Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For September 1, 2023

Upgrades

According to Guggenheim, the prior rating for Eos Energy Enterprises Inc EOSE was changed from Neutral to Buy. Eos Energy Enterprises earned $1.12 in the second quarter, compared to $1.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $5.67 and a 52-week-low of $0.96. Eos Energy Enterprises closed at $3.25 at the end of the last trading period.

Wedbush upgraded the previous rating for Papa John's International Inc PZZA from Neutral to Outperform. For the second quarter, Papa John's International had an EPS of $0.59, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.74. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $97.78 and a 52-week-low of $66.76. Papa John's International closed at $75.70 at the end of the last trading period.

For MercadoLibre Inc MELI, New Street Research upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, MercadoLibre had an EPS of $5.16, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.43. The current stock performance of MercadoLibre shows a 52-week-high of $1388.39 and a 52-week-low of $754.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1372.36.

Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Aramark ARMK from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, Aramark showed an EPS of $0.36, compared to $0.25 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.72 and a 52-week-low of $30.75. At the end of the last trading period, Aramark closed at $37.18.

For Vale SA VALE, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. In the second quarter, Vale showed an EPS of $0.20, compared to $1.32 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.31 and a 52-week-low of $11.72. Vale closed at $13.17 at the end of the last trading period.

According to DA Davidson, the prior rating for AppFolio Inc APPF was changed from Neutral to Buy. AppFolio earned $0.23 in the second quarter, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $196.80 and a 52-week-low of $93.04. AppFolio closed at $192.77 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Northland Capital Markets downgraded the previous rating for Allot Ltd ALLT from Outperform to Market Perform. Allot earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.11 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $4.69 and a 52-week-low of $2.08. At the end of the last trading period, Allot closed at $2.51.

For British American Tobacco PLC BTI, Argus Research downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $42.35 and a 52-week-low of $31.62. British American Tobacco closed at $33.20 at the end of the last trading period.

According to B. Riley Securities, the prior rating for Hersha Hospitality Trust HT was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, Hersha Hospitality showed an EPS of $0.38, compared to $0.56 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.56 and a 52-week-low of $5.64. At the end of the last trading period, Hersha Hospitality closed at $9.82.

Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating for Dollar General Corp DG from Outperform to Neutral. For the second quarter, Dollar Gen had an EPS of $2.13, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.98. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $261.57 and a 52-week-low of $128.48. Dollar Gen closed at $138.50 at the end of the last trading period.

For PagerDuty Inc PD, Baird downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. In the second quarter, PagerDuty showed an EPS of $0.20, compared to $0.04 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.33 and a 52-week-low of $19.53. At the end of the last trading period, PagerDuty closed at $25.76.

According to Loop Capital, the prior rating for Dollar General Corp DG was changed from Buy to Hold. For the second quarter, Dollar Gen had an EPS of $2.13, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.98. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $261.57 and a 52-week-low of $128.48. Dollar Gen closed at $138.50 at the end of the last trading period.

For Dollar General Corp DG, Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Strong Buy to Outperform. Dollar Gen earned $2.13 in the second quarter, compared to $2.98 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Dollar Gen shows a 52-week-high of $261.57 and a 52-week-low of $128.48. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $138.50.

According to Roth MKM, the prior rating for Acer Therapeutics Inc ACER was changed from Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, Acer Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.33, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.17. The current stock performance of Acer Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $4.52 and a 52-week-low of $0.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1.28.

For Kanzhun Ltd BZ, UBS downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. Kanzhun earned $0.17 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Kanzhun shows a 52-week-high of $26.26 and a 52-week-low of $9.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.80.

Telsey Advisory Group downgraded the previous rating for Dollar General Corp DG from Outperform to Market Perform. Dollar Gen earned $2.13 in the second quarter, compared to $2.98 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $261.57 and a 52-week-low of $128.48. At the end of the last trading period, Dollar Gen closed at $138.50.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Raymond James initiated coverage on Ferguson PLC FERG with an Outperform rating. The price target for Ferguson is set to $175.00. For the third quarter, Ferguson had an EPS of $2.20, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.50. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $164.00 and a 52-week-low of $99.24. Ferguson closed at $161.56 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Citigroup initiated coverage on Camping World Holdings Inc CWH. The price target seems to have been set at $32.00 for Camping World Holdings. For the second quarter, Camping World Holdings had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.16. The current stock performance of Camping World Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $32.88 and a 52-week-low of $18.69. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $24.73.

Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on Confluent Inc CFLT with a Buy rating. The price target for Confluent is set to $40.00. For the second quarter, Confluent had an EPS of $0.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $41.22 and a 52-week-low of $16.60. Confluent closed at $33.09 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Needham initiated coverage on Veeco Instruments Inc VECO. The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Veeco Instruments. In the second quarter, Veeco Instruments showed an EPS of $0.36, compared to $0.35 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.09 and a 52-week-low of $16.21. At the end of the last trading period, Veeco Instruments closed at $29.19.

With a Neutral rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Inc REFI. The price target seems to have been set at $16.00 for Chicago Atlantic Real. In the second quarter, Chicago Atlantic Real showed an EPS of $0.55, compared to $0.50 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $16.50 and a 52-week-low of $12.91. At the end of the last trading period, Chicago Atlantic Real closed at $15.12.

Berenberg initiated coverage on Ecolab Inc ECL with a Hold rating. The price target for Ecolab is set to $180.00. In the second quarter, Ecolab showed an EPS of $1.24, compared to $1.10 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $191.41 and a 52-week-low of $131.04. Ecolab closed at $183.81 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, BTIG initiated coverage on P3 Health Partners Inc PIII. The price target seems to have been set at $5.00 for P3 Health Partners. In the second quarter, P3 Health Partners showed an EPS of $0.09, compared to $3.73 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of P3 Health Partners shows a 52-week-high of $7.05 and a 52-week-low of $0.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1.98.

With an Outperform rating, Baird initiated coverage on Alamo Group Inc ALG. The price target seems to have been set at $201.00 for Alamo Group. For the second quarter, Alamo Group had an EPS of $3.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.39. The stock has a 52-week-high of $200.81 and a 52-week-low of $119.27. At the end of the last trading period, Alamo Group closed at $171.65.

See all analyst ratings initiations.