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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Apple, Biogen, Costco, Kroger, Humana, Patterson-UTI and More
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The futures initially traded higher Friday morning but then retreated as the market has an eye on the beginning of the Trump administration’s trade tariffs, which go into effect today. With the nonfarm payroll numbers coming in once again better than expected, there could be some heightened volatility. The trend of buying the dips has not worked as well as it has in prior years, and many investors have been considering how they want their investments 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 Friday, July 7, 2018.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) saw its price target at Loop Capital raised to $210 from $195. That compares with the Wall Street consensus price target of $200.06. The shares closed trading on Thursday at $185.40.
Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup. The 52-week trading range for the biotechnology behemoth is $249.17 to $370.57. The consensus price target is $349.87. The stock closed Thursday at $298.81, and the shares are up almost 13% in the premarket. Yesterday, the company said the new Alzheimer drug it is working on shows the potential to slow the disease.
Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Northcoast. The warehouse retailing giant has traded in a 52-week range of $150 to $212.46, and the consensus price target is posted at $215.39. The shares closed Thursday at $209.14.
Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) was downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan. The 52-week range for the media giant is $7.94 to $12.38, and the consensus price target is $11.75. The stock ended trading on Thursday at $10.84.
Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) was started with a Buy rating at Citigroup. The 52-week trading range for the grocery giant is $19.69 to $31.35. The consensus price target is set at $30.18, and the stock closed Thursday at $28.60.
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) saw its price target raised at Piper Jaffray to $350 from $326. That compares with a consensus price target of $319.63. The stock closed Thursday at $306.16.
ManTech International Corp. (NASDAQ: MANT) was raised to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust. The stock has traded between $37.02 and $62.24 a share over the past year. The consensus price target is $58.33, and the shares ended trading Thursday at $55.14.
Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. (NYSE: PTEN) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Guggenheim. The 52-week trading range for the oil drilling company is $14.83 to $25.05, and the consensus price target is $25.06. The shares ended trading on Thursday at $17.75.
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Penn Virginia Corp. (NASDAQ: PVAC) saw its price target at Ladenburg Thalmann raised to $110 from $100. The consensus target is $84.60, and the stock closed trading Thursday at $89.01.
U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Guggenheim. The 52-week trading range is $23.75 to $38.70. The consensus price target is set at $35.93, and the stock closed Thursday at $26.
Other key analysts upgrades and downgrades were seen in the following:
Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE: AAP) saw its price target raised to $155 from $135 at Argus. The consensus price target is $127.41. The shares ended trading on Thursday at $135.86.
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) saw its price target at Loop Capital raised to $27 from $26. That compares with a consensus target of $24.22. The stock closed Thursday at $23.55.
Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Argus. The 52-week trading range for the cruise line is $56.45 to $72.70, and the consensus price objective is $73.48. The stock closed Thursday at $56.89.
Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) was started with a Buy rating at Citigroup. The 52-week trading range for the discount retailer is $88.60 to $105.82, and the consensus price target is set at $105.63.
LSC Communications Inc. (NYSE: LKSD) was downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan. The 52-week trading range is $11.58 to $21.95. The consensus price objective is set at $17.33, and the shares closed Thursday at $16.24.
TETRA Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TTI) was started with a Buy rating and an $8 price target at B. Riley FBR. The consensus target is $5.93. The firm feels that TETRA has begun to commercialize a breakthrough high-density fluid, CS Neptune, with explosive sales potential. The stock closed Thursday at $4.53.
VEON Inc. (NASDAQ: VEON) is raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs. The 52-week trading range is $2.20 to $4.47, and the consensus price target is posted at $3.99. The shares closed Thursday at $3.03.
In case you missed it, here are Thursday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Allergan, Cheniere Energy, Clean Energy, Facebook, Fiat, Chrysler, Intel, NetApp and more.
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