Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For September 21, 2020

Upgrades

• B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for AllianceBernstein Holding LP (NYSE: AB) from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, AllianceBernstein Holding had an EPS of $0.61, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.56. The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.06 and a 52-week-low of $13.24. At the end of the last trading period, AllianceBernstein Holding closed at $27.76.
• According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Greif Inc (NYSE: GEF) was changed from Underperform to Buy. In the third quarter, Greif showed an EPS of $0.85, compared to $1.26 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Greif shows a 52-week-high of $50.37 and a 52-week-low of $23.65. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $35.47.
• Guggenheim upgraded the previous rating for Illumina Inc (NASDAQ: ILMN) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Illumina showed an EPS of $0.62, compared to $1.35 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Illumina shows a 52-week-high of $404.20 and a 52-week-low of $196.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $295.50.
• Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for ManpowerGroup Inc (NYSE: MAN) from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, ManpowerGroup had an EPS of $0.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.05. The stock has a 52-week-high of $100.99 and a 52-week-low of $49.57. At the end of the last trading period, ManpowerGroup closed at $70.67.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for NorthWestern Corp (NYSE: NWE) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, NorthWestern showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $0.50 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of NorthWestern shows a 52-week-high of $80.52 and a 52-week-low of $45.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $48.65.
• For Portland General Electric Co (NYSE: POR), Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. Portland General Electric earned $0.43 in the second quarter, compared to $0.28 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $63.08 and a 52-week-low of $31.96. At the end of the last trading period, Portland General Electric closed at $35.01.
• For Southern Co (NYSE: SO), Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Overweight. For the second quarter, Southern had an EPS of $0.78, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.80. The current stock performance of Southern shows a 52-week-high of $71.10 and a 52-week-low of $41.96. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $52.82.
• According to Credit Suisse, the prior rating for United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE: UPS) was changed from Neutral to Outperform. In the second quarter, United Parcel Service showed an EPS of $2.13, compared to $1.96 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of United Parcel Service shows a 52-week-high of $167.36 and a 52-week-low of $82.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $159.69.
• For Axcelis Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: ACLS), Stifel upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Axcelis Technologies earned $0.39 in the second quarter, compared to $0.02 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.50 and a 52-week-low of $12.99. At the end of the last trading period, Axcelis Technologies closed at $22.54.
• Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating for American States Water Co (NYSE: AWR) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, American States Water showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.64 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $96.64 and a 52-week-low of $65.11. American States Water closed at $69.99 at the end of the last trading period.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Capri Holdings Ltd (NYSE: CPRI) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the first quarter, Capri Holdings showed an EPS of $1.04, compared to $0.95 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $39.90 and a 52-week-low of $5.42. At the end of the last trading period, Capri Holdings closed at $20.82.
• For Dunkin' Brands Group Inc (NASDAQ: DNKN), Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. Dunkin Brands Group earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.86 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Dunkin Brands Group shows a 52-week-high of $81.81 and a 52-week-low of $38.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $76.42.
• According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for Forterra Inc (NASDAQ: FRTA) was changed from Sector Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Forterra showed an EPS of $0.40, compared to $0.05 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.58 and a 52-week-low of $3.45. At the end of the last trading period, Forterra closed at $11.36.
• According to Stifel, the prior rating for KLA Corp (NASDAQ: KLAC) was changed from Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, KLA had an EPS of $2.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.78. The current stock performance of KLA shows a 52-week-high of $218.57 and a 52-week-low of $110.19. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $178.96.
• Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Kornit Digital Ltd (NASDAQ: KRNT) from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Kornit Digital had an EPS of $0.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The stock has a 52-week-high of $65.91 and a 52-week-low of $22.17. At the end of the last trading period, Kornit Digital closed at $57.96.
• Stifel upgraded the previous rating for Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ: LRCX) from Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, Lam Research had an EPS of $4.78, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.62. The stock has a 52-week-high of $387.69 and a 52-week-low of $181.38. At the end of the last trading period, Lam Research closed at $307.21.
• For Oracle Corp (NYSE: ORCL), RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to the current rating Outperform. For the first quarter, Oracle had an EPS of $0.93, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.81. The stock has a 52-week-high of $61.86 and a 52-week-low of $39.71. At the end of the last trading period, Oracle closed at $59.76.
• For Public Storage (NYSE: PSA), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Public Storage showed an EPS of $2.46, compared to $2.64 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $252.78 and a 52-week-low of $155.37. Public Storage closed at $220.93 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Scientific Games Corp (NASDAQ: SGMS), Jefferies upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Scientific Games earned $2.15 in the second quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Scientific Games shows a 52-week-high of $33.86 and a 52-week-low of $3.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.96.
• For Tilray Inc (NASDAQ: TLRY), Jefferies upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating Hold. For the second quarter, Tilray had an EPS of $0.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.32. The current stock performance of Tilray shows a 52-week-high of $31.07 and a 52-week-low of $2.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.34.
• For Tapestry Inc (NYSE: TPR), Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Tapestry had an EPS of $0.25, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.61. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.40 and a 52-week-low of $10.18. At the end of the last trading period, Tapestry closed at $17.35.

Downgrades

• According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Automatic Data Processing Inc (NASDAQ: ADP) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the fourth quarter, Automatic Data Processing showed an EPS of $1.14, compared to $1.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Automatic Data Processing shows a 52-week-high of $182.32 and a 52-week-low of $103.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $135.09.
• JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE: HCA) from Overweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, HCA Healthcare had an EPS of $1.50, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.21. The stock has a 52-week-high of $151.97 and a 52-week-low of $58.38. At the end of the last trading period, HCA Healthcare closed at $132.22.
• According to ScotiaBank, the prior rating for ONEOK Inc (NYSE: OKE) was changed from Sector Outperform to Sector Perform. ONEOK earned $0.32 in the second quarter, compared to $0.75 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $78.48 and a 52-week-low of $12.16. ONEOK closed at $27.54 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Tenet Healthcare Corp (NYSE: THC), JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underweight. For the second quarter, Tenet Healthcare had an EPS of $1.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $39.37 and a 52-week-low of $10.00. Tenet Healthcare closed at $28.20 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Universal Health Services Inc (NYSE: UHS), JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underweight. For the second quarter, Universal Health Services had an EPS of $2.93, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.76. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $153.38 and a 52-week-low of $65.20. Universal Health Services closed at $117.94 at the end of the last trading period.
• Wedbush downgraded the previous rating for Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE: DRI) from Outperform to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Darden Restaurants showed an EPS of $1.24, compared to $1.76 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $127.60 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. At the end of the last trading period, Darden Restaurants closed at $90.03.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for Ameren Corp (NYSE: AEE) was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. In the second quarter, Ameren showed an EPS of $0.98, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ameren shows a 52-week-high of $87.66 and a 52-week-low of $58.74. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $76.85.
• For CMS Energy Corp (NYSE: CMS), Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. CMS Energy earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.33 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $69.17 and a 52-week-low of $46.03. CMS Energy closed at $61.07 at the end of the last trading period.
• Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating for Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd (NASDAQ: MLCO) from Outperform to Neutral. Melco Resorts and Enter earned $0.72 in the second quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $25.22 and a 52-week-low of $10.81. At the end of the last trading period, Melco Resorts and Enter closed at $18.10.

Initiations

• B of A Securities initiated coverage on KE Holdings Inc (NYSE: BEKE) with a Neutral rating. The price target for KE Holdings is set to $59.00. The stock has a 52-week-high of $62.00 and a 52-week-low of $31.79. At the end of the last trading period, KE Holdings closed at $58.39.
• With a current rating of Buy, Seaport Global initiated coverage on Minerals Technologies Inc (NYSE: MTX). The price target seems to have been set at $65.00 for Minerals Technologies. Minerals Technologies earned $0.85 in the second quarter, compared to $1.11 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $59.18 and a 52-week-low of $27.28. Minerals Technologies closed at $49.62 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Sell, Summit Insights Group initiated coverage on Snowflake Inc (NYSE: SNOW). The price target seems to have been set at $175.00 for Snowflake. The current stock performance of Snowflake shows a 52-week-high of $249.00 and a 52-week-low of $215.24. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $243.00.
• With a current rating of Buy, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Carrier Global Corp (NYSE: CARR). The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Carrier Global. Carrier Global earned $0.33 in the second quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.24 and a 52-week-low of $12.26. At the end of the last trading period, Carrier Global closed at $30.80.
• With a current rating of Outperform, SMBC Nikko initiated coverage on TTM Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: TTMI). The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for TTM Technologies. TTM Technologies earned $0.31 in the second quarter, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $16.25 and a 52-week-low of $8.06. TTM Technologies closed at $11.46 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a current rating of Overweight, Atlantic Equities initiated coverage on Zoetis Inc (NYSE: ZTS). The price target seems to have been set at $191.00 for Zoetis. For the second quarter, Zoetis had an EPS of $0.89, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.90. The current stock performance of Zoetis shows a 52-week-high of $165.82 and a 52-week-low of $90.14. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $160.71.