Here Are Friday’s Top Wall Street Analyst Research Calls: Baker Hughes, Etsy, HubSpot, Instacart, JetBlue, Roku, SpaceX, Tower Semiconductor, Trade Desk, and More
Wall Street analysts reshuffled their ratings on Friday with some bold calls that could move money fast, including a dramatic target cut on Trade Desk and a fresh Buy on SpaceX as markets brace for next week's inflation data.
Pre-Market Stock Futures:
Futures are trading modestly higher as we get ready to wrap up the first full week of August trading. It was fun while it lasted, but at least on Thursday, the risk-on party took a break on a strong mid-day reversal, as lousy forward guidance from two top technology leaders, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK | SNDK Price Prediction) and Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC), and more Strait of Hormuz concerns with Iran, and the ongoing war took its toll on stocks. When the smoke cleared and the final bell rang, all four major indices were lower but had rallied off their lows of the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average took the biggest hit, closing down 0.85% at 53,885, ending a five-day winning streak, while the small-cap Russell 2000, which is still the leading index for 2026, closed down 0.53 at 3,003. The S&P 5000 finished down 0.18% at 7,709, and the Nasdaq closed at 25,348, down just 0.06%. Next week could be pivotal for stocks and the bond market, as the consumer price index for July will be released on Wednesday, and the producer price index the following day. Any big jump in inflation will almost guarantee a 25-basis-point (1/4 of 1%) rate increase at the next Federal Reserve meeting in September. With 78% of the S&P 500 having reported second-quarter results, earnings news will start to slow.
Treasury Bonds:
After a solid week for the bond market, the sellers returned on Thursday as rising oil prices once again fanned the inflation flames, and recent hawkish commentary from a variety of Fed governors provided a tailwind for the sellers. By the close, yields were higher across the entire Treasury curve, with the longer maturities posting the largest declines. The 30-year long bond closed at 5.21%, while the benchmark 10-year note was last seen at 4.67%.
Oil and Gas:
Prices rose across the energy complex after Iran published a highly restrictive draft plan for the Strait of Hormuz, which was not well-received. When the final print hit the tape, Brent Crude closed the day up 4.44% at $82.98, while West Texas Intermediate closed higher by 3.30% at $77.71. Natural Gas closed the session at $2.64, down 1.79%.
Gold:
The precious metals had a volatile day after jumping sharply higher in the morning. The prices pulled back in the afternoon despite all the factors favoring Gold and Silver returning to the table, such as higher oil prices, a return of inflation fears, and volatile geopolitical news. The last trade for Gold was posted at $4,246, basically unchanged on the day, while Silver was last seen at $61.49, down o.70%
Crypto:
24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports every day to identify fresh investment ideas for investors and traders alike. These daily analyst notes include recommendations on stocks to buy, sell, or avoid, as well as new coverage initiations. Important reminder: No single analyst report should ever be the sole basis for buying or selling a stock.
Here are some of the top Wall Street analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen on Friday, August 7, 2026.
Upgrades:
- Etsy (NYSE: ETSY) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan, which raised the target price to $100 from $85.
- Instacart (NASDAQ: CART) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BNP Paribas, with a $56 target price.
- Roche Holding (OTC: RHHBY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley, which lifted the price target for the shares to $63 from $46.
- Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR) was raised to Overweight from Sector Weight at KeyBanc, with an $807 target price.
- Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Argus, with a $160 target price.
Downgrades:
- HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital, which trimmed the target price for the shares to $215 from $230.
- JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral by Citigroup, which lowered the price target to $5.30 from $6.60.
- Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Guggenheim, which lifted the target price for the stock to $160 from $145.
- Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH) was downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley, which has a $72 target price.
- Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Baird, which slashed thje price target for the stock to $9 from $27.
Initiations:
- ADI Global Distribution (NYSE: ADIG) was initiated with a Neutral rating at JPMorgan, with a $25 target price.
- Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) was started with an Overweight rating at Morgan Stanley, which has a $70 target for the oilfield services giant.
- Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI) was resumed in coverage with a Neutral rating at JPMorgan, with a $30 target price.
- Sutro Biopharma (NASDAQ: STRO) was initiated with a Buy rating at Stifel, with a $48 target price.
- Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ: TSEM) was initiated with a Buy rating at Bank of America, which has a $367 target price objective.
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Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.
Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.
Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.
Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.
