Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Analog Devices, Chelsea Therapeutics, Tesla, Westport, More

February 19, 2014 by Jon C. Ogg

Bull and BearEarnings season is winding down and the markets have recovered from the January and early February selling. Investors and analysts alike are positioning themselves for the rest of this year. Each morning, 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of Wall Street analyst research reports for new ides. Some turn out to be stocks to buy and some are stocks to sell. These are this Wednesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen from Wall Street research firms.

Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) released earnings on Tuesday, and it raised the dividend by 9% and set a share buyback of up to $1 billion. Many analysts are raising their price targets: up to $60 at Canaccord Genuity. up to $55 at J.P. Morgan, up to $61 at Pacific Crest and up to $55 at Credit Suisse.

Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHTP) is surging after confirming an accelerated FDA approval of its Northera for the treatment of low blood pressure. Shares were up more than 30% to $6.65 in active trading. Deutsche bank raised its price target to $8, and Needham & Co. raised its price target to $10.

Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) was started as Market Perform with a $150 price target (versus a $203.70 close) at FBR Capital Markets. Keep in mind that a competing call brought a price target upgrade to $215 just yesterday.

Westport Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ: WPRT) was started with an Outperform and assigned a $25 price target at FBR Capital Markets. This was also one of the 24/7 Wall St. picks for stocks that could double in 2014.

Other Key Analyst Calls

Actavis PLC (NYSE: ACT) was raised to Buy from Neutral, and the price target was raised to $250 from $185, at Goldman Sachs on the heels of the Forest Labs acquisition.

Capstone Turbine Corp. (NASDAQ: CPST) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital Markets.

Calpine Corp. (NYSE: CPN) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.

Cemex SAB de C.V. (NYSE: CX) was raised to Buy with price target of $16 at Sterne Agee.

Dillard’s Inc. (NYSE: DDS) was started as Neutral at Citigroup.

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) was started as Market Perform at FBR Capital Markets.

Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Evercore Partners.

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) was started with a Neutral rating at Citigroup.

Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) was started with a Buy rating at Citigroup.

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at RW Baird.

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) was started as Outperform and with a $20 price target (versus a $15.18 close) at FBR Capital Markets. Shares are indicated lower by more than 2% because of the earnings report.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) was started as Market Perform by FBR Capital Markets.

United Rentals Inc. (NYSE: URI) was started with a Buy rating at Stifel Nicolaus.

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