Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For August 4, 2021

Upgrades

For Meritage Homes Corp MTH, Wolfe Research upgraded the previous rating of Peer Perform to Outperform. Meritage Homes earned $4.73 in the second quarter, compared to $2.38 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $120.19 and a 52-week-low of $78.00. At the end of the last trading period, Meritage Homes closed at $111.08.
B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Simon Property Group Inc SPG from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Simon Property Group had an EPS of $3.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.12. The current stock performance of Simon Property Group shows a 52-week-high of $136.70 and a 52-week-low of $59.35. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $129.54.
Benchmark upgraded the previous rating for Invitae Corp NVTA from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Invitae had an EPS of $0.85, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.77. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $61.59 and a 52-week-low of $25.24. Invitae closed at $28.50 at the end of the last trading period.
Canaccord Genuity upgraded the previous rating for Unisys Corp UIS from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Unisys showed an EPS of $0.68, compared to $0.15 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.60 and a 52-week-low of $10.12. Unisys closed at $23.00 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Capri Holdings Ltd CPRI was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. For the first quarter, Capri Holdings had an EPS of $1.42, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.04. The current stock performance of Capri Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $59.60 and a 52-week-low of $13.80. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $59.40.
Baird upgraded the previous rating for Camping World Holdings Inc CWH from Neutral to Outperform. Camping World Holdings earned $2.51 in the second quarter, compared to $1.62 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.50 and a 52-week-low of $22.60. At the end of the last trading period, Camping World Holdings closed at $40.08.
Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Bright Health Group Inc BHG from Neutral to Buy. Interestingly, in the second quarter, Bright Health Gr's EPS was $0.28. The current stock performance of Bright Health Gr shows a 52-week-high of $17.93 and a 52-week-low of $7.98. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $8.49.
For Under Armour Inc UAA, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Under Armour had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.31. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.45 and a 52-week-low of $9.63. Under Armour closed at $22.70 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Truist Securities, the prior rating for Global Blood Therapeutics Inc GBT was changed from Hold to Buy. Global Blood Therapeutics earned $1.12 in the second quarter, compared to $0.86 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $71.23 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. At the end of the last trading period, Global Blood Therapeutics closed at $26.89.
HSBC upgraded the previous rating for Schlumberger Ltd SLB from Reduce to Hold. For the second quarter, Schlumberger had an EPS of $0.30, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.05. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $36.87 and a 52-week-low of $13.70. Schlumberger closed at $28.90 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for BJ's Restaurants Inc BJRI was changed from Hold to Buy. BJ's Restaurants earned $0.26 in the second quarter, compared to $0.99 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $63.42 and a 52-week-low of $19.41. At the end of the last trading period, BJ's Restaurants closed at $38.74.
For Coursera Inc COUR, Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. Coursera earned $0.05 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $62.53 and a 52-week-low of $32.59. Coursera closed at $35.68 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Shenandoah Telecommunications Co SHEN was changed from Underperform to Market Perform. Shenandoah earned $0.04 in the second quarter, compared to $0.58 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Shenandoah shows a 52-week-high of $61.53 and a 52-week-low of $29.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $29.58.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Truist Securities downgraded the previous rating for Mercury Systems Inc MRCY from Buy to Hold. For the fourth quarter, Mercury Systems had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.72. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $88.96 and a 52-week-low of $52.40. Mercury Systems closed at $63.57 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Stephens & Co., the prior rating for Avanos Medical Inc AVNS was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Avanos Medical showed an EPS of $0.21, compared to $0.13 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Avanos Medical shows a 52-week-high of $53.61 and a 52-week-low of $29.68. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $36.93.
According to Janney Montgomery Scott, the prior rating for American Water Works Co Inc AWK was changed from Buy to Neutral. American Water Works Co earned $1.14 in the second quarter, compared to $0.97 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $176.84 and a 52-week-low of $131.01. American Water Works Co closed at $175.30 at the end of the last trading period.
B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Zymergen Inc ZY from Buy to Underperform. Interestingly, in the first quarter, Zymergen's EPS was $6.51. The current stock performance of Zymergen shows a 52-week-high of $52.00 and a 52-week-low of $25.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $34.83.
According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc RYTM was changed from Neutral to Underperform. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals earned $0.70 in the second quarter, compared to $0.71 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $43.26 and a 52-week-low of $16.16. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals closed at $16.63 at the end of the last trading period.
Needham downgraded the previous rating for Akamai Technologies Inc AKAM from Buy to Hold. Akamai Technologies earned $1.42 in the second quarter, compared to $1.38 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Akamai Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $124.91 and a 52-week-low of $92.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $119.82.
For Clorox Co CLX, Atlantic Equities downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Neutral. Clorox earned $0.95 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.41 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Clorox shows a 52-week-high of $239.87 and a 52-week-low of $159.32. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $164.06.
For Chevron Corp CVX, DZ Bank downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Chevron showed an EPS of $1.71, compared to $1.59 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $113.11 and a 52-week-low of $65.16. Chevron closed at $102.60 at the end of the last trading period.
For Mercury Systems Inc MRCY, Baird downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Mercury Systems showed an EPS of $0.73, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $88.96 and a 52-week-low of $52.40. At the end of the last trading period, Mercury Systems closed at $63.57.
According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Newtek Business Services Corp NEWT was changed from Market Perform to Underperform. For the first quarter, Newtek Business Services had an EPS of $1.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.21. The stock has a 52-week-high of $38.78 and a 52-week-low of $16.24. At the end of the last trading period, Newtek Business Services closed at $25.13.
For Holly Energy Partners LP HEP, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Underweight. In the second quarter, Holly Energy Partners showed an EPS of $0.48, compared to $0.40 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Holly Energy Partners shows a 52-week-high of $23.69 and a 52-week-low of $10.48. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $19.11.
For Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY, Piper Sandler downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Neutral. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals earned $1.30 in the second quarter, compared to $1.67 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $184.83 and a 52-week-low of $119.29. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $178.81.
For Corsair Gaming Inc CRSR, Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. Interestingly, in the second quarter, Corsair Gaming's EPS was $0.36. The current stock performance of Corsair Gaming shows a 52-week-high of $51.37 and a 52-week-low of $14.09. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.13.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on Sharecare Inc SHCR with a Buy rating. The price target for Sharecare is set to $11.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $9.65 and a 52-week-low of $6.35. At the end of the last trading period, Sharecare closed at $7.59.
With a Buy rating, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Victoria's Secret & Co VSCO. The price target seems to have been set at $75.00 for Victoria's Secret. At the end of the last trading period, Victoria's Secret closed at $58.23.
With an Underweight rating, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Microvast Holdings Inc MVST. The price target seems to have been set at $6.00 for Microvast Holdings. At the end of the last trading period, Microvast Holdings closed at $8.45.
With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on D-MARKET Electronic Services & Trading HEPS. The price target seems to have been set at $19.00 for D-MARKET Electronic. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.23 and a 52-week-low of $12.50. D-MARKET Electronic closed at $13.07 at the end of the last trading period.
With a Market Outperform rating, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Rover Group Inc ROVR. The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for Rover Group. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $11.62.
Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on FREYR Battery FREY with an Overweight rating. The price target for FREYR Battery is set to $18.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $9.99 and a 52-week-low of $7.71. FREYR Battery closed at $8.97 at the end of the last trading period.
Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on GXO Logistics Inc GXO with a Buy rating. The price target for GXO Logistics is set to $81.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $66.38.
With a Neutral rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Nautilus Biotechnology Inc NAUT. The price target seems to have been set at $10.00 for Nautilus Biotechnology. The current stock performance of Nautilus Biotechnology shows a 52-week-high of $11.69 and a 52-week-low of $7.50. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $7.65.