Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For October 15, 2021

Upgrades

• B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for WEC Energy Group Inc WEC from Underperform to Neutral. In the second quarter, WEC Energy Gr showed an EPS of $0.87, compared to $0.76 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $106.85 and a 52-week-low of $80.55. WEC Energy Gr closed at $89.90 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Craig-Hallum, the prior rating for Limelight Networks Inc LLNW was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Limelight Networks showed an EPS of $0.06, compared to $0.03 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $6.94 and a 52-week-low of $2.30. Limelight Networks closed at $2.53 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Berenberg, the prior rating for BP PLC BP was changed from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, BP had an EPS of $0.83, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.98. The stock has a 52-week-high of $29.66 and a 52-week-low of $14.74. At the end of the last trading period, BP closed at $29.45.
• Canaccord Genuity upgraded the previous rating for AngioDynamics Inc ANGO from Hold to Buy. For the first quarter, AngioDynamics had an EPS of $0.02, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.02. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.25 and a 52-week-low of $10.17. At the end of the last trading period, AngioDynamics closed at $25.76.
• According to Stifel, the prior rating for Range Resources Corp RRC was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Range Resources showed an EPS of $0.24, compared to $0.10 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Range Resources shows a 52-week-high of $25.38 and a 52-week-low of $5.93. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $23.98.
• Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating for Moderna Inc MRNA from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Moderna had an EPS of $6.46, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.31. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $497.49 and a 52-week-low of $65.49. Moderna closed at $331.88 at the end of the last trading period.
• Berenberg upgraded the previous rating for Kosmos Energy Ltd KOS from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Kosmos Energy had an EPS of $0.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.23. The stock has a 52-week-high of $3.96 and a 52-week-low of $0.97. At the end of the last trading period, Kosmos Energy closed at $3.55.
• Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating for Broadcom Inc AVGO from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Broadcom had an EPS of $6.96, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $5.40. The stock has a 52-week-high of $510.70 and a 52-week-low of $344.42. At the end of the last trading period, Broadcom closed at $497.60.
• According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Allegheny Technologies Inc ATI was changed from Neutral to Overweight. In the second quarter, Allegheny Technologies showed an EPS of $0.12, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Allegheny Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $25.04 and a 52-week-low of $8.24. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.10.
• For Flowserve Corp FLS, UBS upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. Flowserve earned $0.37 in the second quarter, compared to $0.53 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $44.39 and a 52-week-low of $27.58. At the end of the last trading period, Flowserve closed at $35.60.
• According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Squarespace Inc SQSP was changed from Neutral to Overweight. In the second quarter, Squarespace earned $3.22. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $64.71 and a 52-week-low of $33.12. Squarespace closed at $36.59 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

• For Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd TRQ, TD Securities downgraded the previous rating of Speculative Buy to Hold. Turquoise Hill Resources earned $0.48 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $21.89 and a 52-week-low of $7.49. At the end of the last trading period, Turquoise Hill Resources closed at $15.43.
• Alliance Global Partners downgraded the previous rating for Perficient Inc PRFT from Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, Perficient showed an EPS of $0.84, compared to $0.57 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Perficient shows a 52-week-high of $130.86 and a 52-week-low of $37.42. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $129.88.
• According to Raymond James, the prior rating for U.S. Bancorp USB was changed from Market Perform to Underperform. For the third quarter, U.S. Bancorp had an EPS of $1.30, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.99. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $63.00 and a 52-week-low of $36.57. U.S. Bancorp closed at $60.08 at the end of the last trading period.
• RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for Morgan Stanley MS from Outperform to Sector Perform. In the third quarter, Morgan Stanley showed an EPS of $2.04, compared to $1.66 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $105.95 and a 52-week-low of $46.55. Morgan Stanley closed at $101.01 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Telefonica SA TEF, Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Underweight. For the second quarter, Telefonica had an EPS of $0.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.13. The current stock performance of Telefonica shows a 52-week-high of $5.17 and a 52-week-low of $3.22. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.57.
• According to Baird, the prior rating for Zurn Water Solutions Corp ZWS was changed from Outperform to Neutral. At the end of the last trading period, Zurn Water Solutions closed at $36.68.
• JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Duck Creek Technologies Inc DCT from Overweight to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Duck Creek Technologies showed an EPS of $0.02, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $59.40 and a 52-week-low of $33.91. Duck Creek Technologies closed at $46.23 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for Western Digital Corp WDC was changed from Buy to Neutral. Western Digital earned $2.16 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.23 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Western Digital shows a 52-week-high of $78.19 and a 52-week-low of $36.59. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $56.55.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

• Roth Capital initiated coverage on Arbe Robotics Ltd ARBE with a Buy rating. The price target for Arbe Robotics is set to $20.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $8.36.
• Truist Securities initiated coverage on Shoals Technologies Group Inc SHLS with a Hold rating. The price target for Shoals Technologies Gr is set to $34.00. Interestingly, in the second quarter, Shoals Technologies Gr's EPS was $0.09. The current stock performance of Shoals Technologies Gr shows a 52-week-high of $44.04 and a 52-week-low of $20.94. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $29.16.
• With a Hold rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Bloom Energy Corp BE. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Bloom Energy. For the second quarter, Bloom Energy had an EPS of $0.23, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.23. The stock has a 52-week-high of $44.95 and a 52-week-low of $12.37. At the end of the last trading period, Bloom Energy closed at $21.83.
• Truist Securities initiated coverage on Ballard Power Systems Inc BLDP with a Hold rating. The price target for Ballard Power Systems is set to $18.00. In the second quarter, Ballard Power Systems showed an EPS of $0.07, compared to $0.05 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $42.28 and a 52-week-low of $12.78. At the end of the last trading period, Ballard Power Systems closed at $15.69.
• Benchmark initiated coverage on Kirkland's Inc KIRK with a Buy rating. The price target for Kirkland's is set to $30.00. For the second quarter, Kirkland's had an EPS of $0.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.02. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $34.45 and a 52-week-low of $8.68. Kirkland's closed at $22.32 at the end of the last trading period.
• Piper Sandler initiated coverage on ASML Holding NV ASML with an Overweight rating. For the second quarter, ASML Holding had an EPS of $3.04, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.97. The current stock performance of ASML Holding shows a 52-week-high of $895.93 and a 52-week-low of $357.38. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $778.29.
• With an Outperform rating, Credit Suisse initiated coverage on Hostess Brands Inc TWNK. The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Hostess Brands. Hostess Brands earned $0.23 in the second quarter, compared to $0.22 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $18.90 and a 52-week-low of $12.63. At the end of the last trading period, Hostess Brands closed at $18.25.
• With a Market Outperform rating, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Nerdy Inc NRDY. The price target seems to have been set at $13.00 for Nerdy. Nerdy earned $0.16 in the second quarter. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $9.02.
• Truist Securities initiated coverage on Sunnova Energy International Inc NOVA with a Buy rating. The price target for Sunnova Energy Intl is set to $50.00. Sunnova Energy Intl earned $0.57 in the second quarter, compared to $0.30 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $57.70 and a 52-week-low of $23.65. Sunnova Energy Intl closed at $38.40 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Hold rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Array Technologies Inc ARRY. The price target seems to have been set at $23.00 for Array Technologies. Array Technologies earned $0.07 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $54.78 and a 52-week-low of $12.72. Array Technologies closed at $20.00 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Generac Holdings Inc GNRC. The price target seems to have been set at $500.00 for Generac Hldgs. For the second quarter, Generac Hldgs had an EPS of $2.39, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.40. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $466.92 and a 52-week-low of $198.85. Generac Hldgs closed at $433.75 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, DA Davidson initiated coverage on Riot Blockchain Inc RIOT. The price target seems to have been set at $42.00 for Riot Blockchain. For the second quarter, Riot Blockchain had an EPS of $0.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.31. The current stock performance of Riot Blockchain shows a 52-week-high of $79.50 and a 52-week-low of $3.08. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.12.
• DA Davidson initiated coverage on Marathon Digital Holdings Inc MARA with a Buy rating. The price target for Marathon Digital Holdings is set to $65.00. Marathon Digital Holdings earned $0.21 in the second quarter, compared to $0.11 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $57.75 and a 52-week-low of $2.06. At the end of the last trading period, Marathon Digital Holdings closed at $43.59.
• Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Applied Materials Inc AMAT with a Neutral rating. The price target for Applied Materials is set to $130.00. In the third quarter, Applied Materials showed an EPS of $1.90, compared to $1.06 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Applied Materials shows a 52-week-high of $146.00 and a 52-week-low of $56.87. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $132.07.
• With a Neutral rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Lam Research Corp LRCX. The price target seems to have been set at $600.00 for Lam Research. For the fourth quarter, Lam Research had an EPS of $8.09, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $4.78. The current stock performance of Lam Research shows a 52-week-high of $673.80 and a 52-week-low of $333.31. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $567.93.
• With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Autodesk Inc ADSK. The price target seems to have been set at $338.00 for Autodesk. In the second quarter, Autodesk showed an EPS of $1.21, compared to $0.98 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $344.39 and a 52-week-low of $233.32. Autodesk closed at $289.17 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Neutral rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Aspen Technology Inc AZPN. The price target seems to have been set at $170.00 for Aspen Technology. For the fourth quarter, Aspen Technology had an EPS of $1.53, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.54. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $169.22 and a 52-week-low of $108.15. Aspen Technology closed at $167.96 at the end of the last trading period.
• With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Teradyne Inc TER. The price target seems to have been set at $137.00 for Teradyne. For the second quarter, Teradyne had an EPS of $1.91, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.33. The current stock performance of Teradyne shows a 52-week-high of $147.90 and a 52-week-low of $84.28. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $112.72.
• With a Neutral rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on KLA Corp KLAC. The price target seems to have been set at $338.00 for KLA. For the fourth quarter, KLA had an EPS of $4.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.73. The stock has a 52-week-high of $374.60 and a 52-week-low of $190.21. At the end of the last trading period, KLA closed at $329.78.

See all analyst ratings initiations.