Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For September 14, 2023

Upgrades

According to OTR Global, the prior rating for Align Technology Inc ALGN was changed from Mixed to Positive. For the second quarter, Align Tech had an EPS of $2.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.00. The current stock performance of Align Tech shows a 52-week-high of $413.20 and a 52-week-low of $172.29. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $322.41.

Colliers Securities upgraded the previous rating for AvalonBay Communities Inc AVB from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, AvalonBay Communities showed an EPS of $2.66, compared to $2.43 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $211.60 and a 52-week-low of $153.07. AvalonBay Communities closed at $180.00 at the end of the last trading period.

For National Fuel Gas Co NFG, Scotiabank upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to Sector Outperform. For the third quarter, National Fuel Gas had an EPS of $1.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.54. The stock has a 52-week-high of $72.10 and a 52-week-low of $48.89. At the end of the last trading period, National Fuel Gas closed at $52.86.

For Oracle Corp ORCL, DZ Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the first quarter, Oracle had an EPS of $1.19, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.03. The current stock performance of Oracle shows a 52-week-high of $127.54 and a 52-week-low of $60.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $111.84.

For First Bancorp FBNC, DA Davidson upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. First Bancorp earned $0.71 in the second quarter, compared to $1.03 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of First Bancorp shows a 52-week-high of $48.93 and a 52-week-low of $26.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.67.

For Semtech Corp SMTC, Summit Insights Group upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Semtech had an EPS of $0.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.87. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. At the end of the last trading period, Semtech closed at $22.87.

Susquehanna upgraded the previous rating for Semtech Corp SMTC from Neutral to Positive. In the second quarter, Semtech showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Semtech shows a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $22.87.

For Virtu Financial Inc VIRT, Citigroup upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Virtu Finl had an EPS of $0.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.73. The current stock performance of Virtu Finl shows a 52-week-high of $23.73 and a 52-week-low of $16.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.89.

According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for Etsy Inc ETSY was changed from Peer Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Etsy showed an EPS of $0.93, compared to $0.51 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $149.91 and a 52-week-low of $63.51. At the end of the last trading period, Etsy closed at $64.56.

For Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd NCLH, Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Norwegian Cruise Line showed an EPS of $0.30, compared to $1.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Norwegian Cruise Line shows a 52-week-high of $22.75 and a 52-week-low of $10.84. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.35.

Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating for Carnival Corp CCL from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Carnival had an EPS of $0.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.64. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.55 and a 52-week-low of $6.12. At the end of the last trading period, Carnival closed at $15.02.

For First Solar Inc FSLR, BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, First Solar showed an EPS of $1.89, compared to $0.52 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $232.00 and a 52-week-low of $115.66. First Solar closed at $170.50 at the end of the last trading period.

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Prudential Financial Inc PRU from Underperform to Hold. Prudential Financial earned $2.94 in the second quarter, compared to $1.74 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Prudential Financial shows a 52-week-high of $110.95 and a 52-week-low of $75.37. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $96.58.

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for MetLife Inc MET from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, MetLife had an EPS of $1.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $77.34 and a 52-week-low of $48.95. MetLife closed at $63.79 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Maxim Group downgraded the previous rating for NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd NLSP from Buy to Hold. NoneThe current stock performance of NLS Pharmaceutics shows a 52-week-high of $1.88 and a 52-week-low of $0.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.82.

For Semtech Corp SMTC, Benchmark downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Semtech showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. At the end of the last trading period, Semtech closed at $22.87.

For RTX Corp RTX, DZ Bank downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. RTX earned $1.29 in the second quarter, compared to $1.16 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of RTX shows a 52-week-high of $108.84 and a 52-week-low of $73.66. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $75.56.

According to MoffettNathanson, the prior rating for CS Disco Inc LAW was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, CS Disco showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.23 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $13.28 and a 52-week-low of $5.27. CS Disco closed at $7.75 at the end of the last trading period.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for JM Smucker Co SJM was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the first quarter, JM Smucker showed an EPS of $2.21, compared to $1.67 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of JM Smucker shows a 52-week-high of $163.07 and a 52-week-low of $128.36. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $128.41.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Digital Turbine Inc APPS was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the first quarter, Digital Turbine showed an EPS of $0.18, compared to $0.38 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Digital Turbine shows a 52-week-high of $20.40 and a 52-week-low of $6.88. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.94.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for RTX Corp RTX was changed from Neutral to Underperform. RTX earned $1.29 in the second quarter, compared to $1.16 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $108.84 and a 52-week-low of $73.66. At the end of the last trading period, RTX closed at $75.56.

For Carrier Global Corp CARR, Mizuho downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, Carrier Global had an EPS of $0.79, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.70. The stock has a 52-week-high of $60.04 and a 52-week-low of $33.11. At the end of the last trading period, Carrier Global closed at $55.24.

RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for IBEX Ltd IBEX from Outperform to Sector Perform. For the fourth quarter, IBEX had an EPS of $0.33, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.42. The current stock performance of IBEX shows a 52-week-high of $31.39 and a 52-week-low of $15.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $18.15.

According to Redburn Partners, the prior rating for MSCI Inc MSCI was changed from Buy to Neutral. MSCI earned $3.26 in the second quarter, compared to $2.78 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $572.50 and a 52-week-low of $385.00. MSCI closed at $535.25 at the end of the last trading period.

For Hostess Brands Inc TWNK, Jefferies downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Hostess Brands showed an EPS of $0.28, compared to $0.22 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.74 and a 52-week-low of $21.59. At the end of the last trading period, Hostess Brands closed at $33.50.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Arco Platform Ltd ARCE from Overweight to Neutral. Arco Platform earned $0.24 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.22 and a 52-week-low of $7.85. Arco Platform closed at $13.77 at the end of the last trading period.

For Frontier Group Holdings Inc ULCC, TD Cowen downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Frontier Group Holdings showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Frontier Group Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $14.34 and a 52-week-low of $5.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.59.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Maxim Group initiated coverage on Contango Ore Inc CTGO with a Buy rating. The price target for Contango Ore is set to $36.00. In the fourth quarter, Contango Ore showed an EPS of $1.38, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $33.67 and a 52-week-low of $17.01. Contango Ore closed at $17.85 at the end of the last trading period.

Argus Research initiated coverage on Verisk Analytics Inc VRSK with a Buy rating. The price target for Verisk Analytics is set to $288.00. Verisk Analytics earned $1.51 in the second quarter, compared to $1.53 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $247.14 and a 52-week-low of $163.02. At the end of the last trading period, Verisk Analytics closed at $245.56.

Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on Fortrea Holdings Inc FTRE with an In-Line rating. The price target for Fortrea Holdings is set to $31.00. For the second quarter, Fortrea Holdings had an EPS of $0.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.97. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $37.30 and a 52-week-low of $24.93. Fortrea Holdings closed at $28.82 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Outperform rating, TD Cowen initiated coverage on BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc BJ. The price target seems to have been set at $80.00 for BJ's Wholesale Club. BJ's Wholesale Club earned $0.97 in the second quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $80.31 and a 52-week-low of $60.33. BJ's Wholesale Club closed at $67.46 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Roth MKM initiated coverage on Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp DFLI. The price target seems to have been set at $4.00 for Dragonfly Energy Hldgs. Dragonfly Energy Hldgs earned $0.25 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.02 and a 52-week-low of $1.38. At the end of the last trading period, Dragonfly Energy Hldgs closed at $1.68.

Berenberg initiated coverage on RAPT Therapeutics Inc RAPT with a Buy rating. The price target for RAPT Therapeutics is set to $34.00. For the second quarter, RAPT Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.66, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.62. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.45 and a 52-week-low of $15.66. At the end of the last trading period, RAPT Therapeutics closed at $19.14.

With a Neutral rating, DA Davidson initiated coverage on Herbalife Ltd HLF. The price target seems to have been set at $13.50 for Herbalife. In the second quarter, Herbalife showed an EPS of $0.74, compared to $0.96 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $25.03 and a 52-week-low of $11.14. Herbalife closed at $14.59 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Moody's Corporation MCO. The price target seems to have been set at $390.00 for Moody's. In the second quarter, Moody's showed an EPS of $2.30, compared to $2.22 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Moody's shows a 52-week-high of $363.19 and a 52-week-low of $230.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $343.20.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on First Advantage Corp FA. The price target seems to have been set at $17.00 for First Advantage. First Advantage earned $0.24 in the second quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.89 and a 52-week-low of $10.08. First Advantage closed at $13.61 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings initiations.