Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For May 29, 2020

Upgrades

• For Ares Management Corp ARES, BMO Capital upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Outperform. In the first quarter, Ares Management showed an EPS of $0.45, compared to $0.35 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $41.88 and a 52-week-low of $20.20. Ares Management's stock last closed at $36.36 per share.
• For Culp Inc CULP, Stifel upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Culp earned $0.49 in the third quarter, compared to $0.27 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.63 and a 52-week-low of $5.28. Culp's stock last closed at $6.77 per share.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock for Helios Technologies Inc HLIO from Underweight to Equal-Weight. In the first quarter, Helios Technologies showed an EPS of $0.56, compared to $0.63 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $49.49 and a 52-week-low of $29.03. Helios Technologies's stock last closed at $34.94 per share.
• B. Riley FBR changed the rating for CNO Financial Group Inc CNO from Neutral to Buy. In the first quarter, CNO Finl Gr showed an EPS of $0.58, compared to $0.41 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $20.93 and a 52-week-low of $8.79. CNO Finl Gr's stock last closed at $14.59 per share.
• Mizuho upgraded the stock for PPL Corp PPL from Neutral to Buy. In the first quarter, PPL showed an EPS of $0.67, compared to $0.70 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.83 and a 52-week-low of $18.12. PPL's stock last closed at $27.44 per share.
• For Bloomin Brands Inc BLMN, Jefferies upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Bloomin Brands earned $0.14 in the first quarter, compared to $0.75 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.29 and a 52-week-low of $4.54. Bloomin Brands's stock last closed at $11.40 per share.

Downgrades

• Raymond James downgraded the stock for Masco Corp MAS from Strong Buy to Market Perform. In the first quarter, Masco showed an EPS of $0.46, compared to $0.44 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $50.06 and a 52-week-low of $27.04. Masco's stock last closed at $46.82 per share.
• BMO Capital changed the rating for Nexa Resources SA NEXA from Market Perform to Underperform. Nexa Resources earned ($1.43) in the first quarter, compared to ($0.11) in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.98 and a 52-week-low of $2.56. Nexa Resources's stock last closed at $4.07 per share.
• JP Morgan downgraded the stock for DXC Technology Co DXC from Overweight to Neutral. DXC Technology earned $1.20 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.19 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $57.23 and a 52-week-low of $7.90. DXC Technology's stock last closed at $16.50 per share.

Initiations

• With a rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on Fulgent Genetics Inc FLGT. The price target is set at $20.00 for Fulgent Genetics. For the first quarter, Fulgent Genetics had an EPS of ($0.03), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of ($0.06). The stock has a 52-week-high of $20.60 and a 52-week-low of $5.25. Fulgent Genetics's stock last closed at $16.06 per share.
• SunTrust Robinson Humphrey initiated coverage on MEI Pharma Inc MEIP with a Buy rating. The price target for MEI Pharma is set at $16.00. In the third quarter, MEI Pharma showed an EPS of ($0.11), compared to ($0.17) from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $3.77 and a 52-week-low of $0.72. MEI Pharma's stock last closed at $3.30 per share.
• With a rating of Neutral, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Reinsurance Group of America Inc RGA. The price target is set at $102.00 for Reinsurance Group. For the first quarter, Reinsurance Group had an EPS of $1.41, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.61. The stock has a 52-week-high of $169.26 and a 52-week-low of $55.39. Reinsurance Group's stock last closed at $92.91 per share.
• With a rating of Outperform, Baird initiated coverage on Republic Services Inc RSG. The price target is set at $90.00 for Republic Services. For the first quarter, Republic Services had an EPS of $0.77, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.73. The stock has a 52-week-high of $100.91 and a 52-week-low of $65.37. Republic Services's stock last closed at $84.89 per share.
• Daiwa Capital initiated coverage on Tesla Inc TSLA with an Outperform rating. The price target for Tesla is set at $910.00. In the first quarter, Tesla showed an EPS of $1.14, compared to ($2.90) from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $968.99 and a 52-week-low of $176.99. Tesla's stock last closed at $805.81 per share.
• With a rating of Outperform, Baird initiated coverage on Waste Management Inc WM. The price target is set at $115.00 for Waste Management. In the first quarter, Waste Management showed an EPS of $0.93, compared to $0.94 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $126.79 and a 52-week-low of $85.34. Waste Management's stock last closed at $106.55 per share.
• Needham initiated coverage on ACI Worldwide Inc ACIW with a Buy rating. The price target for ACI Worldwide is set at $32.00. For the first quarter, ACI Worldwide had an EPS of ($0.21), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of ($0.22). The stock has a 52-week-high of $39.37 and a 52-week-low of $20.03. ACI Worldwide's stock last closed at $26.51 per share.
• DA Davidson initiated coverage on Wells Fargo & Co WFC with a Neutral rating. The price target for Wells Fargo is set at $27.00. Wells Fargo earned $0.80 in the first quarter, compared to $1.20 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.75 and a 52-week-low of $22.00. Wells Fargo's stock last closed at $27.22 per share.