Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For September 15, 2023

Upgrades

For Emerson Electric Co EMR, Vertical Research upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, Emerson Electric showed an EPS of $1.29, compared to $1.38 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Emerson Electric shows a 52-week-high of $100.62 and a 52-week-low of $72.42. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $98.60.

For Shake Shack Inc SHAK, Northcoast Research upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Shake Shack had an EPS of $0.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $80.58 and a 52-week-low of $40.83. At the end of the last trading period, Shake Shack closed at $62.07.

B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Axis Capital Holdings Ltd AXS from Underperform to Buy. In the second quarter, Axis Capital Holdings showed an EPS of $2.23, compared to $1.74 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Axis Capital Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $63.99 and a 52-week-low of $48.46. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $55.66.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Unity Software Inc U was changed from Neutral to Buy. Unity Software earned $0.51 in the second quarter, compared to $0.18 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Unity Software shows a 52-week-high of $50.08 and a 52-week-low of $21.23. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $35.71.

Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for Cousins Properties Inc CUZ from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Cousins Props showed an EPS of $0.68, compared to $0.70 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.66 and a 52-week-low of $18.05. At the end of the last trading period, Cousins Props closed at $22.59.

According to New Street Research, the prior rating for PagSeguro Digital Ltd PAGS was changed from Neutral to Buy. PagSeguro Digital 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 $16.55 and a 52-week-low of $7.51. PagSeguro Digital closed at $9.14 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for KeyCorp KEY was changed from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, KeyCorp had an EPS of $0.27, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.54. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $20.30 and a 52-week-low of $8.54. KeyCorp closed at $11.65 at the end of the last trading period.

Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating for Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc APLS from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, Apellis Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $1.02, compared to $1.46 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $94.75 and a 52-week-low of $19.83. At the end of the last trading period, Apellis Pharmaceuticals closed at $43.31.

According to Redburn Atlantic, the prior rating for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc EL was changed from Sell to Neutral. Estee Lauder Cos earned $0.07 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.42 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Estee Lauder Cos shows a 52-week-high of $283.62 and a 52-week-low of $147.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $154.24.

According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Keysight Technologies Inc KEYS was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Keysight Techs earned $2.19 in the third quarter, compared to $2.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $189.38 and a 52-week-low of $125.89. Keysight Techs closed at $133.12 at the end of the last trading period.

Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating for MorphoSys AG MOR from Sell to Neutral. For the second quarter, MorphoSys had an EPS of $0.59, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.83. The stock has a 52-week-high of $8.67 and a 52-week-low of $3.19. At the end of the last trading period, MorphoSys closed at $7.98.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for PTC Therapeutics Inc PTCT from Outperform to Underperform. In the second quarter, PTC Therapeutics showed an EPS of $1.48, compared to $2.13 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PTC Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $59.84 and a 52-week-low of $33.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.39.

For DoorDash Inc DASH, MoffettNathanson downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. For the second quarter, DoorDash had an EPS of $0.44, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.72. The current stock performance of DoorDash shows a 52-week-high of $92.61 and a 52-week-low of $41.40. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $82.98.

Benchmark downgraded the previous rating for Staar Surgical Co STAA from Buy to Hold. Staar Surgical earned $0.40 in the second quarter, compared to $0.42 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Staar Surgical shows a 52-week-high of $96.43 and a 52-week-low of $40.50. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $42.87.

For Vornado Realty Trust VNO, Truist Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. For the second quarter, Vornado Realty had an EPS of $0.72, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.83. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.93 and a 52-week-low of $12.31. Vornado Realty closed at $25.24 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Truist Financial Corp TFC was changed from Overweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, Truist Finl had an EPS of $0.95, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.20. The current stock performance of Truist Finl shows a 52-week-high of $53.34 and a 52-week-low of $25.56. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $29.42.

According to Stifel, the prior rating for Lindsay Corp LNN was changed from Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Lindsay had an EPS of $1.53, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.28. The stock has a 52-week-high of $182.80 and a 52-week-low of $110.43. At the end of the last trading period, Lindsay closed at $127.83.

For New Relic Inc NEWR, DA Davidson downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. For the first quarter, New Relic had an EPS of $0.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.26. The current stock performance of New Relic shows a 52-week-high of $86.00 and a 52-week-low of $50.24. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $85.40.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

For Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc REGN, WestPark Capital initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. For the second quarter, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $10.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $9.77. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $847.50 and a 52-week-low of $668.00. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals closed at $832.38 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Axcelis Technologies Inc ACLS. The price target seems to have been set at $225.00 for Axcelis Technologies. Axcelis Technologies earned $1.86 in the second quarter, compared to $1.32 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Axcelis Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $201.00 and a 52-week-low of $49.79. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $178.88.

BTIG initiated coverage on Cipher Mining Inc CIFR with a Buy rating. The price target for Cipher Mining is set to $6.00. For the second quarter, Cipher Mining had an EPS of $0.04, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $5.29 and a 52-week-low of $0.38. Cipher Mining closed at $2.82 at the end of the last trading period.

For Expensify Inc EXFY, JP Morgan initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Underweight. For the second quarter, Expensify had an EPS of $0.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.27 and a 52-week-low of $3.78. At the end of the last trading period, Expensify closed at $3.81.

With a Hold rating, Loop Capital initiated coverage on Cava Group Inc CAVA. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Cava Group. In the second quarter, Cava Group showed an EPS of $0.21, compared to $6.23 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $58.10 and a 52-week-low of $34.88. At the end of the last trading period, Cava Group closed at $36.06.

UBS initiated coverage on Korn Ferry KFY with a Neutral rating. The price target for Korn Ferry is set to $53.00. In the first quarter, Korn Ferry showed an EPS of $0.99, compared to $1.50 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Korn Ferry shows a 52-week-high of $59.91 and a 52-week-low of $44.69. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $48.01.

With a Hold rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Jacobs Solutions Inc J. The price target seems to have been set at $149.00 for Jacobs Solutions. Jacobs Solutions earned $1.82 in the third quarter, compared to $1.86 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $137.61 and a 52-week-low of $107.15. At the end of the last trading period, Jacobs Solutions closed at $134.00.

With a Hold rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Fastenal Co FAST. The price target seems to have been set at $59.00 for Fastenal. For the second quarter, Fastenal had an EPS of $0.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.50. The current stock performance of Fastenal shows a 52-week-high of $59.43 and a 52-week-low of $43.74. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $54.82.

HSBC initiated coverage on Bunge Ltd BG with a Hold rating. The price target for Bunge is set to $122.00. In the second quarter, Bunge showed an EPS of $3.72, compared to $2.97 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Bunge shows a 52-week-high of $116.59 and a 52-week-low of $80.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $115.30.

HSBC initiated coverage on 3M Co MMM with a Hold rating. The price target for 3M is set to $109.00. 3M earned $2.17 in the second quarter, compared to $2.48 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of 3M shows a 52-week-high of $133.89 and a 52-week-low of $92.38. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $102.32.

HSBC initiated coverage on Martin Marietta Materials Inc MLM with a Reduce rating. The price target for Martin Marietta Materials is set to $376.00. In the second quarter, Martin Marietta Materials showed an EPS of $5.60, compared to $3.96 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $463.41 and a 52-week-low of $298.40. At the end of the last trading period, Martin Marietta Materials closed at $435.80.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Waste Management Inc WM. The price target seems to have been set at $192.00 for Waste Management. For the second quarter, Waste Management had an EPS of $1.51, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.44. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $173.72 and a 52-week-low of $148.31. Waste Management closed at $160.35 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Trane Technologies PLC TT. The price target seems to have been set at $256.00 for Trane Technologies. Trane Technologies earned $2.68 in the second quarter, compared to $2.16 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $211.58 and a 52-week-low of $139.19. Trane Technologies closed at $202.05 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Deere & Co DE. The price target seems to have been set at $486.00 for Deere. For the third quarter, Deere had an EPS of $10.20, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $6.16. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $450.00 and a 52-week-low of $328.77. Deere closed at $411.68 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Zoom Video Communications Inc ZM. The price target seems to have been set at $83.00 for Zoom Video Comms. For the second quarter, Zoom Video Comms had an EPS of $1.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.05. The stock has a 52-week-high of $89.67 and a 52-week-low of $60.45. At the end of the last trading period, Zoom Video Comms closed at $71.57.

With a Hold rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Twilio Inc TWLO. The price target seems to have been set at $67.00 for Twilio. Twilio earned $0.54 in the second quarter, compared to $0.11 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Twilio shows a 52-week-high of $81.17 and a 52-week-low of $41.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $64.62.

HSBC initiated coverage on Snowflake Inc SNOW with a Buy rating. The price target for Snowflake is set to $201.00. For the second quarter, Snowflake had an EPS of $0.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.01. The stock has a 52-week-high of $203.58 and a 52-week-low of $119.27. At the end of the last trading period, Snowflake closed at $162.98.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on ServiceNow Inc NOW. The price target seems to have been set at $704.00 for ServiceNow. For the second quarter, ServiceNow had an EPS of $2.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.62. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $614.36 and a 52-week-low of $337.05. ServiceNow closed at $590.11 at the end of the last trading period.

HSBC initiated coverage on Salesforce Inc CRM with a Buy rating. The price target for Salesforce is set to $267.00. In the second quarter, Salesforce showed an EPS of $2.12, compared to $1.19 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Salesforce shows a 52-week-high of $238.22 and a 52-week-low of $126.35. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $218.78.

HSBC initiated coverage on Palantir Technologies Inc PLTR with a Hold rating. The price target for Palantir Technologies is set to $16.00. In the second quarter, Palantir Technologies showed an EPS of $0.05, compared to $0.01 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $20.24 and a 52-week-low of $5.84. At the end of the last trading period, Palantir Technologies closed at $15.83.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Oracle Corp ORCL. The price target seems to have been set at $144.00 for Oracle. Oracle earned $1.19 in the first quarter, compared to $1.03 in the year-ago quarter. 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 $113.66.

HSBC initiated coverage on Microsoft Corp MSFT with a Hold rating. The price target for Microsoft is set to $347.00. Microsoft earned $2.69 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.23 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Microsoft shows a 52-week-high of $366.78 and a 52-week-low of $213.46. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $338.70.

With a Reduce rating, HSBC initiated coverage on DocuSign Inc DOCU. The price target seems to have been set at $42.00 for DocuSign. For the second quarter, DocuSign had an EPS of $0.72, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.44. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $69.45 and a 52-week-low of $39.59. DocuSign closed at $44.95 at the end of the last trading period.

HSBC initiated coverage on CrowdStrike Holdings Inc CRWD with a Buy rating. The price target for CrowdStrike Holdings is set to $200.00. For the second quarter, CrowdStrike Holdings had an EPS of $0.74, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.36. The stock has a 52-week-high of $185.47 and a 52-week-low of $92.25. At the end of the last trading period, CrowdStrike Holdings closed at $170.73.

With a Buy rating, UBS initiated coverage on TKO Group Holdings Inc TKO. The price target seems to have been set at $123.00 for TKO Group Holdings. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $104.50 and a 52-week-low of $100.00. TKO Group Holdings closed at $100.76 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Neutral rating, UBS initiated coverage on Cars.com Inc CARS. The price target seems to have been set at $20.00 for Cars.com. For the second quarter, Cars.com had an EPS of $1.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $22.84 and a 52-week-low of $10.56. Cars.com closed at $18.58 at the end of the last trading period.

UBS initiated coverage on CarGurus Inc CARG with a Neutral rating. The price target for CarGurus is set to $21.00. CarGurus earned $0.29 in the second quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.22 and a 52-week-low of $9.28. At the end of the last trading period, CarGurus closed at $18.29.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Casella Waste Systems Inc CWST with a Buy rating. The price target for Casella Waste Sys is set to $100.00. Casella Waste Sys earned $0.36 in the second quarter, compared to $0.36 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $95.78 and a 52-week-low of $70.23. Casella Waste Sys closed at $82.03 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Sell rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on OPAL Fuels Inc OPAL. The price target seems to have been set at $5.80 for OPAL Fuels. OPAL Fuels earned $0.12 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $10.64 and a 52-week-low of $5.25. OPAL Fuels closed at $6.62 at the end of the last trading period.

For ARM Holdings PLC ARM, Needham initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. The current stock performance of ARM Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $66.28 and a 52-week-low of $55.54. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $63.59.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on KLA Corp KLAC. The price target seems to have been set at $600.00 for KLA. In the fourth quarter, KLA showed an EPS of $5.40, compared to $5.81 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of KLA shows a 52-week-high of $520.19 and a 52-week-low of $250.74. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $479.90.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Applied Materials Inc AMAT. The price target seems to have been set at $185.00 for Applied Mat. Applied Mat earned $1.90 in the third quarter, compared to $1.94 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $155.26 and a 52-week-low of $71.18. At the end of the last trading period, Applied Mat closed at $144.57.

Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Lam Research Corp LRCX with an Outperform rating. The price target for Lam Research is set to $825.00. In the fourth quarter, Lam Research showed an EPS of $5.98, compared to $8.83 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $726.52 and a 52-week-low of $299.63. At the end of the last trading period, Lam Research closed at $656.43.

TD Cowen initiated coverage on Celsius Holdings Inc CELH with an Outperform rating. The price target for Celsius Holdings is set to $250.00. Celsius Holdings earned $0.52 in the second quarter, compared to $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Celsius Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $206.85 and a 52-week-low of $78.27. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $201.94.

See all analyst ratings initiations.