Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For November 1, 2021

Upgrades

• For Evelo Biosciences Inc EVLO, Chardan Capital upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Evelo Biosciences had an EPS of $0.63, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.45. The current stock performance of Evelo Biosciences shows a 52-week-high of $19.93 and a 52-week-low of $3.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $8.85.
• For ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc ACAD, Guggenheim upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $0.27, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.27. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $57.46 and a 52-week-low of $15.68. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals closed at $17.95 at the end of the last trading period.
• Argus Research upgraded the previous rating for Merck & Co Inc MRK from Hold to Buy. For the third quarter, Merck & Co had an EPS of $1.75, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.74. The stock has a 52-week-high of $88.46 and a 52-week-low of $15.32. At the end of the last trading period, Merck & Co closed at $88.05.
• Bernstein upgraded the previous rating for Activision Blizzard Inc ATVI from Underperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Activision Blizzard showed an EPS of $0.91, compared to $0.97 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $104.53 and a 52-week-low of $71.19. Activision Blizzard closed at $78.19 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Bernstein, the prior rating for Spotify Technology SA SPOT was changed from Underperform to Market Perform. In the third quarter, Spotify Technology showed an EPS of $0.48, compared to $0.68 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $387.44 and a 52-week-low of $201.68. Spotify Technology closed at $289.40 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Starbucks Corp SBUX, Stephens & Co. upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. Starbucks earned $1.00 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $126.32 and a 52-week-low of $85.45. At the end of the last trading period, Starbucks closed at $106.07.
• According to Bernstein, the prior rating for Unilever PLC UL was changed from Underperform to Market Perform. NoneThe current stock performance of Unilever shows a 52-week-high of $63.45 and a 52-week-low of $51.98. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $53.58.
• According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY was changed from Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $1.51, compared to $1.58 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $212.00 and a 52-week-low of $119.29. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals closed at $159.56 at the end of the last trading period.
• Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for Shake Shack Inc SHAK from Hold to Buy. Shake Shack earned $0.05 in the second quarter, compared to $0.45 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $138.38 and a 52-week-low of $64.02. Shake Shack closed at $69.17 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Newell Brands Inc NWL was changed from Neutral to Overweight. For the third quarter, Newell Brands had an EPS of $0.54, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.84. The current stock performance of Newell Brands shows a 52-week-high of $30.10 and a 52-week-low of $16.60. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $22.89.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

• Northland Capital Markets downgraded the previous rating for Advanced Micro Devices Inc AMD from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Advanced Micro Devices had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.41. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $128.08 and a 52-week-low of $72.50. Advanced Micro Devices closed at $120.23 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Argus Research, the prior rating for Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Bristol-Myers Squibb showed an EPS of $2.00, compared to $1.63 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Bristol-Myers Squibb shows a 52-week-high of $69.75 and a 52-week-low of $56.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $58.40.
• Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded the previous rating for Tilray Inc TLRY from Overweight to Neutral. Tilray earned $0.08 in the first quarter, compared to $1.75 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Tilray shows a 52-week-high of $67.00 and a 52-week-low of $5.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.30.
• According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Lockheed Martin Corp LMT was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Lockheed Martin showed an EPS of $2.21, compared to $6.25 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Lockheed Martin shows a 52-week-high of $396.99 and a 52-week-low of $319.81. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $332.32.
• For Stanley Black & Decker Inc SWK, B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Underperform. In the third quarter, Stanley Black & Decker showed an EPS of $2.77, compared to $2.89 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $225.00 and a 52-week-low of $161.80. At the end of the last trading period, Stanley Black & Decker closed at $179.73.
• Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for Phillips 66 Partners LP PSXP from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Phillips 66 Partners had an EPS of $1.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.85. The stock has a 52-week-high of $42.17 and a 52-week-low of $22.25. At the end of the last trading period, Phillips 66 Partners closed at $36.94.
• According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for AGCO Corp AGCO was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, AGCO showed an EPS of $2.41, compared to $2.09 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $158.62 and a 52-week-low of $74.77. At the end of the last trading period, AGCO closed at $122.21.
• According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Aon PLC AON was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Aon showed an EPS of $1.74, compared to $1.53 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Aon shows a 52-week-high of $326.25 and a 52-week-low of $179.52. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $319.92.
• Barclays downgraded the previous rating for TripAdvisor Inc TRIP from Overweight to Underweight. TripAdvisor earned $0.07 in the second quarter, compared to $0.76 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $64.95 and a 52-week-low of $18.24. TripAdvisor closed at $32.97 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Baird, the prior rating for Bank of America Corp BAC was changed from Neutral to Underperform. In the third quarter, Bank of America showed an EPS of $0.85, compared to $0.51 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.42 and a 52-week-low of $23.12. At the end of the last trading period, Bank of America closed at $47.78.
• For WestRock Co WRK, Jefferies downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, WestRock had an EPS of $1.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.76. The current stock performance of WestRock shows a 52-week-high of $62.03 and a 52-week-low of $36.59. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $48.10.
• For Mercer International Inc MERC, RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to Underperform. In the third quarter, Mercer International showed an EPS of $1.04, compared to $0.11 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Mercer International shows a 52-week-high of $18.14 and a 52-week-low of $5.77. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.77.
• For Eastman Chemical Co EMN, JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Neutral. Eastman Chemical earned $2.46 in the third quarter, compared to $1.57 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $130.47 and a 52-week-low of $79.31. At the end of the last trading period, Eastman Chemical closed at $104.03.
• Jefferies downgraded the previous rating for International Paper Co IP from Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, International Paper had an EPS of $1.35, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.71. The current stock performance of International Paper shows a 52-week-high of $65.27 and a 52-week-low of $42.48. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $49.67.
• For Thomson Reuters Corp TRI, RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Sector Perform. For the second quarter, Thomson Reuters had an EPS of $0.48, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.44. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $120.75 and a 52-week-low of $77.10. Thomson Reuters closed at $120.33 at the end of the last trading period.
• Piper Sandler downgraded the previous rating for Kemper Corp KMPR from Overweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Kemper showed an EPS of $1.19, compared to $1.36 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $83.98 and a 52-week-low of $60.00. Kemper closed at $63.48 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

• Loop Capital initiated coverage on Porch Group Inc PRCH with a Buy rating. The price target for Porch Group is set to $30.00. In the second quarter, Porch Group earned $0.26. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.41 and a 52-week-low of $11.73. At the end of the last trading period, Porch Group closed at $21.03.
• Raymond James initiated coverage on Clarus Corp CLAR with an Outperform rating. The price target for Clarus is set to $32.00. Clarus earned $0.20 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $32.36 and a 52-week-low of $14.08. At the end of the last trading period, Clarus closed at $27.58.
• With a Buy rating, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Life Time Group Holdings Inc LTH. The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Life Time Group Hldgs. Life Time Group Hldgs earned $0.36 in the third quarter. At the end of the last trading period, Life Time Group Hldgs closed at $17.34.
• Benchmark initiated coverage on Augmedix Inc AUGX with a Buy rating. The price target for Augmedix is set to $6.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $6.22 and a 52-week-low of $2.00. Augmedix closed at $3.75 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Monster Beverage Corp MNST, Redburn Partners initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Neutral. Monster Beverage earned $0.75 in the second quarter, compared to $0.59 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $99.89 and a 52-week-low of $75.45. At the end of the last trading period, Monster Beverage closed at $85.00.
• UBS initiated coverage on Signet Jewelers Ltd SIG with a Buy rating. The price target for Signet Jewelers is set to $140.00. In the second quarter, Signet Jewelers showed an EPS of $3.57, compared to $1.13 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $93.61 and a 52-week-low of $20.88. Signet Jewelers closed at $89.18 at the end of the last trading period.
• William Blair initiated coverage on Augmedix Inc AUGX with an Outperform rating. The stock has a 52-week-high of $6.22 and a 52-week-low of $2.00. At the end of the last trading period, Augmedix closed at $3.75.
• Wedbush initiated coverage on Theseus Pharmaceuticals Inc THRX with an Outperform rating. The price target for Theseus Pharmaceuticals is set to $24.00. Theseus Pharmaceuticals closed at $17.12 at the end of the last trading period.
• Seaport Global initiated coverage on Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp II DCRN with a Buy rating. The price target for Decarbonization Plus is set to $17.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.10 and a 52-week-low of $9.60. At the end of the last trading period, Decarbonization Plus closed at $9.99.
• Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Redwood Trust Inc RWT with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Redwood Trust is set to $14.00. For the third quarter, Redwood Trust had an EPS of $0.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.02. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.10 and a 52-week-low of $8.04. Redwood Trust closed at $13.56 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Artelo Biosciences Inc ARTL. The price target seems to have been set at $4.00 for Artelo Biosciences. For the third quarter, Artelo Biosciences had an EPS of $0.10, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.27. The current stock performance of Artelo Biosciences shows a 52-week-high of $3.67 and a 52-week-low of $0.45. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.72.
• With a Buy rating, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Monopar Therapeutics Inc MNPR. The price target seems to have been set at $9.00 for Monopar Therapeutics. For the second quarter, Monopar Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.17, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.14. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $17.01 and a 52-week-low of $4.28. Monopar Therapeutics closed at $4.80 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Neutral rating, JP Morgan initiated coverage on Surgery Partners Inc SGRY. The price target seems to have been set at $50.00 for Surgery Partners. In the second quarter, Surgery Partners showed an EPS of $0.00, compared to $0.48 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $69.58 and a 52-week-low of $20.87. At the end of the last trading period, Surgery Partners closed at $41.14.

See all analyst ratings initiations.