading period.
• Atlantic Equities initiated coverage on Wix.com Ltd WIX with an Overweight rating. The price target for Wix.com is set to $300.00. In the first quarter, Wix.com showed an EPS of $0.54, compared to $0.01 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Wix.com shows a 52-week-high of $362.07 and a 52-week-low of $208.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $264.05.
• Atlantic Equities initiated coverage on Squarespace Inc SQSP with an Overweight rating. The price target for Squarespace is set to $70.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $55.88 and a 52-week-low of $42.82. Squarespace closed at $54.74 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, Rosenblatt initiated coverage on PTC Inc PTC. The price target seems to have been set at $157.00 for PTC. For the second quarter, PTC had an EPS of $1.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.59. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $149.50 and a 52-week-low of $72.27. PTC closed at $132.57 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Neutral rating, Rosenblatt initiated coverage on Ansys Inc ANSS. The price target seems to have been set at $340.00 for Ansys. In the first quarter, Ansys showed an EPS of $1.12, compared to $0.83 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $413.19 and a 52-week-low of $265.68. Ansys closed at $328.57 at the end of the last trading period.
• Citigroup initiated coverage on Talos Energy Inc TALO with a Buy rating. The price target for Talos Energy is set to $19.00. For the first quarter, Talos Energy had an EPS of $0.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.27. The stock has a 52-week-high of $16.81 and a 52-week-low of $5.39. At the end of the last trading period, Talos Energy closed at $16.01.
• Rosenblatt initiated coverage on Autodesk Inc ADSK with a Buy rating. The price target for Autodesk is set to $320.00. For the first quarter, Autodesk had an EPS of $1.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.85. The current stock performance of Autodesk shows a 52-week-high of $321.13 and a 52-week-low of $215.83. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $278.89.
• With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Quanta Services Inc PWR. The price target seems to have been set at $115.00 for Quanta Services. Quanta Services earned $0.83 in the first quarter, compared to $0.47 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $101.96 and a 52-week-low of $35.36. At the end of the last trading period, Quanta Services closed at $92.24.
• Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Rocket Companies Inc RKT with a Neutral rating. The price target for Rocket Companies is set to $18.00. Rocket Companies earned $0.89 in the first quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $43.00 and a 52-week-low of $16.22. Rocket Companies closed at $19.90 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, Guggenheim initiated coverage on Progress Software Corp PRGS. The price target seems to have been set at $56.00 for Progress Software. For the first quarter, Progress Software had an EPS of $0.95, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.76. The stock has a 52-week-high of $49.23 and a 52-week-low of $34.05. At the end of the last trading period, Progress Software closed at $46.09.
• Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on Vera Therapeutics Inc VERA with an Outperform rating. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.97 and a 52-week-low of $11.30. Vera Therapeutics closed at $13.45 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Vera Therapeutics Inc VERA, Jefferies initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Buy. The stock has a 52-week-high of $26.97 and a 52-week-low of $11.30. At the end of the last trading period, Vera Therapeutics closed at $13.45.
• With a Market Outperform rating, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Generation Bio Co GBIO. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Generation Bio. For the first quarter, Generation Bio had an EPS of $0.46, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of $55.72 and a 52-week-low of $18.80. At the end of the last trading period, Generation Bio closed at $28.00.
• With a Market Outperform rating, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Taysha Gene Therapies Inc TSHA. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Taysha Gene Therapies. In the first quarter, Taysha Gene Therapies earned $0.87. The current stock performance of Taysha Gene Therapies shows a 52-week-high of $33.35 and a 52-week-low of $18.16. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $23.97.
• Wedbush initiated coverage on The GEO Group Inc GEO with a Neutral rating. The price target for GEO Group is set to $7.00. For the first quarter, GEO Group had an EPS of $0.44, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.39. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.81 and a 52-week-low of $4.96. GEO Group closed at $6.09 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings initiations.