Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For March 20, 2023

Upgrades

According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for Sonoco Products Co (NYSE:SON) was changed from Neutral to Buy. Sonoco Prods earned $1.27 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.90 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $67.06 and a 52-week-low of $51.63. At the end of the last trading period, Sonoco Prods closed at $54.10.

Exane BNP Paribas upgraded the previous rating for The Beauty Health Co (NASDAQ:SKIN) from Underperform to Neutral. Beauty Health earned $0.05 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.37 and a 52-week-low of $8.26. Beauty Health closed at $11.31 at the end of the last trading period.

Northcoast Research upgraded the previous rating for The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) from Neutral to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Kroger showed an EPS of $0.99, compared to $0.91 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $62.74 and a 52-week-low of $41.81. At the end of the last trading period, Kroger closed at $46.78.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) was changed from Neutral to Buy. NRG Energy earned $4.56 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.74 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $47.78 and a 52-week-low of $30.25. NRG Energy closed at $31.48 at the end of the last trading period.

William Blair upgraded the previous rating for VF Corp (NYSE:VFC) from Sell to Buy. For the third quarter, VF had an EPS of $1.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.35. The current stock performance of VF shows a 52-week-high of $60.02 and a 52-week-low of $20.14. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.42.

For Brookfield Corp (NYSE:BN), Credit Suisse upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Outperform. For the fourth quarter, Brookfield had an EPS of $1.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.04. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.17 and a 52-week-low of $28.25. At the end of the last trading period, Brookfield closed at $28.62.

According to Citigroup, the prior rating for WestRock Co (NYSE:WRK) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the first quarter, WestRock had an EPS of $0.55, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.76 and a 52-week-low of $26.84. At the end of the last trading period, WestRock closed at $27.07.

Edward Jones upgraded the previous rating for Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) from Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Meta Platforms showed an EPS of $1.76, compared to $3.67 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $205.76 and a 52-week-low of $88.10. Meta Platforms closed at $195.61 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Mizuho, the prior rating for EastGroup Properties Inc (NYSE:EGP) was changed from Neutral to Buy. EastGroup Props earned $1.82 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.62 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $217.35 and a 52-week-low of $137.47. EastGroup Props closed at $158.56 at the end of the last trading period.

Stifel upgraded the previous rating for Portillos Inc (NASDAQ:PTLO) from Hold to Buy. Portillos earned $0.08 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.52 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.93 and a 52-week-low of $14.84. At the end of the last trading period, Portillos closed at $20.23.

For Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW), Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the fourth quarter, Dow had an EPS of $0.46, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.15. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $71.85 and a 52-week-low of $42.92. Dow closed at $50.02 at the end of the last trading period.

Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating for Conagra Brands Inc (NYSE:CAG) from Sell to Hold. For the second quarter, Conagra Brands had an EPS of $0.81, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.64. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $41.30 and a 52-week-low of $31.02. Conagra Brands closed at $35.52 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Kimberly-Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB) was changed from Sell to Hold. In the fourth quarter, Kimberly-Clark showed an EPS of $1.54, compared to $1.30 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $144.51 and a 52-week-low of $108.77. At the end of the last trading period, Kimberly-Clark closed at $125.37.

For U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), Baird upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Outperform. U.S. Bancorp earned $1.20 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $57.91 and a 52-week-low of $32.72. U.S. Bancorp closed at $32.95 at the end of the last trading period.

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) from Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Unum Gr showed an EPS of $1.43, compared to $0.89 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $46.61 and a 52-week-low of $28.68. Unum Gr closed at $36.65 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

For Pear Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PEAR), Chardan Capital downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. The stock has a 52-week-high of $6.70 and a 52-week-low of $0.30. At the end of the last trading period, Pear Therapeutics closed at $0.39.

For Pear Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PEAR), TD Cowen downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. The current stock performance of Pear Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $6.70 and a 52-week-low of $0.30. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.39.

For 9 Meters Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:NMTR), Truist Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. 9 Meters Biopharma earned $0.72 in the third quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.20 and a 52-week-low of $1.00. At the end of the last trading period, 9 Meters Biopharma closed at $1.38.

Oddo Securities downgraded the previous rating for UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) from Neutral to Underperform. UBS Gr earned $0.50 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.38 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.30 and a 52-week-low of $13.81. At the end of the last trading period, UBS Gr closed at $18.20.

For Pear Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PEAR), Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. The current stock performance of Pear Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $6.70 and a 52-week-low of $0.30. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.39.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

EF Hutton initiated coverage on CareCloud Inc (NASDAQ:CCLD) with a Buy rating. The price target for CareCloud is set to $8.50. CareCloud earned $0.25 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.34 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $5.74 and a 52-week-low of $2.50. At the end of the last trading period, CareCloud closed at $3.21.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) with a Buy rating. For the fourth quarter, Dell Technologies had an EPS of $1.80, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.72. The stock has a 52-week-high of $55.30 and a 52-week-low of $32.90. At the end of the last trading period, Dell Technologies closed at $37.22.

HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Icecure Medical Ltd (NASDAQ:ICCM) with a Buy rating. The price target for Icecure Medical is set to $3.00. NoneAt the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $4.72 and a 52-week-low of $0.76. Icecure Medical closed at $1.05 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings initiations.

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