Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AMD, Apple, Exxon and More

December 16, 2013 by Jon C. Ogg

Stocks have pulled back marginally but are still close to all-time highs. We are sliding into year-end, and investors are trying to position themselves for 2014 and beyond. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of Wall Street analyst reports each morning, with a goal of finding new investment and trading ideas for our readers. Some turn out to be stocks to buy, some are stocks to sell. These are this Monday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen from Wall Street research firms.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) was downgraded to Underperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $650 from $600 at Jefferies.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $109 from $96 (versus a $95.31 close at Goldman Sachs.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ: JAZZ) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs, although the price target was raised to $123 from a prior $105 target (versus a $114.53 close).

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) was started with an Outperform rating and a $95 price target (versus a $82.23 close) at Credit Suisse.

Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.

Monster Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: MNST) was added to the Top Pick List at RBC Capital Markets, after having previously been rated as Outperform, and the price target is $77 (versus a $61.46 close).

TASER International Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR) was raised to Overweight from Neutral with an $18.50 price target (versus a $15.52 close) at J.P. Morgan.

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) was raised to Hold from Sell and the price target was raised to $83 from $65 at Canaccord Genuity.

YUM! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform and the price target was raised to $85 from $75 (versus a $71.81 close) at Bernstein.

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