Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades: AMD, Amazon, Autodesk, Charles Schwab, Intel, Micron, Regions Financial, Stitch Fix, Uber and More

July 22, 2019 by Jon C. Ogg

Stocks were indicated to open slightly higher on the prospects of better earnings on Monday, even with oil up as tensions with Iran rise. Despite some profit-taking and some of the market’s key stocks off after earnings, the major indexes remain close to all-time highs. Investors have many reasons to remain cautious, but they also should be considering how they want their assets positioned for the rest of 2019 and beyond.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week to find new ideas for investors and traders alike. Some of these analyst reports cover stocks to buy, while others cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

Additional commentary has been added on most of the daily analyst reports, along with trading history. The consensus analyst price targets and other valuation metrics are from the Refinitiv (Thomson Reuters) sell-side research service.

These were the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen on Monday, July 22, 2019.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) was started as Neutral and assigned a $28 target price at Atlantic Equities. Shares closed down 1.5% at $32.51, in a 52-week range of $15.72 to $34.86. The consensus target price is $31.56.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was reiterated as Overweight and the target price was raised to $2,200 from $2,100 at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Shares closed down 0.7% at $1,964.52, in a 52-week range of $1,307.00 to $2,050.50. The consensus target price is $2,243.50.

Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $56 from $48 at Goldman Sachs. Shares closed down 0.8% at $47.81, in a 52-week range of $28.79 to $50.39. The consensus target price is $51.10.

Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) was started with a Buy rating and a $210 target price at Citigroup.

BridgeBio Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: BBIO) was started as Outperform with a $49 target price at BMO Capital Markets.

Brunswick Corp. (NYSE: BC) was maintained as Overweight but the target price was cut to $55 from $65 at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE: SCHW) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo.

Eidos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: EIDX) was started as Overweight and the price target was set at $55 at Piper Jaffray.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) was started with an Underweight rating and assigned a $38 price target at Atlantic Equities. Shares closed up 0.7% at $50.27, in a 52-week range of $42.36 to $59.59. The consensus target price is $51.74.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (NYSE: ICE) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy and the price target was raised to $99 from $92 at Citigroup.

Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.

KLA-Tencor Corp. (NASDAQ: KLAC) was raised to Neutral from Sell and the price target was raised to $130 from $104 at Goldman Sachs.

Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ: LRCX) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $231 from $197 at Goldman Sachs.


Linx S.A. (NYSE: LINX) was started as Buy and assigned an $11 target price (versus a $9.10 prior close) at Jefferies.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy and the target price was lowered to $93 from $107 (versus an $85.92 close) at Nomura/Instinet.

M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight and the price target was lowered to $168 from $196 at Piper Jaffray.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy but the price target was raised to $25 from $24 at Goldman Sachs.

Micro Focus International PLC (NYSE: MFGP) was started as Hold and assigned a $21 target price at Jefferies.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $56 from $40 at Goldman Sachs. Shares closed up 1.9% at $45.52, in a 52-week range of $28.39 to $55.40. The consensus target price is $43.96.

Nasdaq Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral but the target price was raised to $95 from $93 at Citigroup.

New Media Investment Group Inc. (NYSE: NEWM) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $14 from $10 at Citigroup.

PaySign Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYS) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral with a $12 price target (versus a $17.50 close) at BTIG. Shares were indicated down 6.5% at $16.36 after the call.

Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) was raised to Outperform from Neutral and the price target was raised to $17 from $15 at Wedbush Securities. Shares closed up 2.3% at $15.13, in a 52-week range of $12.39 to $19.99. The consensus target price is $16.77.

Stitch Fix Inc. (NASDAQ: SFIX) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $35 target price at Stifel.

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) was started with a Hold rating and assigned a $49 target price at HSBC. Shares closed down 1.2% at $43.18, in a 52-week range of $36.08 to $47.08. The consensus target price is $53.86.

Westlake Chemical Corp. (NYSE: WLK) was downgraded to Reduce from Neutral and the target price was lowered to $57 from $58 at Nomura/Instinet.

Zacks has named Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) as its Bull of the Day, saying that just one look at its chart will show ample opportunity going forward. The Bear of the Day is AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR). Zacks noted that estimates have ticked lower, which is a concern, but this stock is worth a deeper look.

Check out five stocks trading under $10 with hefty upside potential.

From our weekend reviews, see why Nomura/Instinet now expects IBM to handily outperform Apple heading into 2020.

Merrill Lynch has five picks on its key US 1 list that have huge dividends.

We also have featured 10 dividend stocks that can keep growing their payout by 10% or more for at least the next five years.

Friday’s top analyst calls included Alcoa, Chipotle Mexican Grill, CrowdStrike, Deckers Outdoor, Grubhub, Philip Morris International, Skechers USA and many more.

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