Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For January 19, 2021

Upgrades

• For Wells Fargo & Co WFC, Seaport Global upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. Wells Fargo earned $0.64 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.93 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $49.88 and a 52-week-low of $20.76. At the end of the last trading period, Wells Fargo closed at $32.03.
• For Werner Enterprises Inc WERN, Credit Suisse upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to Neutral. In the third quarter, Werner Enterprises showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.57 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Werner Enterprises shows a 52-week-high of $47.43 and a 52-week-low of $28.99. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $41.94.
• According to Rosenblatt, the prior rating for MarketAxess Holdings Inc MKTX was changed from Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, MarketAxess Holdings showed an EPS of $1.78, compared to $1.42 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $606.45 and a 52-week-low of $275.50. At the end of the last trading period, MarketAxess Holdings closed at $523.00.
• Needham upgraded the previous rating for IPG Photonics Corp IPGP from Hold to Buy. IPG Photonics earned $1.29 in the third quarter, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $252.00 and a 52-week-low of $98.04. At the end of the last trading period, IPG Photonics closed at $243.92.
• According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Synchrony Financial SYF was changed from Neutral to Overweight. For the third quarter, Synchrony Finl had an EPS of $0.63, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.22. The current stock performance of Synchrony Finl shows a 52-week-high of $39.19 and a 52-week-low of $12.15. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $38.78.
• For Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc SC, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Neutral. For the third quarter, Santander Consumer USA had an EPS of $1.58, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.67. The stock has a 52-week-high of $27.20 and a 52-week-low of $9.74. At the end of the last trading period, Santander Consumer USA closed at $23.65.
• According to Mizuho, the prior rating for Eli Lilly and Co LLY was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Eli Lilly had an EPS of $1.54, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.48. The current stock performance of Eli Lilly shows a 52-week-high of $191.78 and a 52-week-low of $117.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $190.79.
• According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for Illinois Tool Works Inc ITW was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the third quarter, Illinois Tool Works had an EPS of $1.83, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.04. The current stock performance of Illinois Tool Works shows a 52-week-high of $224.69 and a 52-week-low of $115.94. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $203.18.
• Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for International Game Technology PLC IGT from Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, Intl Game Tech showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.21 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.93 and a 52-week-low of $3.59. Intl Game Tech closed at $17.95 at the end of the last trading period.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Gilead Sciences Inc GILD from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Gilead Sciences earned $2.11 in the third quarter, compared to $1.75 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $85.97 and a 52-week-low of $56.56. Gilead Sciences closed at $63.33 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to VTB Capital, the prior rating for EPAM Systems Inc EPAM was changed from Sell to Hold. EPAM Systems earned $1.65 in the third quarter, compared to $1.39 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $360.89 and a 52-week-low of $151.97. EPAM Systems closed at $348.17 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Emerson Electric Co EMR, Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. Emerson Electric earned $1.10 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.07 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $84.44 and a 52-week-low of $37.75. Emerson Electric closed at $82.74 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Exane BNP Paribas, the prior rating for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc CLF was changed from Neutral to Outperform. In the third quarter, Cleveland-Cliffs showed an EPS of $0.04, compared to $0.33 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Cleveland-Cliffs shows a 52-week-high of $18.77 and a 52-week-low of $2.63. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.48.
• According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for The Carlyle Group Inc CG was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Carlyle Group showed an EPS of $0.40, compared to $0.55 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $34.98 and a 52-week-low of $15.21. At the end of the last trading period, Carlyle Group closed at $33.70.
• According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for CMC Materials Inc CCMP was changed from Sell to Neutral. The stock has a 52-week-high of $174.87 and a 52-week-low of $85.26. At the end of the last trading period, CMC Materials closed at $164.68.
• According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the prior rating for Brown & Brown Inc BRO was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Brown & Brown showed an EPS of $0.52, compared to $0.39 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.76 and a 52-week-low of $30.70. At the end of the last trading period, Brown & Brown closed at $46.30.
• For American Express Co AXP, JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. American Express earned $1.30 in the third quarter, compared to $2.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $138.13 and a 52-week-low of $67.00. American Express closed at $122.16 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Facebook Inc FB, BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. Facebook earned $2.40 in the third quarter, compared to $2.12 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $304.67 and a 52-week-low of $137.10. Facebook closed at $251.36 at the end of the last trading period.
• For Darden Restaurants Inc DRI, Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, Darden Restaurants showed an EPS of $0.74, compared to $1.12 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $128.44 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. Darden Restaurants closed at $121.04 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

• For Peloton Interactive Inc PTON, UBS downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Sell. Peloton Interactive earned $0.20 in the first quarter, compared to $1.19 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Peloton Interactive shows a 52-week-high of $171.09 and a 52-week-low of $17.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $157.81.
• For Chewy Inc CHWY, UBS downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Sell. Chewy earned $0.08 in the third quarter, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $115.27 and a 52-week-low of $20.62. Chewy closed at $108.05 at the end of the last trading period.
• For ViacomCBS Inc VIAC, Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to Underweight. ViacomCBS earned $0.91 in the third quarter, compared to $1.10 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of ViacomCBS shows a 52-week-high of $46.86 and a 52-week-low of $10.10. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $45.30.
• For Staar Surgical Co STAA, Benchmark downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Staar Surgical had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.12. The stock has a 52-week-high of $92.27 and a 52-week-low of $23.20. At the end of the last trading period, Staar Surgical closed at $88.06.
• Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Restaurant Brands Intl showed an EPS of $0.68, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $67.33 and a 52-week-low of $25.08. Restaurant Brands Intl closed at $62.81 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Credit Suisse, the prior rating for iQIYI Inc IQ was changed from Neutral to Underperform. For the third quarter, iQIYI had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.70. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.03 and a 52-week-low of $14.51. iQIYI closed at $19.76 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Total SE TOT was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Total had an EPS of $0.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.13. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $54.50 and a 52-week-low of $22.13. Total closed at $44.26 at the end of the last trading period.
• JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Essent Group Ltd ESNT from Overweight to Neutral. Essent Gr earned $1.11 in the third quarter, compared to $1.47 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $52.99 and a 52-week-low of $17.52. Essent Gr closed at $48.08 at the end of the last trading period.
• Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for Editas Medicine Inc EDIT from Equal-Weight to Underweight. In the third quarter, Editas Medicine showed an EPS of $0.12, compared to $0.66 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $99.95 and a 52-week-low of $14.01. Editas Medicine closed at $76.14 at the end of the last trading period.
• According to Barclays, the prior rating for Discovery Inc DISCA was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. Discovery earned $0.81 in the third quarter, compared to $0.87 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $38.44 and a 52-week-low of $17.12. At the end of the last trading period, Discovery closed at $36.76.
• According to Jefferies, the prior rating for PlayAGS Inc AGS was changed from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, PlayAGS showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PlayAGS shows a 52-week-high of $11.49 and a 52-week-low of $0.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.29.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

• Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Silicon Laboratories Inc SLAB with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Silicon Laboratories is set to $143.00. For the third quarter, Silicon Laboratories had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.96. The stock has a 52-week-high of $139.41 and a 52-week-low of $65.09. At the end of the last trading period, Silicon Laboratories closed at $136.03.
• Jefferies initiated coverage on XPeng Inc XPEV with a Hold rating. The price target for XPeng is set to $54.40. XPeng earned $0.32 in the third quarter. The current stock performance of XPeng shows a 52-week-high of $74.49 and a 52-week-low of $17.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.76.
• With an Overweight rating, JP Morgan initiated coverage on Roku Inc ROKU. The price target seems to have been set at $475.00 for Roku. For the third quarter, Roku had an EPS of $0.09, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of $425.99 and a 52-week-low of $58.22. At the end of the last trading period, Roku closed at $408.30.
• Jefferies initiated coverage on NIO Inc NIO with a Hold rating. The price target for NIO is set to $60.00. For the third quarter, NIO had an EPS of $0.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.33. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $66.99 and a 52-week-low of $2.11. NIO closed at $56.25 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, Roth Capital initiated coverage on Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd MAXN. The price target seems to have been set at $43.00 for Maxeon Solar Technologies. Maxeon Solar Technologies earned $2.24 in the third quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $40.88 and a 52-week-low of $11.78. Maxeon Solar Technologies closed at $36.36 at the end of the last trading period.
• With a Buy rating, Jefferies initiated coverage on Li Auto Inc LI. The price target seems to have been set at $44.50 for Li Auto Inc. Li Auto Inc earned $0.00 in the third quarter. The current stock performance of Li Auto Inc shows a 52-week-high of $47.70 and a 52-week-low of $14.31. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.60.
• With a Sell rating, Berenberg initiated coverage on DraftKings Inc DKNG. The price target seems to have been set at $41.00 for DraftKings. In the third quarter, DraftKings earned $0.98. The current stock performance of DraftKings shows a 52-week-high of $64.19 and a 52-week-low of $18.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $53.70.
• HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Transcat Inc TRNS with a Buy rating. The price target for Transcat is set to $42.00. Transcat earned $0.27 in the second quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.49 and a 52-week-low of $16.50. At the end of the last trading period, Transcat closed at $35.40.

See all analyst ratings initiations.