Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For August 12, 2020

Upgrades

• According to Sidoti & Co., the prior rating for Spire Inc SR was changed from Neutral to Buy. Spire earned $0.07 in the third quarter, compared to $0.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $88.00 and a 52-week-low of $57.37. At the end of the last trading period, Spire closed at $62.46.
• According to Colliers Securities, the prior rating for Commercial Vehicle Group Inc CVGI was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Commercial Vehicle Group had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.26. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $8.02 and a 52-week-low of $1.24. Commercial Vehicle Group closed at $3.92 at the end of the last trading period.
• BTIG upgraded the previous rating for i3 Verticals Inc IIIV from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, i3 Verticals had an EPS of $0.13, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.20. The stock has a 52-week-high of $37.85 and a 52-week-low of $13.01. At the end of the last trading period, i3 Verticals closed at $28.86.
• For Atlas Technical Consultants Inc ATCX, DA Davidson upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. Atlas Technical earned $0.07 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.14 and a 52-week-low of $5.00. Atlas Technical closed at $8.95 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for PPL Corp PPL was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the second quarter, PPL had an EPS of $0.55, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.58. The current stock performance of PPL shows a 52-week-high of $36.83 and a 52-week-low of $18.12. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.42.
• According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Mesa Air Group Inc MESA was changed from Hold to Buy. Mesa Air Group earned $0.10 in the third quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $9.65 and a 52-week-low of $2.05. At the end of the last trading period, Mesa Air Group closed at $3.71.
• For MercadoLibre Inc MELI, Susquehanna upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Positive. For the second quarter, MercadoLibre had an EPS of $1.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.31. The stock has a 52-week-high of $1270.00 and a 52-week-low of $422.22. At the end of the last trading period, MercadoLibre closed at $1100.01.
• RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating for Johnson Controls International PLC JCI from Sector Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Johnson Controls Intl had an EPS of $0.67, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. The current stock performance of Johnson Controls Intl shows a 52-week-high of $44.82 and a 52-week-low of $22.77. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $40.78.
• Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Seres Therapeutics Inc MCRB from Hold to Buy. Seres Therapeutics earned $0.28 in the second quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.00 and a 52-week-low of $2.52. At the end of the last trading period, Seres Therapeutics closed at $20.04.

Downgrades

According to Craig-Hallum, the prior rating for Motorcar Parts of America Inc MPAA was changed from Buy to Hold. In the first quarter, Motorcar Parts of America showed an EPS of $0.04, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.60 and a 52-week-low of $10.43. At the end of the last trading period, Motorcar Parts of America closed at $18.38.

For Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY, Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Perform. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals earned $1.67 in the second quarter, compared to $1.83 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $167.33 and a 52-week-low of $73.32. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals closed at $136.61 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Sidoti & Co., the prior rating for Powell Industries Inc POWL was changed from Buy to Neutral. Powell Industries earned $0.30 in the third quarter, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Powell Industries shows a 52-week-high of $50.80 and a 52-week-low of $15.62. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.73.

For Q2 Holdings Inc QTWO, Gabelli & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Hold. Q2 Holdings earned $0.07 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Q2 Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $106.44 and a 52-week-low of $47.17. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $93.49.

According to Argus Research, the prior rating for Nucor Corp NUE was changed from Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Nucor showed an EPS of $0.36, compared to $1.31 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $58.70 and a 52-week-low of $27.52. At the end of the last trading period, Nucor closed at $45.41.

Argus Research downgraded the previous rating for Motorola Solutions Inc MSI from Buy to Hold. Motorola Solutions earned $1.39 in the second quarter, compared to $1.69 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $187.49 and a 52-week-low of $120.77. Motorola Solutions closed at $142.97 at the end of the last trading period.

For Two Harbors Investment Corp TWO, Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Market Perform. For the second quarter, Two Harbors Investment had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.39. The stock has a 52-week-high of $15.85 and a 52-week-low of $2.25. At the end of the last trading period, Two Harbors Investment closed at $5.58.

For GTT Communications Inc GTT, Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Underperform. For the first quarter, GTT Communications had an EPS of $1.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of $15.77 and a 52-week-low of $3.94. At the end of the last trading period, GTT Communications closed at $4.96.

According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Pan American Silver Corp PAAS was changed from Buy to Hold. Pan American Silver earned $0.28 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $40.11 and a 52-week-low of $10.61. At the end of the last trading period, Pan American Silver closed at $32.04.

Stephens & Co. downgraded the previous rating for Beacon Roofing Supply Inc BECN from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Beacon Roofing Supply earned $1.01 in the third quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $36.78 and a 52-week-low of $11.66. Beacon Roofing Supply closed at $30.44 at the end of the last trading period.

According to JMP Securities, the prior rating for Pfenex Inc PFNX was changed from Market Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Pfenex showed an EPS of $0.30, compared to $0.24 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Pfenex shows a 52-week-high of $14.00 and a 52-week-low of $5.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.85.

According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for Honeywell International Inc HON was changed from Outperform to Sector Perform. For the second quarter, Honeywell International had an EPS of $1.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.10. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $184.06 and a 52-week-low of $101.08. Honeywell International closed at $160.30 at the end of the last trading period.

For Esperion Therapeutics Inc ESPR, Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, Esperion Therapeutics had an EPS of $4.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.01. The stock has a 52-week-high of $76.98 and a 52-week-low of $24.82. At the end of the last trading period, Esperion Therapeutics closed at $33.48.

According to BTIG, the prior rating for Varian Medical Systems Inc VAR was changed from Buy to Neutral. Varian Medical Systems earned $0.78 in the third quarter, compared to $1.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $176.19 and a 52-week-low of $89.62. At the end of the last trading period, Varian Medical Systems closed at $173.27.

For Consolidated Edison Inc ED, KeyBanc downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Sector Weight. For the second quarter, Consolidated Edison had an EPS of $0.60, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.58. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $95.10 and a 52-week-low of $62.03. Consolidated Edison closed at $73.26 at the end of the last trading period.

Initiations

• JP Morgan initiated coverage on Berkeley Lights Inc BLI with an Overweight rating. The price target for Berkeley Lights is set to $75.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $77.99 and a 52-week-low of $55.85. Berkeley Lights closed at $56.42 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Overweight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Pandion Therapeutics Inc PAND. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Pandion Therapeutics. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.74 and a 52-week-low of $16.67. Pandion Therapeutics closed at $18.85 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Buy, Stifel initiated coverage on Renalytix AI PLC RNLX. The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Renalytix AI. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.00 and a 52-week-low of $14.06. Renalytix AI closed at $15.68 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Overweight, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on ALX Oncology Holdings Inc ALXO. The price target seems to have been set at $64.00 for ALX Oncology Holdings. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.00 and a 52-week-low of $29.06. ALX Oncology Holdings closed at $41.02 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Outperform, SVB Leerink initiated coverage on Pandion Therapeutics Inc PAND. The price target seems to have been set at $24.00 for Pandion Therapeutics. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.74 and a 52-week-low of $16.67. At the end of the last trading period, Pandion Therapeutics closed at $18.85.
• Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Vivint Smart Home Inc VVNT with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Vivint Smart Home is set to $19.00. Vivint Smart Home earned $0.49 in the second quarter. The current stock performance of Vivint Smart Home shows a 52-week-high of $32.00 and a 52-week-low of $8.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.38.
• With a current rating of Outperform, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Twelve Seas Investment Co BROG. The price target seems to have been set at $13.00 for Twelve Seas Investment. In the third quarter, Twelve Seas Investment earned $0.02. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.98 and a 52-week-low of $7.36. At the end of the last trading period, Twelve Seas Investment closed at $9.72.
• Jefferies initiated coverage on Bellerophon Therapeutics Inc BLPH with a Buy rating. The price target for Bellerophon Therapeutics is set to $19.00. For the second quarter, Bellerophon Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.51, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.06. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.00 and a 52-week-low of $0.27. Bellerophon Therapeutics closed at $12.06 at the end of the last trading period.
• Piper Sandler initiated coverage on ALX Oncology Holdings Inc ALXO with an Overweight rating. The price target for ALX Oncology Holdings is set to $55.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.00 and a 52-week-low of $29.06. ALX Oncology Holdings closed at $41.02 at the end of the last trading period.