Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, Darden Restaurants, Spotify, Wingstop and More

June 7, 2018 by Lee Jackson

The futures traded higher again Thursday morning as investors continue to digest not only some sparkling economic data but the possibility for perhaps a breakthrough with China on trade talks. With summer right around the corner, investors can expect to see trading volumes start to dry up, and that often gives bearish investors the upper hand, especially if they look to sell stocks short.

Some investors are reconsidering what the nine-year bull market may bring for the rest of 2018 and beyond. It has become clear that the multiyear trend of buying pullbacks is now more vulnerable to sellers, volatility and each major news headline. Many investors are finding it harder to decide how they want their assets positioned for the longer term.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week to find new investing and trading ideas for our readers. Some of the top analyst reports cover stocks to buy. Other analyst calls cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

Additional color and commentary have been added on some of these daily analyst calls. The consensus analyst price target data are from the Thomson Reuters sell-side research service.

These were the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and other research calls from Thursday, June 7, 2018.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies. The 52-week trading range for the telecommunication giant is $31.17 to $39.80. The Wall Street consensus price target is $37.82. The stock closed Wednesday’s trading at $33.38.

Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) was resumed in coverage with a Hold rating and a $300 price target at Jefferies. The consensus target is much higher at $376.94, and the stock closed Wednesday at $275.09.

Comcast Inc. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) was resumed in coverage at Jefferies with a Buy rating and a $41 price target. The consensus price target for the media and communications giant is $44.38 The stock ended trading on Wednesday at $32.27.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $110 price target at SunTrust. The consensus target for the restaurant giant is $101.19. The stock closed trading on Wednesday at $90.91.

Ensco PLC (NYSE: ESV) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at HSBC and given a $7.40 price objective. That compares with the consensus target of $6.49. The shares closed on Wednesday at $6.67.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) continued a string of downgrades this week as Goldman Sachs cut the shares to Sell, citing a “tough set-up,” and Vertical Group also downgraded the shares to sell with a $42 price target. The stock closed Wednesday at $55.53, down almost 5% on the day, and traded lower Thursday in the premarket.

Hartford Financial Inc. (NYSE: HIG) was started with an In-Line rating and a $57 price target at Evercore ISI. The consensus target is higher at $60.38. The stock closed Wednesday at $52.53.

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE: LH) was raised to Overweight at KeyBanc Capital Markets, and they posted a $210 price target. That compares with the consensus target of $196.94. The 52-week trading range is $137.82 to $184.65, and shares closed Wednesday at $184.61.


Spotify N.V. (NASDAQ: SPOT) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Buckingham Research, and the price target for the music streaming leader went from $175 to $195. The consensus price target is $153.34, and the stock closed trading on Wednesday at $165.64.

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush. The 52-week trading range for the shares is $29.54 to $55.85, and the consensus price target is $53.75. The stock closed on Wednesday at $51.88.

Other key analysts upgrades and downgrades were seen in the following:

ArcelorMittal Inc. (NYSE: MT) was downgraded to Sell from Buy at UBS. The 52-week trading range for the steel company is $19.59 to $39.70, and the consensus price target is $43.03. The shares closed Wednesday at $35.07, up almost 5%, but traded down in Thursday’s premarket. This could be a tariff-related call at UBS.

Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ: AAXN) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy and a price target of $66 at JPMorgan. The consensus target is set at $49.17, and the 52-week trading range is $20.57 to $69.09. With the stock closing Wednesday at $67.90, this may be a valuation call.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) was raised to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan. The 52-week trading range is $12.24 to $19.09. The consensus price target is $17.52, and the stock ended trading on Wednesday at $12.44.

Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc. (NYSE: DFIN) was initiated at New Buy by D.A. Davidson. The 52-week trading range is $15.22 to $23.75, and the consensus price target is set at $22.50. The shares closed Wednesday at $16.16.

Kornit Digital Ltd. (NASDAQ: KRNT) was resumed in coverage with a Buy rating at Stifel. The analysts have a $21 price target and noted that 2018 represents a rebound year for the company, putting it back on its long-term growth trajectory as it gains traction for its direct-to-garment digital printing solutions. The 52-week trading range is $11.70 to $21.80, and the consensus price target is $18.60. The shares ended Wednesday at $16.70.

TrueCar Inc. (NASDAQ: TRUE) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs. The 52-week trading range is $8.75 to $21.75. The consensus price target is $13.73, and the stock closed Wednesday at $9.87.

Wellcare Health Plans Inc. (NYSE: WCG) was started with a Buy rating and a $265 price objective at Argus. The consensus target is lower at $243.85. The shares closed Wednesday at $229.23.

Xencor Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR) was started with a Buy rating and a $56 price target at BTIG Research. The consensus target is $40, and the shares ended trading on Wednesday at $41.79.

In case you missed it, here are Wednesday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Alkermes, Cigna, International Paper, Medtronic, Tesla, Western Digital and more.

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