Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For December 19, 2022

Upgrades

For NRG Energy Inc NRG, B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to Neutral. For the third quarter, NRG Energy had an EPS of $0.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $6.60. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $47.82 and a 52-week-low of $30.64. NRG Energy closed at $31.05 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Northland Capital Markets, the prior rating for Enphase Energy Inc ENPH was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Enphase Energy showed an EPS of $1.25, compared to $0.60 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $339.92 and a 52-week-low of $113.40. Enphase Energy closed at $303.39 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for American Equity Investment Life Holding Co AEL was changed from Outperform to Strong Buy. For the third quarter, American Equity Inv had an EPS of $1.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.85. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $44.49 and a 52-week-low of $28.05. American Equity Inv closed at $39.13 at the end of the last trading period.

Stifel upgraded the previous rating for Pentair PLC PNR from Hold to Buy. For the third quarter, Pentair had an EPS of $0.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.89. The current stock performance of Pentair shows a 52-week-high of $74.76 and a 52-week-low of $38.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $43.44.

Atlantic Equities upgraded the previous rating for Warner Music Group Corp WMG from Neutral to Overweight. Warner Music Gr earned $0.32 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $44.64 and a 52-week-low of $21.57. At the end of the last trading period, Warner Music Gr closed at $33.64.

According to Jefferies, the prior rating for Moderna Inc MRNA was changed from Hold to Buy. Moderna earned $2.53 in the third quarter, compared to $7.70 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $321.31 and a 52-week-low of $115.03. Moderna closed at $193.29 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Glaukos Corp GKOS from Underweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Glaukos showed an EPS of $0.45, compared to $0.21 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $64.49 and a 52-week-low of $33.33. At the end of the last trading period, Glaukos closed at $42.48.

Keybanc upgraded the previous rating for PerkinElmer Inc PKI from Sector Weight to Overweight. PerkinElmer earned $1.51 in the third quarter, compared to $2.31 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $203.16 and a 52-week-low of $113.46. PerkinElmer closed at $137.66 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

According to TD Securities, the prior rating for Maxar Technologies Inc MAXR was changed from Buy to Tender. For the third quarter, Maxar Technologies had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.19. The stock has a 52-week-high of $51.93 and a 52-week-low of $17.51. At the end of the last trading period, Maxar Technologies closed at $51.93.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for American Electric Power Co Inc AEP was changed from Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, American Electric Power had an EPS of $1.62, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.43. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $105.60 and a 52-week-low of $80.30. American Electric Power closed at $94.57 at the end of the last trading period.

For Raymond James Financial Inc RJF, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. In the fourth quarter, Raymond James Finl showed an EPS of $2.08, compared to $2.06 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $126.00 and a 52-week-low of $84.86. Raymond James Finl closed at $106.75 at the end of the last trading period.

For Synaptogenix Inc SNPX, Maxim Group downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. Synaptogenix earned $0.43 in the third quarter, compared to $0.47 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.65 and a 52-week-low of $1.08. At the end of the last trading period, Synaptogenix closed at $1.20.

According to TD Securities, the prior rating for Louisiana-Pacific Corp LPX was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Louisiana-Pacific showed an EPS of $1.72, compared to $3.87 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Louisiana-Pacific shows a 52-week-high of $79.77 and a 52-week-low of $48.20. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $61.85.

According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for Maxar Technologies Inc MAXR was changed from Outperform to Sector Perform. Maxar Technologies earned $0.05 in the third quarter, compared to $0.19 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $51.93 and a 52-week-low of $17.51. Maxar Technologies closed at $51.93 at the end of the last trading period.

For AT&T Inc T, MoffettNathanson downgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Underperform. For the third quarter, AT&T had an EPS of $0.68, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.87. The stock has a 52-week-high of $27.48 and a 52-week-low of $14.46. At the end of the last trading period, AT&T closed at $18.49.

According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for Tesla Inc TSLA was changed from Outperform to Perform. Tesla earned $1.05 in the third quarter, compared to $0.62 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $402.67 and a 52-week-low of $150.04. Tesla closed at $150.23 at the end of the last trading period.

According to HC Wainwright & Co., the prior rating for Bionomics Ltd BNOX was changed from Buy to Neutral.

Stifel downgraded the previous rating for Xylem Inc XYL from Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Xylem had an EPS of $0.79, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.63. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $121.47 and a 52-week-low of $72.08. Xylem closed at $109.91 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Stifel, the prior rating for Waste Management Inc WM was changed from Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Waste Management had an EPS of $1.56, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.26. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $175.98 and a 52-week-low of $138.58. Waste Management closed at $161.79 at the end of the last trading period.

For Vtex VTEX, Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Equal-Weight. Vtex earned $0.06 in the third quarter, compared to $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $12.88 and a 52-week-low of $2.66. At the end of the last trading period, Vtex closed at $3.52.

According to Baird, the prior rating for Maxar Technologies Inc MAXR was changed from Outperform to Neutral. For the third quarter, Maxar Technologies had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.19. The current stock performance of Maxar Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $51.93 and a 52-week-low of $17.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $51.93.

For L3Harris Technologies Inc LHX, Baird downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. In the third quarter, L3Harris Technologies showed an EPS of $3.26, compared to $3.21 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $279.71 and a 52-week-low of $200.71. L3Harris Technologies closed at $213.27 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Jefferies, the prior rating for Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc AJRD was changed from Buy to Hold. Aerojet Rocketdyne Hldgs earned $0.45 in the third quarter, compared to $0.58 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Aerojet Rocketdyne Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of $56.00 and a 52-week-low of $35.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $54.89.

According to Jefferies, the prior rating for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc VRTX was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Vertex Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $4.01, compared to $3.56 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $324.75 and a 52-week-low of $210.35. Vertex Pharmaceuticals closed at $304.80 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Baxter International Inc BAX from Overweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Baxter Intl showed an EPS of $0.82, compared to $1.02 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $89.70 and a 52-week-low of $49.47. Baxter Intl closed at $49.71 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Invesco Ltd IVZ was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Invesco showed an EPS of $0.34, compared to $0.77 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $25.33 and a 52-week-low of $13.20. Invesco closed at $18.39 at the end of the last trading period.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded the previous rating for Axis Capital Holdings Ltd AXS from Outperform to Market Perform. Axis Capital Holdings earned $0.03 in the third quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $61.39 and a 52-week-low of $48.32. At the end of the last trading period, Axis Capital Holdings closed at $54.67.

According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for Ameriprise Financial Inc AMP was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the third quarter, Ameriprise Financial showed an EPS of $6.43, compared to $5.91 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $339.41 and a 52-week-low of $219.99. At the end of the last trading period, Ameriprise Financial closed at $312.18.

According to Keybanc, the prior rating for Catalent Inc CTLT was changed from Overweight to Sector Weight. In the first quarter, Catalent showed an EPS of $0.34, compared to $0.71 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $130.97 and a 52-week-low of $40.69. Catalent closed at $44.26 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

For Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT EARN, JonesTrading initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. Ellington Residential earned $0.23 in the third quarter, compared to $0.31 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $11.07 and a 52-week-low of $5.70. Ellington Residential closed at $7.03 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Lake Street initiated coverage on Apollo Medical Holdings Inc AMEH. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Apollo Medical Hlgs. In the third quarter, Apollo Medical Hlgs showed an EPS of $0.56, compared to $0.74 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $75.23 and a 52-week-low of $26.89. Apollo Medical Hlgs closed at $31.14 at the end of the last trading period.

BTIG initiated coverage on Glass House Brands Inc GLASF with a Buy rating. The price target for Glass House Brands is set to $6.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $6.54 and a 52-week-low of $1.95. Glass House Brands closed at $2.32 at the end of the last trading period.

William Blair initiated coverage on NewAmsterdam Pharma Co NV NAMS with an Outperform rating. The stock has a 52-week-high of $32.88 and a 52-week-low of $7.52. At the end of the last trading period, NewAmsterdam Pharma closed at $10.71.

With a Buy rating, EF Hutton initiated coverage on Acasti Pharma Inc ACST. The price target seems to have been set at $2.50 for Acasti Pharma. Acasti Pharma earned $0.11 in the second quarter, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Acasti Pharma shows a 52-week-high of $1.79 and a 52-week-low of $0.34. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.38.

EF Hutton initiated coverage on Pineapple Energy Inc PEGY with a Buy rating. The price target for Pineapple Energy is set to $5.50. For the third quarter, Pineapple Energy had an EPS of $0.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.18. The current stock performance of Pineapple Energy shows a 52-week-high of $7.60 and a 52-week-low of $0.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1.66.

With a Buy rating, EF Hutton initiated coverage on Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings Inc SONN. The price target seems to have been set at $6.70 for Sonnet BioTherapeutics. For the fourth quarter, Sonnet BioTherapeutics had an EPS of $1.66, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.26. The stock has a 52-week-high of $9.37 and a 52-week-low of $0.96. At the end of the last trading period, Sonnet BioTherapeutics closed at $0.96.

With a Buy rating, EF Hutton initiated coverage on VolitionRX Ltd VNRX. The price target seems to have been set at $6.00 for VolitionRX. For the third quarter, VolitionRX had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.13. The current stock performance of VolitionRX shows a 52-week-high of $3.57 and a 52-week-low of $1.31. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $2.13.

Needham initiated coverage on Viridian Therapeutics Inc VRDN with a Buy rating. The price target for Viridian Therapeutics is set to $45.00. In the third quarter, Viridian Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.86, compared to $1.25 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.86 and a 52-week-low of $9.47. At the end of the last trading period, Viridian Therapeutics closed at $27.88.

With a Buy rating, Jefferies initiated coverage on NewAmsterdam Pharma Co NV NAMS. The price target seems to have been set at $24.00 for NewAmsterdam Pharma. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $32.88 and a 52-week-low of $7.52. NewAmsterdam Pharma closed at $10.71 at the end of the last trading period.

UBS initiated coverage on Main Street Capital Corp MAIN with a Neutral rating. The price target for Main Street Capital is set to $40.00. Main Street Capital earned $0.83 in the third quarter, compared to $0.71 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $45.67 and a 52-week-low of $31.66. Main Street Capital closed at $37.00 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Equal-Weight rating, Barclays initiated coverage on F&G Annuities & Life Inc FG. The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for F&G Annuities & Life. F&G Annuities & Life earned $0.30 in the first quarter, compared to $0.37 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.00 and a 52-week-low of $17.34. At the end of the last trading period, F&G Annuities & Life closed at $19.56.

HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Acurx Pharmaceuticals Inc ACXP with a Buy rating. The price target for Acurx Pharmaceuticals is set to $14.00. For the third quarter, Acurx Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $0.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.46. The stock has a 52-week-high of $4.89 and a 52-week-low of $2.33. At the end of the last trading period, Acurx Pharmaceuticals closed at $3.83.

Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on DZS Inc DZSI with an Outperform rating. The price target for DZS is set to $25.00. For the third quarter, DZS had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.95 and a 52-week-low of $10.59. At the end of the last trading period, DZS closed at $11.01.

Roth Capital initiated coverage on Tempo Automation Holdings Inc TMPO with a Buy rating. The price target for Tempo Automation Holdings is set to $5.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.15 and a 52-week-low of $1.05. Tempo Automation Holdings closed at $1.06 at the end of the last trading period.

Loop Capital initiated coverage on MasterBrand Inc MBC with a Hold rating. The price target for MasterBrand is set to $9.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $9.33 and a 52-week-low of $7.46. MasterBrand closed at $9.30 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, JonesTrading initiated coverage on Annaly Capital Management Inc NLY. The price target seems to have been set at $22.50 for Annaly Capital Management. Annaly Capital Management earned $1.06 in the third quarter, compared to $1.12 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.32 and a 52-week-low of $15.11. At the end of the last trading period, Annaly Capital Management closed at $21.39.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Ventyx Biosciences Inc VTYX with a Buy rating. The price target for Ventyx Biosciences is set to $50.00. In the third quarter, Ventyx Biosciences showed an EPS of $0.59, compared to $3.17 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $41.29 and a 52-week-low of $9.50. Ventyx Biosciences closed at $32.64 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Market Perform rating, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods initiated coverage on California Bancorp CALB. The price target seems to have been set at $29.00 for California Bancorp. In the third quarter, California Bancorp showed an EPS of $0.66, compared to $0.39 from the year-ago quarter.

See all analyst ratings initiations.