Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For October 26, 2021

Upgrades

For Simulations Plus Inc SLP, Craig-Hallum upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Simulations Plus showed an EPS of $0.01, compared to $0.11 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $90.92 and a 52-week-low of $36.90. At the end of the last trading period, Simulations Plus closed at $41.57.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Envista Holdings Corp NVST was changed from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Envista Holdings showed an EPS of $0.53, compared to $0.10 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $46.52 and a 52-week-low of $24.29. Envista Holdings closed at $38.46 at the end of the last trading period.

For TechnipFMC PLC FTI, Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. TechnipFMC earned $0.06 in the third quarter, compared to $0.16 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.04 and a 52-week-low of $5.11. At the end of the last trading period, TechnipFMC closed at $7.75.

For SM Energy Co SM, Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the second quarter, SM Energy had an EPS of $0.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.27 and a 52-week-low of $1.34. At the end of the last trading period, SM Energy closed at $32.63.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Coterra Energy Inc CTRA was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. The current stock performance of Coterra Energy shows a 52-week-high of $14.37 and a 52-week-low of $6.37. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $22.56.

Rosenblatt upgraded the previous rating for Facebook Inc FB from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, Facebook showed an EPS of $3.22, compared to $2.40 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $384.33 and a 52-week-low of $244.61. Facebook closed at $328.69 at the end of the last trading period.

For Heartland Financial USA Inc HTLF, Stephens & Co. upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Heartland Financial had an EPS of $1.27, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.23. The current stock performance of Heartland Financial shows a 52-week-high of $54.03 and a 52-week-low of $31.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $51.95.

According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Coty Inc COTY was changed from Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Coty showed an EPS of $0.09, compared to $0.46 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.49 and a 52-week-low of $2.87. At the end of the last trading period, Coty closed at $8.00.

For Ballys Corp BALY, Cowen & Co. upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Ballys showed an EPS of $0.48, compared to $0.79 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $75.92 and a 52-week-low of $29.30. At the end of the last trading period, Ballys closed at $49.66.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for The RealReal Inc REAL was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, The RealReal showed an EPS of $0.50, compared to $0.42 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.22 and a 52-week-low of $11.18. At the end of the last trading period, The RealReal closed at $12.98.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Berenberg downgraded the previous rating for Kimberly-Clark Corp KMB from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Kimberly-Clark showed an EPS of $1.62, compared to $1.72 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $144.44 and a 52-week-low of $125.27. Kimberly-Clark closed at $130.11 at the end of the last trading period.

For CNX Resources Corp CNX, Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Underperform. CNX Resources earned $0.18 in the second quarter, compared to $0.78 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.88 and a 52-week-low of $8.31. CNX Resources closed at $15.62 at the end of the last trading period.

Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for Carrols Restaurant Group Inc TAST from Outperform to Market Perform. For the second quarter, Carrols Restaurant Group had an EPS of $0.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. The current stock performance of Carrols Restaurant Group shows a 52-week-high of $8.09 and a 52-week-low of $3.62. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.00.

According to BMO Capital, the prior rating for Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the third quarter, Restaurant Brands Intl showed an EPS of $0.76, compared to $0.68 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $71.12 and a 52-week-low of $51.12. Restaurant Brands Intl closed at $58.85 at the end of the last trading period.

For LHC Group Inc LHCG, Cowen & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. LHC Group earned $1.62 in the second quarter, compared to $1.23 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of LHC Group shows a 52-week-high of $236.81 and a 52-week-low of $133.08. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $143.74.

For Upstart Holdings Inc UPST, Jefferies downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. Upstart Holdings earned $0.62 in the second quarter. The current stock performance of Upstart Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $401.49 and a 52-week-low of $22.61. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $359.81.

According to BMO Capital, the prior rating for Intel Corp INTC was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Intel had an EPS of $1.71, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.11. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $68.49 and a 52-week-low of $43.61. Intel closed at $49.41 at the end of the last trading period.

For Beyond Meat Inc BYND, Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Underperform. For the second quarter, Beyond Meat had an EPS of $0.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.02. The current stock performance of Beyond Meat shows a 52-week-high of $221.00 and a 52-week-low of $91.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $96.00.

Keybanc downgraded the previous rating for Winnebago Industries Inc WGO from Overweight to Sector Weight. In the fourth quarter, Winnebago Industries showed an EPS of $2.57, compared to $1.45 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $87.53 and a 52-week-low of $44.33. Winnebago Industries closed at $66.04 at the end of the last trading period.

Keybanc downgraded the previous rating for Thor Industries Inc THO from Overweight to Sector Weight. In the fourth quarter, Thor Industries showed an EPS of $4.12, compared to $2.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Thor Industries shows a 52-week-high of $152.20 and a 52-week-low of $78.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $102.76.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

With a Buy rating, Maxim Group initiated coverage on Data Storage Corp DTST. The price target seems to have been set at $8.00 for Data Storage. Data Storage earned $0.04 in the second quarter, compared to $0.05 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $13.10 and a 52-week-low of $0.13. Data Storage closed at $4.36 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Jefferies initiated coverage on GXO Logistics Inc GXO. The price target seems to have been set at $103.00 for GXO Logistics. In the second quarter, GXO Logistics earned $0.10. The current stock performance of GXO Logistics shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $86.22.

With a Buy rating, Jefferies initiated coverage on Roivant Sciences Ltd ROIV. The price target seems to have been set at $10.00 for Roivant Sciences. Roivant Sciences earned $0.37 in the first quarter, compared to $0.02 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, Roivant Sciences closed at $7.04.

Jefferies initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG with a Buy rating. The price target for First Watch Restaurant Gr is set to $30.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, First Watch Restaurant Gr closed at $21.48.

Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on Shapeways Holdings Inc SHPW with a Buy rating. The price target for Shapeways Hldgs is set to $13.00. The current stock performance of Shapeways Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $7.14.

With a Buy rating, Guggenheim initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG. The price target seems to have been set at $26.00 for First Watch Restaurant Gr. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, First Watch Restaurant Gr closed at $21.48.

Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on Roivant Sciences Ltd ROIV with an Outperform rating. For the first quarter, Roivant Sciences had an EPS of $0.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.02. The current stock performance of Roivant Sciences shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $7.04.

B of A Securities initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG with a Buy rating. The price target for First Watch Restaurant Gr is set to $30.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . First Watch Restaurant Gr closed at $21.48 at the end of the last trading period.

B of A Securities initiated coverage on Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc CBRL with a Neutral rating. The price target for Cracker Barrel Old is set to $148.00. For the fourth quarter, Cracker Barrel Old had an EPS of $2.25, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.85. The stock has a 52-week-high of $178.82 and a 52-week-low of $106.92. At the end of the last trading period, Cracker Barrel Old closed at $128.63.

With a Buy rating, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Exscientia PLC EXAI. The price target seems to have been set at $27.00 for Exscientia. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, Exscientia closed at $23.49.

Benchmark initiated coverage on Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp MGY with a Hold rating. Magnolia Oil & Gas earned $0.56 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.01 and a 52-week-low of $4.09. At the end of the last trading period, Magnolia Oil & Gas closed at $21.78.

Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc MAA with an Overweight rating. The price target for Mid-America Apartment is set to $230.00. In the second quarter, Mid-America Apartment showed an EPS of $1.69, compared to $1.59 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $202.68 and a 52-week-low of $110.53. Mid-America Apartment closed at $201.28 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Stifel initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for First Watch Restaurant Gr. The current stock performance of First Watch Restaurant Gr shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.48.

Benchmark initiated coverage on Matador Resources Co MTDR with a Hold rating. In the third quarter, Matador Resources showed an EPS of No EPS Value , compared to $0.10 from the year-ago quarter. NoneThe current stock performance of Matador Resources shows a 52-week-high of $46.15 and a 52-week-low of $6.29. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $44.81.

For Southwestern Energy Co SWN, Benchmark initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. Southwestern Energy earned $0.19 in the second quarter, compared to $0.00 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $5.96 and a 52-week-low of $2.42. At the end of the last trading period, Southwestern Energy closed at $5.38.

With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Roivant Sciences Ltd ROIV. The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for Roivant Sciences. In the first quarter, Roivant Sciences showed an EPS of $0.37, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Roivant Sciences shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $7.04.

With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for First Watch Restaurant Gr. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . First Watch Restaurant Gr closed at $21.48 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Benchmark initiated coverage on Antero Resources Corp AR. The price target seems to have been set at $32.00 for Antero Resources. In the second quarter, Antero Resources showed an EPS of $0.13, compared to $0.37 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Antero Resources shows a 52-week-high of $21.60 and a 52-week-low of $3.24. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.43.

With a Buy rating, Benchmark initiated coverage on Range Resources Corp RRC. The price target seems to have been set at $33.00 for Range Resources. For the third quarter, Range Resources had an EPS of No EPS Value , compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.05. The current stock performance of Range Resources shows a 52-week-high of $26.48 and a 52-week-low of $5.93. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.21.

With a Equal-Weight rating, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Exscientia PLC EXAI. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Exscientia. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, Exscientia closed at $23.49.

Benchmark initiated coverage on Marathon Oil Corp MRO with a Buy rating. The price target for Marathon Oil is set to $19.00. For the second quarter, Marathon Oil had an EPS of $0.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.60. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $17.33 and a 52-week-low of $3.73. Marathon Oil closed at $16.78 at the end of the last trading period.

For Devon Energy Corp DVN, Benchmark initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. Devon Energy earned $0.60 in the second quarter, compared to $0.18 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $41.98 and a 52-week-low of $7.73. Devon Energy closed at $40.66 at the end of the last trading period.

Raymond James initiated coverage on VersaBank VBNK with a Strong Buy rating. The price target for VersaBank is set to $15.00. VersaBank earned $0.20 in the third quarter. The current stock performance of VersaBank shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $11.80.

With an Overweight rating, Barclays initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG. The price target seems to have been set at $26.00 for First Watch Restaurant Gr. The current stock performance of First Watch Restaurant Gr shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.48.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on TDCX Inc TDCX with a Buy rating. The price target for TDCX is set to $30.30. The current stock performance of TDCX shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.07.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Exscientia PLC EXAI with a Buy rating. The price target for Exscientia is set to $30.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, Exscientia closed at $23.49.

With a Buy rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG. The price target seems to have been set at $26.00 for First Watch Restaurant Gr. The stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . At the end of the last trading period, First Watch Restaurant Gr closed at $21.48.

Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group Inc FWRG with a Market Perform rating. The price target for First Watch Restaurant Gr is set to $21.50. The current stock performance of First Watch Restaurant Gr shows a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.48.

Needham initiated coverage on Shapeways Holdings Inc SHPW with a Buy rating. The price target for Shapeways Hldgs is set to $12.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Shapeways Hldgs closed at $7.14 at the end of the last trading period.

Needham initiated coverage on Velo3D Inc VLD with a Buy rating. The price target for Velo3D is set to $15.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of Missing 52-Week High and a 52-week-low of Missing 52-Week Low . Velo3D closed at $9.23 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Strong Buy rating, Raymond James initiated coverage on Medical Properties Trust Inc MPW. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Medical Properties Trust. For the second quarter, Medical Properties Trust had an EPS of $0.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. The current stock performance of Medical Properties Trust shows a 52-week-high of $22.82 and a 52-week-low of $17.13. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $20.25.

Wedbush initiated coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc ASO with an Outperform rating. The price target for Academy Sports is set to $54.00. Academy Sports earned $2.34 in the second quarter, compared to $1.81 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $47.65 and a 52-week-low of $14.14. At the end of the last trading period, Academy Sports closed at $44.62.

See all analyst ratings initiations.