Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For April 5, 2021

Upgrades

For Valero Energy Corp VLO, Tudor Pickering upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. Valero Energy earned $1.06 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.13 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Valero Energy shows a 52-week-high of $84.39 and a 52-week-low of $35.44. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $75.25.
TD Securities upgraded the previous rating for Maxar Technologies Inc MAXR from Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Maxar Technologies showed an EPS of $0.85, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Maxar Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $58.75 and a 52-week-low of $8.65. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $38.10.
According to Roth Capital, the prior rating for Acuity Brands Inc AYI was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the second quarter, Acuity Brands had an EPS of $2.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.84. The stock has a 52-week-high of $171.23 and a 52-week-low of $70.55. At the end of the last trading period, Acuity Brands closed at $168.88.
For Gogo Inc GOGO, William Blair upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the fourth quarter, Gogo had an EPS of $0.19, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.28. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $17.23 and a 52-week-low of $1.33. Gogo closed at $9.96 at the end of the last trading period.
For AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc AMC, B. Riley FBR upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the fourth quarter, AMC Entertainment had an EPS of $3.15, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.35. The stock has a 52-week-high of $20.36 and a 52-week-low of $1.91. At the end of the last trading period, AMC Entertainment closed at $9.37.
Oppenheimer upgraded the previous rating for Invitae Corp NVTA from Perform to Outperform. In the fourth quarter, Invitae showed an EPS of $0.63, compared to $0.63 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Invitae shows a 52-week-high of $61.59 and a 52-week-low of $10.02. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $39.16.
Raymond James upgraded the previous rating for JetBlue Airways Corp JBLU from Market Perform to Outperform. For the fourth quarter, JetBlue Airways had an EPS of $1.53, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.56. The current stock performance of JetBlue Airways shows a 52-week-high of $21.73 and a 52-week-low of $7.22. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $20.37.
Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Caesars Entertainment Inc CZR from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the fourth quarter, Caesars Entertainment showed an EPS of $1.92, compared to $0.45 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Caesars Entertainment shows a 52-week-high of $106.20 and a 52-week-low of $6.22. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $88.94.
According to Evercore ISI Group, the prior rating for Edwards Lifesciences Corp EW was changed from In-Line to Outperform. For the fourth quarter, Edwards Lifesciences had an EPS of $0.50, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.46. The stock has a 52-week-high of $235.28 and a 52-week-low of $66.23. At the end of the last trading period, Edwards Lifesciences closed at $83.87.
According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Lamb Weston Holdings Inc LW was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Lamb Weston Hldgs had an EPS of $0.66, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.95. The stock has a 52-week-high of $86.41 and a 52-week-low of $48.12. At the end of the last trading period, Lamb Weston Hldgs closed at $78.11.
For Spotify Technology SA SPOT, Citigroup upgraded the previous rating of Sell to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Spotify Technology had an EPS of $0.79, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.28. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $387.44 and a 52-week-low of $116.00. Spotify Technology closed at $273.01 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Bandwidth Inc BAND was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Bandwidth earned $0.13 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.02 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Bandwidth shows a 52-week-high of $198.60 and a 52-week-low of $61.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $126.74.
For MGM Resorts International MGM, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the fourth quarter, MGM Resorts Intl showed an EPS of $0.90, compared to $0.08 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $42.04 and a 52-week-low of $10.00. MGM Resorts Intl closed at $39.86 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for Leidos Holdings Inc LDOS was changed from Neutral to Buy. Leidos Holdings earned $1.63 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.51 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Leidos Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $113.75 and a 52-week-low of $79.15. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $96.44.
For Charles Schwab Corp SCHW, Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Buy to Conviction Buy. Charles Schwab earned $0.74 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.63 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $68.21 and a 52-week-low of $31.59. At the end of the last trading period, Charles Schwab closed at $66.47.
For Acuity Brands Inc AYI, Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Sell to Neutral. Acuity Brands earned $2.12 in the second quarter, compared to $1.84 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $171.23 and a 52-week-low of $70.55. At the end of the last trading period, Acuity Brands closed at $168.88.
According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Triumph Bancorp Inc TBK was changed from Outperform to Strong Buy. Triumph Bancorp earned $1.25 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.66 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $85.65 and a 52-week-low of $19.50. At the end of the last trading period, Triumph Bancorp closed at $81.66.
According to Wedbush, the prior rating for Tesla Inc TSLA was changed from Neutral to Outperform. Tesla earned $0.80 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.41 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $900.40 and a 52-week-low of $89.28. At the end of the last trading period, Tesla closed at $661.75.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

For Science Applications International Corp SAIC, Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Science Applications Intl showed an EPS of $1.67, compared to $1.58 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $103.95 and a 52-week-low of $68.76. Science Applications Intl closed at $82.53 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Stifel, the prior rating for A.O. Smith Corp AOS was changed from Buy to Hold. A.O. Smith earned $0.74 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.56 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of A.O. Smith shows a 52-week-high of $70.13 and a 52-week-low of $35.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $67.90.
Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating for Parsons Corp PSN from Buy to Neutral. Parsons Corp earned $0.51 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.48 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $43.37 and a 52-week-low of $29.16. Parsons Corp closed at $40.46 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Athene Holding Ltd ATH from Overweight to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Athene Holding had an EPS of $2.85, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.97. The current stock performance of Athene Holding shows a 52-week-high of $55.39 and a 52-week-low of $21.01. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $51.16.
According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Fly Leasing Ltd FLY was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the fourth quarter, Fly Leasing had an EPS of $0.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.49. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.02 and a 52-week-low of $4.58. At the end of the last trading period, Fly Leasing closed at $16.87.
According to Keybanc, the prior rating for Pioneer Natural Resources Co PXD was changed from Overweight to Sector Weight. In the fourth quarter, Pioneer Natural Resources showed an EPS of $1.07, compared to $2.36 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $169.49 and a 52-week-low of $62.54. Pioneer Natural Resources closed at $164.69 at the end of the last trading period.
HC Wainwright & Co. downgraded the previous rating for BeyondSpring Inc BYSI from Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, BeyondSpring had an EPS of $0.48, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.37. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $21.50 and a 52-week-low of $9.83. BeyondSpring closed at $10.80 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

With a Buy rating, Lake Street initiated coverage on The Chefs' Warehouse Inc CHEF. The price target seems to have been set at $38.00 for The Chefs' Warehouse. The Chefs' Warehouse earned $0.52 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $34.48 and a 52-week-low of $8.04. At the end of the last trading period, The Chefs' Warehouse closed at $31.26.
Piper Sandler initiated coverage on FedNat Holding Co FNHC with an Overweight rating. The price target for FedNat Holding is set to $7.00. In the fourth quarter, FedNat Holding showed an EPS of $1.96, compared to $0.42 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.67 and a 52-week-low of $4.42. At the end of the last trading period, FedNat Holding closed at $4.67.
With an Overweight rating, Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Ford Motor Co F. The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for Ford Motor. Ford Motor earned $0.34 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ford Motor shows a 52-week-high of $13.62 and a 52-week-low of $4.17. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.16.
Wells Fargo initiated coverage on General Motors Co GM with an Overweight rating. The price target for General Motors is set to $67.00. For the fourth quarter, General Motors had an EPS of $2.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.05. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $62.24 and a 52-week-low of $17.79. General Motors closed at $57.71 at the end of the last trading period.
Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Roblox Corp RBLX with an Overweight rating. The price target for Roblox is set to $80.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $79.10 and a 52-week-low of $60.50. At the end of the last trading period, Roblox closed at $67.31.
Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Coupang Inc CPNG with a Hold rating. The price target for Coupang is set to $46.00. The current stock performance of Coupang shows a 52-week-high of $69.00 and a 52-week-low of $41.41. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.29.
With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Roblox Corp RBLX. The price target seems to have been set at $78.00 for Roblox. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $79.10 and a 52-week-low of $60.50. Roblox closed at $67.31 at the end of the last trading period.
Alliance Global Partners initiated coverage on Ocuphire Pharma Inc OCUP with a Buy rating. The price target for Ocuphire Pharma is set to $25.00. The current stock performance of Ocuphire Pharma shows a 52-week-high of $13.81 and a 52-week-low of $5.07. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.38.
Needham initiated coverage on Mereo BioPharma Group PLC MREO with a Buy rating. The price target for Mereo BioPharma Group is set to $10.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $4.71 and a 52-week-low of $0.95. At the end of the last trading period, Mereo BioPharma Group closed at $3.38.
With a Buy rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Coupang Inc CPNG. The price target seems to have been set at $62.00 for Coupang. The stock has a 52-week-high of $69.00 and a 52-week-low of $41.41. At the end of the last trading period, Coupang closed at $47.29.
BTIG initiated coverage on Mohawk Group Holdings Inc MWK with a Buy rating. The price target for Mohawk Gr Hldgs is set to $45.00. Mohawk Gr Hldgs earned $0.33 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Mohawk Gr Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of $48.99 and a 52-week-low of $1.60. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $31.82.
B of A Securities initiated coverage on Roblox Corp RBLX with a Buy rating. The price target for Roblox is set to $78.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $79.10 and a 52-week-low of $60.50. At the end of the last trading period, Roblox closed at $67.31.
Citigroup initiated coverage on Pliant Therapeutics Inc PLRX with a Buy rating. The price target for Pliant Therapeutics is set to $52.00. Interestingly, in the fourth quarter, Pliant Therapeutics's EPS was $0.54. The stock has a 52-week-high of $43.92 and a 52-week-low of $19.43. At the end of the last trading period, Pliant Therapeutics closed at $35.90.
Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on Arrival ARVL with an Outperform rating. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $24.98 and a 52-week-low of $15.86. Arrival closed at $16.24 at the end of the last trading period.