Investing

Morning Analyst Calls Briefing for Friday, October 21, 2022

Here is a first look at analyst research calls made early Friday morning.

By Paul Ausick
Published October 21, 2022, 7:48am ET · 1 min read

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This abstract digital representation of market data reflects the complex and often mixed signals observed in the cloud-native software sector, influenced by ongoing AI disruption. © monsitj / Getty Images

This report was sent to Briefing.com subscribers earlier today. 

Upgrades:

  • Farmers and Merchants (FMAO) upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Piper Sandler; tgt $27
  • HealthEquity (HQY) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman; tgt raised to $77
  • Qualys (QLYS) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Berenberg; tgt $168
  • Qualys (QLYS) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Needham; tgt $185

Downgrades:

  • Cognizant Tech (CTSH) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA Securities; tgt lowered to $68
  • Hain Celestial (HAIN) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt lowered to $17
  • Rapid7 (RPD) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Berenberg; tgt $44
  • Rapid7 (RPD) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Needham

Others:

  • Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) initiated with a Hold at Truist; tgt $26
  • Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (AMPH) assumed with a Buy at Jefferies; tgt $36
  • Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) initiated with an Underperform at Credit Suisse; tgt $20
  • Axonics Modulation (AXNX) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts; tgt $85
  • BlackLine (BL) initiated with a Sell at Goldman; tgt $57
  • E2open (ETWO) initiated with a Neutral at Goldman; tgt $5.50
  • NextGen Healthcare (NXGN) assumed with a Neutral at Piper Sandler; tgt $20
  • OptiNose (OPTN) assumed with a Buy at Jefferies; tgt $5
  • Vertex (VERX) initiated with a Buy at Goldman; tgt $20
  • Workiva (WK) initiated with a Buy at Goldman; tgt $101
  • Zuora (ZUO) initiated with a Neutral at Goldman; tgt $9

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Paul Ausick

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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