Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For December 13, 2021

Upgrades

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Globus Medical Inc GMED was changed from Underperform to Buy. In the third quarter, Globus Medical showed an EPS of $0.50, compared to $0.49 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Globus Medical shows a 52-week-high of $84.23 and a 52-week-low of $58.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $67.95.
B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Community Health Systems Inc CYH from Underperform to Buy. For the third quarter, Community Health Systems had an EPS of $0.69, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.18. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.04 and a 52-week-low of $7.01. At the end of the last trading period, Community Health Systems closed at $12.72.
For Essent Group Ltd ESNT, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Essent Gr had an EPS of $1.84, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.11. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.22 and a 52-week-low of $39.62. At the end of the last trading period, Essent Gr closed at $43.55.
Craig-Hallum upgraded the previous rating for Bottomline Technologies Inc EPAY from Hold to Buy. Bottomline Technologies earned $0.22 in the first quarter, compared to $0.31 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $55.09 and a 52-week-low of $36.05. Bottomline Technologies closed at $53.05 at the end of the last trading period.
Loop Capital upgraded the previous rating for GXO Logistics Inc GXO from Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, GXO Logistics showed an EPS of $0.56, compared to $0.23 from the year-ago quarter.
Zelman upgraded the previous rating for Meritage Homes Corp MTH from Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, Meritage Homes showed an EPS of $5.25, compared to $2.84 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Meritage Homes shows a 52-week-high of $123.28 and a 52-week-low of $78.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $121.43.
Zelman upgraded the previous rating for KB Home KBH from Hold to Buy. KB Home earned $1.65 in the third quarter, compared to $0.83 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $52.48 and a 52-week-low of $31.76. At the end of the last trading period, KB Home closed at $44.61.
For SAP SE SAP, UBS upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, SAP had an EPS of $2.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.99. The stock has a 52-week-high of $151.48 and a 52-week-low of $119.88. At the end of the last trading period, SAP closed at $135.39.
For GoPro Inc GPRO, Wedbush upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Outperform. In the third quarter, GoPro showed an EPS of $0.34, compared to $0.20 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.79 and a 52-week-low of $7.02. At the end of the last trading period, GoPro closed at $10.66.
According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for Spirit Airlines Inc SAVE was changed from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, Spirit Airlines showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $2.32 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $40.77 and a 52-week-low of $19.52. At the end of the last trading period, Spirit Airlines closed at $22.99.
For Atmos Energy Corp ATO, Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Equal-Weight. Atmos Energy earned $0.37 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.53 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Atmos Energy shows a 52-week-high of $104.99 and a 52-week-low of $84.59. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $95.74.
Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating for Warner Music Group Corp WMG from Sell to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Warner Music Group showed an EPS of $0.12, compared to $0.03 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.23 and a 52-week-low of $31.50. Warner Music Group closed at $40.81 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for National Instruments Corp NATI from Underweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, National Instruments showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $0.23 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of National Instruments shows a 52-week-high of $47.40 and a 52-week-low of $38.10. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $43.41.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for NetApp Inc NTAP from Neutral to Overweight. In the second quarter, NetApp showed an EPS of $1.28, compared to $1.05 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $94.69 and a 52-week-low of $58.83. NetApp closed at $89.32 at the end of the last trading period.
According to UBS, the prior rating for Pfizer Inc PFE was changed from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, Pfizer showed an EPS of $1.34, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $55.70 and a 52-week-low of $33.36. At the end of the last trading period, Pfizer closed at $52.78.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Coca-Cola Co KO from Neutral to Overweight. Coca-Cola earned $0.65 in the third quarter, compared to $0.55 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $57.56 and a 52-week-low of $48.11. At the end of the last trading period, Coca-Cola closed at $56.28.
According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for PNM Resources Inc PNM was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, PNM Resources had an EPS of $1.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.40. The stock has a 52-week-high of $50.11 and a 52-week-low of $43.91. At the end of the last trading period, PNM Resources closed at $45.56.

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Downgrades

According to R5 Capital, the prior rating for Costco Wholesale Corp COST was changed from Buy to Hold. In the first quarter, Costco Wholesale showed an EPS of $2.97, compared to $2.29 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $561.27 and a 52-week-low of $307.00. At the end of the last trading period, Costco Wholesale closed at $558.82.
According to UBS, the prior rating for Merck & Co Inc MRK was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Merck & Co showed an EPS of $1.75, compared to $1.74 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Merck & Co shows a 52-week-high of $91.40 and a 52-week-low of $15.32. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $72.62.
According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for IGM Biosciences Inc IGMS was changed from Outperform to Sector Perform. In the third quarter, IGM Biosciences showed an EPS of $1.32, compared to $0.66 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $127.11 and a 52-week-low of $44.80. IGM Biosciences closed at $49.84 at the end of the last trading period.
According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Cambium Networks Corp CMBM was changed from Overweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Cambium Networks showed an EPS of $0.23, compared to $0.29 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Cambium Networks shows a 52-week-high of $66.40 and a 52-week-low of $22.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $23.20.
JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for CommScope Holding Co Inc COMM from Overweight to Neutral. CommScope Hldg Co earned $0.29 in the third quarter, compared to $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $22.18 and a 52-week-low of $9.25. CommScope Hldg Co closed at $11.34 at the end of the last trading period.
For The Timken Co TKR, Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Timken showed an EPS of $1.18, compared to $1.13 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $92.39 and a 52-week-low of $64.66. At the end of the last trading period, Timken closed at $68.12.
For NorthWestern Corp NWE, Wells Fargo downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Equal-Weight. NorthWestern earned $0.65 in the third quarter, compared to $0.58 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $70.80 and a 52-week-low of $53.16. At the end of the last trading period, NorthWestern closed at $56.48.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Loop Capital initiated coverage on Braze Inc BRZE with a Buy rating. The price target for Braze is set to $90.00.
With a Buy rating, Loop Capital initiated coverage on UserTesting Inc USER. The price target seems to have been set at $10.00 for UserTesting.
With an Outperform rating, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Prometheus Biosciences Inc RXDX. The price target seems to have been set at $46.00 for Prometheus Biosciences. The stock has a 52-week-high of $39.98 and a 52-week-low of $16.11. At the end of the last trading period, Prometheus Biosciences closed at $33.14.
William Blair initiated coverage on Sirius International Insurance Group Ltd SG with an Outperform rating. The stock has a 52-week-high of $12.77 and a 52-week-low of $11.53. At the end of the last trading period, Sirius Intl Insurance closed at $31.94.
William Blair initiated coverage on UserTesting Inc USER with an Outperform rating.
Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Sirius International Insurance Group Ltd SG with an Overweight rating. The price target for Sirius Intl Insurance is set to $39.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $12.77 and a 52-week-low of $11.53. At the end of the last trading period, Sirius Intl Insurance closed at $31.94.
With a Buy rating, DA Davidson initiated coverage on HireQuest Inc HQI. The price target seems to have been set at $26.00 for HireQuest. HireQuest earned $0.23 in the third quarter, compared to $0.15 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $25.69 and a 52-week-low of $8.69. HireQuest closed at $20.42 at the end of the last trading period.
Macquarie initiated coverage on Iris Energy Ltd IREN with an Outperform rating. The price target for Iris Energy is set to $31.00.
With an Outperform rating, Raymond James initiated coverage on Perion Network Ltd PERI. The price target seems to have been set at $31.00 for Perion Network. Perion Network earned $0.40 in the third quarter, compared to $0.21 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $33.09 and a 52-week-low of $10.52. Perion Network closed at $22.54 at the end of the last trading period.
With a Sell rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on PowerSchool Holdings Inc PWSC. The price target seems to have been set at $17.00 for PowerSchool Holdings.
With a Neutral rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Paycor HCM Inc PYCR. The price target seems to have been set at $31.00 for Paycor HCM.
With a Buy rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on BigCommerce Holdings Inc BIGC. The price target seems to have been set at $60.00 for BigCommerce Holdings. In the third quarter, BigCommerce Holdings showed an EPS of $0.06, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $96.66 and a 52-week-low of $38.36. BigCommerce Holdings closed at $38.78 at the end of the last trading period.
Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Logitech International SA LOGI with a Buy rating. For the second quarter, Logitech International had an EPS of $1.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.87. The current stock performance of Logitech International shows a 52-week-high of $140.17 and a 52-week-low of $76.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $81.29.
National Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Colliers International Group Inc CIGI with an Outperform rating. The price target for Colliers Intl Gr is set to $170.00. In the third quarter, Colliers Intl Gr showed an EPS of $1.27, compared to $1.08 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $150.64 and a 52-week-low of $84.02. Colliers Intl Gr closed at $142.19 at the end of the last trading period.
With a Buy rating, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Boxlight Corp BOXL. The price target seems to have been set at $4.00 for Boxlight. In the third quarter, Boxlight showed an EPS of $0.01, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $3.80 and a 52-week-low of $1.28. At the end of the last trading period, Boxlight closed at $1.47.
With a Buy rating, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Qualtrics International Inc XM. The price target seems to have been set at $53.00 for Qualtrics International. In the third quarter, Qualtrics International showed an EPS of $0.01, compared to $0.00 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $57.28 and a 52-week-low of $29.36. At the end of the last trading period, Qualtrics International closed at $33.57.