Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For November 30, 2020

Upgrades

• B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Ventas Inc VTR from Underperform to Buy. For the third quarter, Ventas had an EPS of $0.75, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.96. The stock has a 52-week-high of 63.38 and a 52-week-low of 13.345. At the end of the last trading period, Ventas closed at $47.92.
• According to Guggenheim, the prior rating for Nuance Communications Inc NUAN was changed from Neutral to Buy. Nuance Communications earned $0.18 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.33 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 43.17 and a 52-week-low of 13.51. At the end of the last trading period, Nuance Communications closed at $42.72.
• Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for Proofpoint Inc PFPT from Hold to Buy. For the third quarter, Proofpoint had an EPS of $0.59, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.49. The current stock performance of Proofpoint shows a 52-week-high of 133.0 and a 52-week-low of 83.81. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $101.44.
• Raymond James upgraded the previous rating for United Airlines Holdings Inc UAL from Market Perform to Outperform. United Airlines Holdings earned $8.16 in the third quarter, compared to $4.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 93.67 and a 52-week-low of 17.8. At the end of the last trading period, United Airlines Holdings closed at $45.30.
• Loop Capital upgraded the previous rating for Apple Inc AAPL from Hold to Buy. Apple earned $0.73 in the fourth quarter, compared to $3.03 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 137.98 and a 52-week-low of 53.1525. Apple closed at $116.59 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Wells Fargo & Co WFC, RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating Sector Perform. In the third quarter, Wells Fargo showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Wells Fargo shows a 52-week-high of 54.75 and a 52-week-low of 20.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.46.
• According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Wells Fargo & Co WFC was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the third quarter, Wells Fargo showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 54.75 and a 52-week-low of 20.76. At the end of the last trading period, Wells Fargo closed at $28.46.
• For U.S. Bancorp USB, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, U.S. Bancorp had an EPS of $0.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of 61.11 and a 52-week-low of 28.36. At the end of the last trading period, U.S. Bancorp closed at $44.20.
• For Synchrony Financial SYF, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Overweight. Synchrony Finl earned $0.63 in the third quarter, compared to $1.22 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 38.18 and a 52-week-low of 12.15. Synchrony Finl closed at $31.09 at the end of the last trading period.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for State Street Corporation STT from Underweight to Overweight. In the third quarter, State Street showed an EPS of $1.45, compared to $1.51 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of State Street shows a 52-week-high of 85.89 and a 52-week-low of 42.1. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $71.71.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Capital One Financial Corp COF from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Capital One Financial had an EPS of $5.06, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 107.59 and a 52-week-low of 38.0. Capital One Financial closed at $87.76 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to BBVA, the prior rating for Cemex SAB de CV CX was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Cemex had an EPS of $0.98, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.11. The current stock performance of Cemex shows a 52-week-high of 4.91 and a 52-week-low of 1.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.68.
• For Bank of New York Mellon Corp BK, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, Bank of New York Mellon had an EPS of $0.98, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.07. The stock has a 52-week-high of 51.6 and a 52-week-low of 26.4. At the end of the last trading period, Bank of New York Mellon closed at $39.97.
• For Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc VRTX, RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to the current rating Outperform. In the third quarter, Vertex Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $2.64, compared to $1.23 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of 306.08 and a 52-week-low of 197.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $226.71.

Downgrades

• B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Celanese Corp CE from Neutral to Underperform. For the third quarter, Celanese had an EPS of $1.95, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.53. The current stock performance of Celanese shows a 52-week-high of 138.31 and a 52-week-low of 52.7. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $133.85.
• For Yunji Inc YJ, Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Underweight. In the third quarter, Yunji showed an EPS of $0.00, compared to $0.00 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Yunji shows a 52-week-high of 6.05 and a 52-week-low of 1.67. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $3.81.
• B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc RYTM from Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $0.77, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.04. The stock has a 52-week-high of 32.24 and a 52-week-low of 12.99. At the end of the last trading period, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals closed at $29.27.
• For PPL Corp PPL, B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. For the third quarter, PPL had an EPS of $0.58, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.61. 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 $29.12.
• According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for JPMorgan Chase & Co JPM was changed from Overweight to Underweight. JPMorgan Chase earned $2.92 in the third quarter, compared to $2.68 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 141.1 and a 52-week-low of 76.91. JPMorgan Chase closed at $121.28 at the end of the last trading period.
• Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for Delta Air Lines Inc DAL from Outperform to Market Perform. Delta Air Lines earned $3.30 in the third quarter, compared to $2.32 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 62.48 and a 52-week-low of 17.51. Delta Air Lines closed at $41.05 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Raymond James, the prior rating for American Airlines Group Inc AAL was changed from Market Perform to Underperform. For the third quarter, American Airlines Group had an EPS of $5.54, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.42. The current stock performance of American Airlines Group shows a 52-week-high of 30.78 and a 52-week-low of 8.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.98.
• According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Southwest Airlines Co LUV was changed from Strong Buy to Outperform. For the third quarter, Southwest Airlines had an EPS of $1.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.18. The current stock performance of Southwest Airlines shows a 52-week-high of 58.83 and a 52-week-low of 22.465. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.74.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for Rockwell Automation Inc ROK was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Rockwell Automation earned $1.87 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 267.48 and a 52-week-low of 115.38. Rockwell Automation closed at $255.96 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Methanex Corp MEOH, Bernstein downgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Underperform. Methanex earned $1.03 in the third quarter, compared to $0.27 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Methanex shows a 52-week-high of 42.32 and a 52-week-low of 9.0. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $42.20.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for Lennox International Inc LII was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Lennox International earned $3.53 in the third quarter, compared to $3.34 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 319.77 and a 52-week-low of 163.395. At the end of the last trading period, Lennox International closed at $289.68.
• For Kodiak Sciences Inc KOD, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. In the third quarter, Kodiak Sciences showed an EPS of $0.80, compared to $0.33 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 141.98 and a 52-week-low of 26.1398. At the end of the last trading period, Kodiak Sciences closed at $135.00.
• According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Goldman Sachs Group Inc GS was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. Goldman Sachs Group earned $9.68 in the third quarter, compared to $4.79 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Goldman Sachs Group shows a 52-week-high of 250.46 and a 52-week-low of 130.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $235.67.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for Fortive Corp FTV was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Fortive showed an EPS of $0.94, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 82.12 and a 52-week-low of 37.3101. Fortive closed at $71.37 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Discover Financial Services DFS, Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. Discover Financial earned $2.45 in the third quarter, compared to $2.36 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 87.43 and a 52-week-low of 23.25. Discover Financial closed at $78.83 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Bank of America Corp BAC was changed from Overweight to Underweight. In the third quarter, Bank of America showed an EPS of $0.51, compared to $0.75 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 35.72 and a 52-week-low of 17.95. At the end of the last trading period, Bank of America closed at $29.00.
• RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for PTC Therapeutics Inc PTCT from Sector Perform to Underperform. PTC Therapeutics earned $1.03 in the third quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PTC Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of 64.62 and a 52-week-low of 30.7923. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $63.99.

Initiations

• Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on Synaptics Inc SYNA with a Market Perform rating. The price target for Synaptics is set to $85.00. For the first quarter, Synaptics had an EPS of $1.85, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of 92.32 and a 52-week-low of 44.4101. At the end of the last trading period, Synaptics closed at $80.66.
• Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Impinj Inc PI with a Buy rating. The price target for Impinj is set to $46.00. Impinj earned $0.29 in the third quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 36.58 and a 52-week-low of 11.4701. At the end of the last trading period, Impinj closed at $35.48.
• Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Moody's Corporation MCO with a Hold rating. The price target for Moody's is set to $300.00. For the third quarter, Moody's had an EPS of $2.69, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.15. The current stock performance of Moody's shows a 52-week-high of 305.955 and a 52-week-low of 164.19. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $277.28.
• KeyBanc initiated coverage on SciPlay Corp SCPL with an Overweight rating. The price target for SciPlay is set to $18.00. In the third quarter, SciPlay showed an EPS of $0.23, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of SciPlay shows a 52-week-high of 18.5 and a 52-week-low of 5.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.65.