Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For July 14, 2023

Upgrades

For General Mills Inc GIS, Argus Research upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, General Mills had an EPS of $1.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.12. The current stock performance of General Mills shows a 52-week-high of $90.89 and a 52-week-low of $72.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $74.79.

According to Maxim Group, the prior rating for Kintara Therapeutics Inc KTRA was changed from Hold to Buy. For the third quarter, Kintara Therapeutics had an EPS of $1.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $5.45. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.87 and a 52-week-low of $2.70. At the end of the last trading period, Kintara Therapeutics closed at $4.60.

Northland Capital Markets upgraded the previous rating for Plug Power Inc PLUG from Market Perform to Outperform. Plug Power earned $0.35 in the first quarter, compared to $0.27 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $31.50 and a 52-week-low of $7.39. Plug Power closed at $12.36 at the end of the last trading period.

For Toll Brothers Inc TOL, Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Strong Buy. In the second quarter, Toll Brothers showed an EPS of $2.85, compared to $1.85 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $82.81 and a 52-week-low of $39.63. At the end of the last trading period, Toll Brothers closed at $81.98.

According to Needham, the prior rating for Hologic Inc HOLX was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Hologic showed an EPS of $1.06, compared to $2.07 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $87.88 and a 52-week-low of $59.78. At the end of the last trading period, Hologic closed at $79.28.

According to Baird, the prior rating for Albany International Corp AIN was changed from Neutral to Outperform. For the first quarter, Albany Intl had an EPS of $0.91, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.91. The stock has a 52-week-high of $115.39 and a 52-week-low of $76.55. At the end of the last trading period, Albany Intl closed at $91.10.

Raymond James upgraded the previous rating for KB Home KBH from Market Perform to Outperform. For the second quarter, KB Home had an EPS of $1.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $53.59 and a 52-week-low of $25.31. KB Home closed at $52.96 at the end of the last trading period.

For M.D.C. Holdings Inc MDC, Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the first quarter, M.D.C. Holdings had an EPS of $1.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.02. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $47.73 and a 52-week-low of $27.06. M.D.C. Holdings closed at $47.37 at the end of the last trading period.

For PulteGroup Inc PHM, Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. In the first quarter, PulteGroup showed an EPS of $2.35, compared to $1.83 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $81.06 and a 52-week-low of $36.00. At the end of the last trading period, PulteGroup closed at $80.35.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Lennar Corp LEN was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. Lennar earned $2.94 in the second quarter, compared to $4.69 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Lennar shows a 52-week-high of $130.46 and a 52-week-low of $69.97. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $130.08.

UBS upgraded the previous rating for Microsoft Corp MSFT from Neutral to Buy. Microsoft earned $2.45 in the third quarter, compared to $2.22 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Microsoft shows a 52-week-high of $351.47 and a 52-week-low of $213.46. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $342.66.

According to Chardan Capital, the prior rating for Ouster Inc OUST was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the first quarter, Ouster had an EPS of $2.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.90. The current stock performance of Ouster shows a 52-week-high of $20.85 and a 52-week-low of $3.21. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.23.

According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Boyd Gaming Corp BYD was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Boyd Gaming earned $1.71 in the first quarter, compared to $1.40 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $71.69 and a 52-week-low of $46.10. Boyd Gaming closed at $71.43 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Citigroup downgraded the previous rating for TELUS International (Cda) Inc TIXT from Buy to Neutral. For the first quarter, TELUS Intl had an EPS of $0.28, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.26. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $31.50 and a 52-week-low of $14.33. TELUS Intl closed at $14.71 at the end of the last trading period.

Barclays downgraded the previous rating for TELUS International (Cda) Inc TIXT from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the first quarter, TELUS Intl showed an EPS of $0.28, compared to $0.26 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.50 and a 52-week-low of $14.33. At the end of the last trading period, TELUS Intl closed at $14.71.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Ero Copper Corp ERO was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the first quarter, Ero Copper showed an EPS of $0.24, compared to $0.36 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $22.46 and a 52-week-low of $8.17. Ero Copper closed at $22.37 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for Synchrony Financial SYF was changed from Outperform to Perform. For the first quarter, Synchrony Finl had an EPS of $1.35, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.77. The stock has a 52-week-high of $40.88 and a 52-week-low of $26.59. At the end of the last trading period, Synchrony Finl closed at $35.67.

Truist Securities downgraded the previous rating for American Equity Investment Life Holding Co AEL from Buy to Hold. For the first quarter, American Equity Inv had an EPS of $1.47, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.92. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $53.68 and a 52-week-low of $28.09. American Equity Inv closed at $53.34 at the end of the last trading period.

For Leslies Inc LESL, William Blair downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. Leslies earned $0.14 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.12 and a 52-week-low of $9.03. At the end of the last trading period, Leslies closed at $9.52.

Guggenheim downgraded the previous rating for Leslies Inc LESL from Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, Leslies had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.01. The current stock performance of Leslies shows a 52-week-high of $17.12 and a 52-week-low of $9.03. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $9.52.

Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for EPR Properties EPR from Strong Buy to Outperform. In the first quarter, EPR Props showed an EPS of $1.26, compared to $1.10 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of EPR Props shows a 52-week-high of $55.90 and a 52-week-low of $33.92. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $45.98.

According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Leslies Inc LESL was changed from Overweight to Neutral. Leslies earned $0.14 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $17.12 and a 52-week-low of $9.03. Leslies closed at $9.52 at the end of the last trading period.

For Theseus Pharmaceuticals Inc THRX, Needham downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the first quarter, Theseus Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $0.34, compared to $0.27 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Theseus Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $14.77 and a 52-week-low of $4.50. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $9.52.

According to UBS, the prior rating for Corning Inc GLW was changed from Buy to Neutral. For the first quarter, Corning had an EPS of $0.41, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.54. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $37.72 and a 52-week-low of $28.98. Corning closed at $35.82 at the end of the last trading period.

For Welltower Inc WELL, Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to In-Line. For the first quarter, Welltower had an EPS of $0.85, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.82. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $86.83 and a 52-week-low of $56.54. Welltower closed at $80.86 at the end of the last trading period.

For First Wave BioPharma Inc FWBI, HC Wainwright & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, First Wave BioPharma had an EPS of $9.47, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $35.70. The stock has a 52-week-high of $49.35 and a 52-week-low of $0.79. At the end of the last trading period, First Wave BioPharma closed at $0.91.

Wells Fargo downgraded the previous rating for Progressive Corp PGR from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Progressive showed an EPS of $0.40, compared to $1.10 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $149.87 and a 52-week-low of $109.42. Progressive closed at $114.78 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for AT&T Inc T from Overweight to Neutral. In the first quarter, AT&T showed an EPS of $0.60, compared to $0.63 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of AT&T shows a 52-week-high of $22.84 and a 52-week-low of $14.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $15.12.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Alcoa Corp AA from Overweight to Neutral. For the first quarter, Alcoa had an EPS of $0.23, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.06. The stock has a 52-week-high of $58.19 and a 52-week-low of $31.14. At the end of the last trading period, Alcoa closed at $36.69.

According to Needham, the prior rating for Inogen Inc INGN was changed from Buy to Hold. Inogen earned $0.63 in the first quarter, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Inogen shows a 52-week-high of $32.01 and a 52-week-low of $9.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.26.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

With a Equal-Weight rating, Capital One initiated coverage on Chart Industries Inc GTLS. The price target seems to have been set at $174.00 for Chart Industries. In the first quarter, Chart Industries showed an EPS of $1.41, compared to $0.65 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Chart Industries shows a 52-week-high of $242.00 and a 52-week-low of $101.44. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $164.50.

With a Equal-Weight rating, Capital One initiated coverage on NOV Inc NOV. The price target seems to have been set at $20.00 for NOV. For the first quarter, NOV had an EPS of $0.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.13. The current stock performance of NOV shows a 52-week-high of $24.83 and a 52-week-low of $13.98. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $18.48.

With an Overweight rating, Capital One initiated coverage on ChampionX Corp CHX. The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for ChampionX. ChampionX earned $0.36 in the first quarter, compared to $0.22 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $34.41 and a 52-week-low of $16.78. ChampionX closed at $34.02 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, CL King initiated coverage on EnerSys ENS. The price target seems to have been set at $137.00 for EnerSys. For the fourth quarter, EnerSys had an EPS of $1.82, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.20. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $111.80 and a 52-week-low of $55.81. EnerSys closed at $110.99 at the end of the last trading period.

Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on NET Power Inc NPWR with a Buy rating. The price target for NET Power is set to $35.00. The current stock performance of NET Power shows a 52-week-high of $17.19 and a 52-week-low of $11.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.33.

Stephens & Co. initiated coverage on Apyx Medical Corp APYX with an Overweight rating. The price target for Apyx Medical is set to $8.00. Apyx Medical earned $0.10 in the first quarter, compared to $0.17 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $11.07 and a 52-week-low of $1.31. Apyx Medical closed at $6.07 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc BDTX. The price target seems to have been set at $11.00 for Black Diamond Therapeutic. In the first quarter, Black Diamond Therapeutic showed an EPS of $0.57, compared to $0.70 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Black Diamond Therapeutic shows a 52-week-high of $6.85 and a 52-week-low of $1.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.91.

With an In-Line rating, Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on ESAB Corp ESAB. The price target seems to have been set at $75.00 for ESAB. ESAB earned $1.10 in the first quarter, compared to $1.17 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of ESAB shows a 52-week-high of $69.89 and a 52-week-low of $32.20. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $69.11.

With an Outperform rating, Hovde Group initiated coverage on South Plains Financial Inc SPFI. The price target seems to have been set at $28.00 for South Plains Financial. For the first quarter, South Plains Financial had an EPS of $0.53, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.78. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $31.89 and a 52-week-low of $18.75. South Plains Financial closed at $23.84 at the end of the last trading period.

Litchfield Hills initiated coverage on LZG International Inc LZGI with a Buy rating. The price target for LZG International is set to $5.00.

With a Reduce rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Moderna Inc MRNA. The price target seems to have been set at $97.00 for Moderna. Moderna earned $0.19 in the first quarter, compared to $8.58 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $217.20 and a 52-week-low of $115.06. At the end of the last trading period, Moderna closed at $126.61.

HSBC initiated coverage on BioNTech SE BNTX with a Buy rating. The price target for BioNTech is set to $124.00. BioNTech earned $2.20 in the first quarter, compared to $14.24 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $188.83 and a 52-week-low of $100.08. BioNTech closed at $109.51 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Pfizer Inc PFE. The price target seems to have been set at $50.00 for Pfizer. In the first quarter, Pfizer showed an EPS of $1.23, compared to $1.62 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.93 and a 52-week-low of $35.35. At the end of the last trading period, Pfizer closed at $36.06.

HSBC initiated coverage on Merck & Co Inc MRK with a Hold rating. The price target for Merck & Co is set to $123.00. Merck & Co earned $1.40 in the first quarter, compared to $2.14 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $119.65 and a 52-week-low of $84.52. At the end of the last trading period, Merck & Co closed at $106.32.

HSBC initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Co LLY with a Buy rating. The price target for Eli Lilly is set to $560.00. Eli Lilly earned $1.62 in the first quarter, compared to $2.62 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $469.87 and a 52-week-low of $296.34. At the end of the last trading period, Eli Lilly closed at $434.70.

With a Reduce rating, HSBC initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY. The price target seems to have been set at $56.00 for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Bristol-Myers Squibb earned $2.05 in the first quarter, compared to $1.96 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Bristol-Myers Squibb shows a 52-week-high of $81.43 and a 52-week-low of $62.12. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $62.28.

With a Buy rating, HSBC initiated coverage on AbbVie Inc ABBV. The price target seems to have been set at $167.00 for AbbVie. In the first quarter, AbbVie showed an EPS of $2.46, compared to $3.16 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $168.11 and a 52-week-low of $130.96. At the end of the last trading period, AbbVie closed at $133.59.

Raymond James initiated coverage on Tidewater Inc TDW with a Strong Buy rating. The price target for Tidewater is set to $85.00. In the first quarter, Tidewater showed an EPS of $0.23, compared to $0.28 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $60.27 and a 52-week-low of $17.55. At the end of the last trading period, Tidewater closed at $59.65.

See all analyst ratings initiations.