Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For July 29, 2022

Upgrades

• For The Carlyle Group Inc CG, Evercore ISI Group upgraded the previous rating of In-Line to Outperform. Carlyle Group earned $1.17 in the second quarter, compared to $0.88 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $56.00 and a 52-week-low of $30.01. Carlyle Group closed at $37.52 at the end of the last trading period.
• Oppenheimer upgraded the previous rating for First Solar Inc FSLR from Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, First Solar showed an EPS of $0.52, compared to $0.77 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of First Solar shows a 52-week-high of $92.54 and a 52-week-low of $59.60. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $88.50.
• According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for NOV Inc NOV was changed from Underperform to Neutral. For the second quarter, NOV had an EPS of $0.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.07. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $24.06 and a 52-week-low of $13.62. NOV closed at $16.92 at the end of the last trading period.
• B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc EDU from Neutral to Buy. For the fourth quarter, New Oriental Education had an EPS of $0.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.03. The stock has a 52-week-high of $29.73 and a 52-week-low of $0.84. At the end of the last trading period, New Oriental Education closed at $29.00.
• According to Baird, the prior rating for Northrop Grumman Corp NOC was changed from Neutral to Outperform. For the second quarter, Northrop Grumman had an EPS of $6.06, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $6.42. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $492.30 and a 52-week-low of $364.62. Northrop Grumman closed at $454.46 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Needham, the prior rating for ExlService Holdings Inc EXLS was changed from Hold to Buy. ExlService Holdings earned $1.50 in the second quarter, compared to $1.14 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of ExlService Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $164.16 and a 52-week-low of $112.14. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $163.52.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

• Barrington Research downgraded the previous rating for Paramount Global PARA from Outperform to Market Perform. In the first quarter, Paramount Global showed an EPS of $0.60, compared to $1.52 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $39.21 and a 52-week-low of $23.59. At the end of the last trading period, Paramount Global closed at $24.35.
• According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Ping Identity Holding Corp PING was changed from Buy to Neutral. Ping Identity Holding earned $0.06 in the first quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ping Identity Holding shows a 52-week-high of $30.40 and a 52-week-low of $15.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.40.
• For Stanley Black & Decker Inc SWK, Vertical Research downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. Stanley Black & Decker earned $1.77 in the second quarter, compared to $3.08 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Stanley Black & Decker shows a 52-week-high of $196.52 and a 52-week-low of $98.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $98.58.
• Wolfe Research downgraded the previous rating for Euronet Worldwide Inc EEFT from Outperform to Peer Perform. For the second quarter, Euronet Worldwide had an EPS of $1.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.53. The stock has a 52-week-high of $149.92 and a 52-week-low of $92.88. At the end of the last trading period, Euronet Worldwide closed at $97.35.
• According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for Comcast Corp CMCSA was changed from Peer Perform to Underperform. In the second quarter, Comcast showed an EPS of $1.01, compared to $0.84 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $52.10 and a 52-week-low of $37.56. At the end of the last trading period, Comcast closed at $39.41.
• Craig-Hallum downgraded the previous rating for Avaya Holdings Corp AVYA from Buy to Hold. For the second quarter, Avaya Hldgs had an EPS of $0.53, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.74. The stock has a 52-week-high of $21.65 and a 52-week-low of $1.82. At the end of the last trading period, Avaya Hldgs closed at $2.09.
• For Janus Henderson Group PLC JHG, Citigroup downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Sell. In the second quarter, Janus Henderson Gr showed an EPS of $0.63, compared to $1.16 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $44.11 and a 52-week-low of $22.22. At the end of the last trading period, Janus Henderson Gr closed at $25.33.
• According to Nomura Instinet, the prior rating for GDS Holdings Ltd GDS was changed from Buy to Neutral. GDS Holdings earned $0.48 in the first quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of GDS Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $48.42 and a 52-week-low of $19.83. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.07.
• According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Floor & Decor Holdings Inc FND was changed from Overweight to Neutral. In the first quarter, Floor & Decor Hldgs showed an EPS of $0.67, compared to $0.68 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $131.88 and a 52-week-low of $59.91. Floor & Decor Hldgs closed at $79.07 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Stifel, the prior rating for Wingstop Inc WING was changed from Buy to Hold. For the second quarter, Wingstop had an EPS of $0.45, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $174.79 and a 52-week-low of $67.67. Wingstop closed at $119.80 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Roku Inc ROKU, Susquehanna downgraded the previous rating of Positive to Neutral. For the second quarter, Roku had an EPS of $0.82, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.52. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $238.36 and a 52-week-low of $72.63. Roku closed at $85.17 at the end of the last trading period.
• Susquehanna downgraded the previous rating for Intel Corp INTC from Neutral to Negative. In the second quarter, Intel showed an EPS of $0.29, compared to $1.28 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Intel shows a 52-week-high of $56.28 and a 52-week-low of $35.54. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $39.71.
• Benchmark downgraded the previous rating for Tilray Brands Inc TLRY from Hold to Sell. Tilray Brands earned $0.19 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.18 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Tilray Brands shows a 52-week-high of $9.08 and a 52-week-low of $3.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $3.65.
• Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating for Hayward Holdings Inc HAYW from Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, Hayward Holdings showed an EPS of $0.29, compared to $0.31 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.38 and a 52-week-low of $10.48. Hayward Holdings closed at $11.21 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Roku Inc ROKU, Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to In-Line. For the second quarter, Roku had an EPS of $0.82, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.52. The current stock performance of Roku shows a 52-week-high of $238.36 and a 52-week-low of $72.63. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $85.17.
• According to DZ Bank, the prior rating for Qualcomm Inc QCOM was changed from Buy to Hold. Qualcomm earned $2.96 in the third quarter, compared to $1.92 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $193.58 and a 52-week-low of $118.22. Qualcomm closed at $146.45 at the end of the last trading period.
• DZ Bank downgraded the previous rating for Meta Platforms Inc META from Hold to Sell. For the second quarter, Meta Platforms had an EPS of $2.46, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.61. The stock has a 52-week-high of $199.45 and a 52-week-low of $11.73. At the end of the last trading period, Meta Platforms closed at $160.72.
• According to Baird, the prior rating for Intel Corp INTC was changed from Outperform to Neutral. For the second quarter, Intel had an EPS of $0.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.28. The current stock performance of Intel shows a 52-week-high of $56.28 and a 52-week-low of $35.54. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $39.71.
• For Comcast Corp CMCSA, Macquarie downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Underperform. For the second quarter, Comcast had an EPS of $1.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.84. The current stock performance of Comcast shows a 52-week-high of $52.10 and a 52-week-low of $37.56. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $39.41.
• RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for Bausch Health Companies Inc BHC from Outperform to Sector Perform. For the first quarter, Bausch Health Companies had an EPS of $0.72, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.02. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.08 and a 52-week-low of $4.00. At the end of the last trading period, Bausch Health Companies closed at $5.10.
• According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Teleflex Inc TFX was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Teleflex earned $3.39 in the second quarter, compared to $3.35 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $356.72 and a 52-week-low of $235.01. At the end of the last trading period, Teleflex closed at $245.69.
• For Edwards Lifesciences Corp EW, Canaccord Genuity downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Edwards Lifesciences showed an EPS of $0.63, compared to $0.64 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $131.10 and a 52-week-low of $85.58. At the end of the last trading period, Edwards Lifesciences closed at $107.29.
• For Stanley Black & Decker Inc SWK, Wolfe Research downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Peer Perform. In the second quarter, Stanley Black & Decker showed an EPS of $1.77, compared to $3.08 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Stanley Black & Decker shows a 52-week-high of $196.52 and a 52-week-low of $98.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $98.58.
• For Verano Holdings Corp VRNOF, Needham downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $13.94 and a 52-week-low of $5.32. Verano Holdings closed at $6.22 at the end of the last trading period.
• Baird downgraded the previous rating for argenx SE ARGX from Outperform to Neutral. For the second quarter, argenx had an EPS of $3.81, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.98. The stock has a 52-week-high of $387.89 and a 52-week-low of $249.50. At the end of the last trading period, argenx closed at $372.97.
• According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Spirit Airlines Inc SAVE was changed from Overweight to Underweight. For the first quarter, Spirit Airlines had an EPS of $1.60, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.48. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.30 and a 52-week-low of $15.92. Spirit Airlines closed at $25.66 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Bausch Health Companies Inc BHC was changed from Overweight to Neutral. Bausch Health Companies earned $0.72 in the first quarter, compared to $1.02 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.08 and a 52-week-low of $4.00. Bausch Health Companies closed at $5.10 at the end of the last trading period.
• JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Comcast Corp CMCSA from Overweight to Neutral. Comcast earned $1.01 in the second quarter, compared to $0.84 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $52.10 and a 52-week-low of $37.56. At the end of the last trading period, Comcast closed at $39.41.
• According to Jefferies, the prior rating for Holley Inc HLLY was changed from Buy to Hold. Holley earned $0.19 in the first quarter, compared to $0.22 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $14.68 and a 52-week-low of $8.23. At the end of the last trading period, Holley closed at $12.67.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

• Berenberg initiated coverage on Doximity Inc DOCS with a Buy rating. The price target for Doximity is set to $49.00. Doximity earned $0.21 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Doximity shows a 52-week-high of $64.95 and a 52-week-low of $27.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $41.62.
• Jefferies initiated coverage on Prelude Therapeutics Inc PRLD with a Buy rating. The price target for Prelude Therapeutics is set to $9.00. Prelude Therapeutics earned $0.63 in the first quarter, compared to $0.47 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.40 and a 52-week-low of $3.87. At the end of the last trading period, Prelude Therapeutics closed at $5.55.
• With an Overweight rating, Capital One initiated coverage on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc AMPH. The price target seems to have been set at $44.00 for Amphastar Pharmaceuticals. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals earned $0.47 in the first quarter, compared to $0.27 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $44.46 and a 52-week-low of $22.07. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.27.
• Credit Suisse initiated coverage on Bill.com Holdings Inc BILL with an Outperform rating. The price target for Bill.com Holdings is set to $160.00. In the third quarter, Bill.com Holdings showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $262.17 and a 52-week-low of $89.87. Bill.com Holdings closed at $132.40 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Haleon PLC HLN, Deutsche Bank initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold.
• With an Outperform rating, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Evolent Health Inc EVH. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Evolent Health. For the first quarter, Evolent Health had an EPS of $0.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.01. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.19 and a 52-week-low of $21.36. At the end of the last trading period, Evolent Health closed at $34.22.
• With a Sector Perform rating, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Signify Health Inc SGFY. The price target seems to have been set at $18.00 for Signify Health. In the first quarter, Signify Health showed an EPS of $0.06, compared to $0.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Signify Health shows a 52-week-high of $19.00 and a 52-week-low of $10.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.65.

See all analyst ratings initiations.