Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For October 8, 2020

Upgrades

Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Paychex Inc PAYX from Neutral to Buy. In the first quarter, Paychex showed an EPS of $0.63, compared to $0.71 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 90.535 and a 52-week-low of 47.8727. Paychex closed at $80.52 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for M.D.C. Holdings Inc MDC from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, M.D.C. Holdings had an EPS of $1.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.86. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 49.93 and a 52-week-low of 15.75. M.D.C. Holdings closed at $48.21 at the end of the last trading period.
RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating for Dana Inc DAN from Sector Perform to Outperform. Dana earned $0.69 in the second quarter, compared to $0.87 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 19.21 and a 52-week-low of 4.22. At the end of the last trading period, Dana closed at $14.52.
For Ball Corp BLL, BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Outperform. Ball earned $0.65 in the second quarter, compared to $0.64 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ball shows a 52-week-high of 86.87 and a 52-week-low of 51.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $86.57.
According to Stifel, the prior rating for Medtronic PLC MDT was changed from Hold to Buy. In the first quarter, Medtronic showed an EPS of $0.62, compared to $1.26 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Medtronic shows a 52-week-high of 122.1477 and a 52-week-low of 72.13. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $105.68.
For Martin Marietta Materials Inc MLM, Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. For the second quarter, Martin Marietta Materials had an EPS of $3.49, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.20. The current stock performance of Martin Marietta Materials shows a 52-week-high of 281.82 and a 52-week-low of 135.08. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $264.87.
According to New Street, the prior rating for Tesla Inc TSLA was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Tesla had an EPS of $2.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.12. The current stock performance of Tesla shows a 52-week-high of 502.49 and a 52-week-low of 45.71. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $425.30.
According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Vulcan Materials Co VMC was changed from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Vulcan Materials had an EPS of $1.60, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.48. The current stock performance of Vulcan Materials shows a 52-week-high of 150.22 and a 52-week-low of 65.56. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $146.56.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Arista Networks Inc ANET from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Arista Networks had an EPS of $2.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.44. The stock has a 52-week-high of 267.3 and a 52-week-low of 156.63. At the end of the last trading period, Arista Networks closed at $212.03.

Downgrades

For Meritage Homes Corp MTH, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. Meritage Homes earned $2.38 in the second quarter, compared to $1.31 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 117.06 and a 52-week-low of 25.24. At the end of the last trading period, Meritage Homes closed at $109.24.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Glaukos Corp GKOS from Neutral to Underweight. In the second quarter, Glaukos showed an EPS of $0.61, compared to $0.17 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 70.96 and a 52-week-low of 23.31. At the end of the last trading period, Glaukos closed at $52.57.
According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corp IART was changed from Neutral to Underweight. For the second quarter, Integra Lifesciences had an EPS of $0.33, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.73. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 63.23 and a 52-week-low of 34.21. Integra Lifesciences closed at $51.88 at the end of the last trading period.
For NeoPhotonics Corp NPTN, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. NeoPhotonics earned $0.16 in the second quarter, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 10.34 and a 52-week-low of 4.6546. At the end of the last trading period, NeoPhotonics closed at $6.62.
For TransMedics Group Inc TMDX, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, TransMedics Group had an EPS of $0.36, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.44. The stock has a 52-week-high of 20.99 and a 52-week-low of 10.1. At the end of the last trading period, TransMedics Group closed at $14.16.
Itau BBA downgraded the previous rating for Vale SA VALE from Outperform to Market Perform. For the second quarter, Vale had an EPS of $0.19, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.34. The current stock performance of Vale shows a 52-week-high of 13.67 and a 52-week-low of 6.49. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.75.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Intersect ENT Inc XENT from Overweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, Intersect ENT had an EPS of $0.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.36. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 31.46 and a 52-week-low of 5.97. Intersect ENT closed at $18.01 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for National Instruments Corp NATI from Neutral to Underweight. In the second quarter, National Instruments showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.22 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 47.89 and a 52-week-low of 20.42. National Instruments closed at $36.42 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for Jones Lang LaSalle Inc JLL was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. Jones Lang LaSalle earned $0.71 in the second quarter, compared to $2.94 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 178.55 and a 52-week-low of 78.29. At the end of the last trading period, Jones Lang LaSalle closed at $105.58.
For Citigroup Inc C, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. Citigroup earned $0.50 in the second quarter, compared to $1.95 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 83.11 and a 52-week-low of 32.0. Citigroup closed at $44.84 at the end of the last trading period.

Initiations

Truist Securities initiated coverage on Arcutis Biotherapeutics Inc ARQT with a Buy rating. The price target for Arcutis Biotherapeutics is set to $38.00. For the second quarter, Arcutis Biotherapeutics had an EPS of $0.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $4.69. The stock has a 52-week-high of 40.88 and a 52-week-low of 17.1. At the end of the last trading period, Arcutis Biotherapeutics closed at $24.38.
Berenberg initiated coverage on Unity Software Inc U with a Buy rating. The price target for Unity Software is set to $105.00. The current stock performance of Unity Software shows a 52-week-high of 102.63 and a 52-week-low of 65.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $88.57.
Stifel initiated coverage on Immunovant Inc IMVT with a Buy rating. The price target for Immunovant is set to $46.00. Interestingly, in the first quarter, Immunovant's EPS was $0.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 41.0 and a 52-week-low of 8.34. Immunovant closed at $38.80 at the end of the last trading period.
Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on DraftKings Inc DKNG with a Market Perform rating. The price target for DraftKings is set to $55.00. In the second quarter, DraftKings showed an EPS of $0.55, compared to $0.15 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of DraftKings shows a 52-week-high of 64.19 and a 52-week-low of 18.0. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $53.33.
With a current rating of Underperform, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Cross Country Healthcare Inc CCRN. The price target seems to have been set at $7.50 for Cross Country Healthcare. Cross Country Healthcare earned $0.16 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 13.42 and a 52-week-low of 4.5. Cross Country Healthcare closed at $6.70 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Buy, B of A Securities initiated coverage on AMN Healthcare Services Inc AMN. The price target seems to have been set at $70.00 for AMN Healthcare Services. AMN Healthcare Services earned $0.83 in the second quarter, compared to $0.77 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 89.22 and a 52-week-low of 36.65. At the end of the last trading period, AMN Healthcare Services closed at $60.41.
With a current rating of Buy, DA Davidson initiated coverage on Franchise Group Inc FRG. The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Franchise Group. Interestingly, in the second quarter, Franchise Group's EPS was $0.53. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 28.61 and a 52-week-low of 5.75. Franchise Group closed at $27.45 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Outperform, Baird initiated coverage on ITeos Therapeutics Inc ITOS. The price target seems to have been set at $45.00 for ITeos Therapeutics. In the second quarter, ITeos Therapeutics showed an EPS of $29.49, compared to $36.49 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of ITeos Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of 34.33 and a 52-week-low of 17.5. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.96.
For Pinnacle West Capital Corp PNW, Mizuho initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Neutral. For the second quarter, Pinnacle West Capital had an EPS of $1.71, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.28. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 105.51 and a 52-week-low of 60.05. Pinnacle West Capital closed at $82.97 at the end of the last trading period.
Atlantic Equities initiated coverage on Snowflake Inc SNOW with an Underweight rating. The price target for Snowflake is set to $214.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 278.26 and a 52-week-low of 208.55. Snowflake closed at $245.99 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Overweight, Barclays initiated coverage on Sprout Social Inc SPT. The price target seems to have been set at $56.00 for Sprout Social. Sprout Social earned $0.11 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 44.89 and a 52-week-low of 10.54. Sprout Social closed at $44.42 at the end of the last trading period.
Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Utz Brands Inc UTZ with an Outperform rating. The price target for Utz Brands is set to $21.00. The current stock performance of Utz Brands shows a 52-week-high of 19.16 and a 52-week-low of 15.98. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $18.09.
With a current rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on Personalis Inc PSNL. The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Personalis. In the second quarter, Personalis showed an EPS of $0.29, compared to $0.89 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Personalis shows a 52-week-high of 29.15 and a 52-week-low of 4.27. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.90.
With a current rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on Natera Inc NTRA. The price target seems to have been set at $90.00 for Natera. In the second quarter, Natera showed an EPS of $0.75, compared to $0.48 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 74.47 and a 52-week-low of 16.87. Natera closed at $72.56 at the end of the last trading period.
BTIG initiated coverage on T2 Biosystems Inc TTOO with a Buy rating. The price target for T2 Biosystems is set to $2.50. In the second quarter, T2 Biosystems showed an EPS of $0.09, compared to $0.35 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 3.15 and a 52-week-low of 0.235. At the end of the last trading period, T2 Biosystems closed at $1.30.
BTIG initiated coverage on Accelerate Diagnostics Inc AXDX with a Neutral rating. For the second quarter, Accelerate Diagnostics had an EPS of $0.35, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. The stock has a 52-week-high of 19.11 and a 52-week-low of 4.53. At the end of the last trading period, Accelerate Diagnostics closed at $11.19.
Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Signature Bank SBNY with an Overweight rating. The price target for Signature Bank is set to $120.00. Signature Bank earned $2.21 in the second quarter, compared to $2.72 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 148.64 and a 52-week-low of 68.98. Signature Bank closed at $86.05 at the end of the last trading period.
With a current rating of Overweight, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Cardiff Oncology Inc CRDF. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Cardiff Oncology. Cardiff Oncology earned $0.51 in the second quarter, compared to $0.76 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 16.0 and a 52-week-low of 0.825. Cardiff Oncology closed at $13.51 at the end of the last trading period.