Benzinga | Aug 12, 2020 09:41AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For August 12, 2020

Upgrades

* According to Sidoti & Co., the prior rating for Spire Inc (NYSE:SR) was changed from Neutral to Buy. Spire earned $0.07 in the third quarter, compared to $0.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $88.00 and a 52-week-low of $57.37. At the end of the last trading period, Spire closed at $62.46.

* According to Colliers Securities, the prior rating for Commercial Vehicle Group Inc (NASDAQ:CVGI) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Commercial Vehicle Group had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.26. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $8.02 and a 52-week-low of $1.24. Commercial Vehicle Group closed at $3.92 at the end of the last trading period.

* BTIG upgraded the previous rating for i3 Verticals Inc (NASDAQ:IIIV) from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, i3 Verticals had an EPS of $0.13, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.20. The stock has a 52-week-high of $37.85 and a 52-week-low of $13.01. At the end of the last trading period, i3 Verticals closed at $28.86.

* For Atlas Technical Consultants Inc (NASDAQ:ATCX), DA Davidson upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. Atlas Technical earned $0.07 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.14 and a 52-week-low of $5.00. Atlas Technical closed at $8.95 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for PPL Corp (NYSE:PPL) was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the second quarter, PPL had an EPS of $0.55, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.58. The current stock performance of PPL shows a 52-week-high of $36.83 and a 52-week-low of $18.12. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.42.

* According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Mesa Air Group Inc (NASDAQ:MESA) was changed from Hold to Buy. Mesa Air Group earned $0.10 in the third quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $9.65 and a 52-week-low of $2.05. At the end of the last trading period, Mesa Air Group closed at $3.71.

* For MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:MELI), Susquehanna upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Positive. For the second quarter, MercadoLibre had an EPS of $1.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.31. The stock has a 52-week-high of $1270.00 and a 52-week-low of $422.22. At the end of the last trading period, MercadoLibre closed at $1100.01.

* RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating for Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE:JCI) from Sector Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Johnson Controls Intl had an EPS of $0.67, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. The current stock performance of Johnson Controls Intl shows a 52-week-high of $44.82 and a 52-week-low of $22.77. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $40.78.

* Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Seres Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MCRB) from Hold to Buy. Seres Therapeutics earned $0.28 in the second quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.00 and a 52-week-low of $2.52. At the end of the last trading period, Seres Therapeutics closed at $20.04.



Downgrades

According to Craig-Hallum, the prior rating for Motorcar Parts of America Inc (NASDAQ:MPAA) was changed from Buy to Hold. In the first quarter, Motorcar Parts of America showed an EPS of $0.04, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.60 and a 52-week-low of $10.43. At the end of the last trading period, Motorcar Parts of America closed at $18.38.

For Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ALNY), Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Perform. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals earned $1.67 in the second quarter, compared to $1.83 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $167.33 and a 52-week-low of $73.32. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals closed at $136.61 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Sidoti & Co., the prior rating for Powell Industries Inc (NASDAQ:POWL) was changed from Buy to Neutral. Powell Industries earned $0.30 in the third quarter, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Powell Industries shows a 52-week-high of $50.80 and a 52-week-low of $15.62. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.73.

For Q2 Holdings Inc (NYSE:QTWO), Gabelli & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Hold. Q2 Holdings earned $0.07 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Q2 Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $106.44 and a 52-week-low of $47.17. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $93.49.

According to Argus Research, the prior rating for Nucor Corp (NYSE:NUE) was changed from Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Nucor showed an EPS of $0.36, compared to $1.31 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $58.70 and a 52-week-low of $27.52. At the end of the last trading period, Nucor closed at $45.41.

Argus Research downgraded the previous rating for Motorola Solutions Inc (NYSE:MSI) from Buy to Hold. Motorola Solutions earned $1.39 in the second quarter, compared to $1.69 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $187.49 and a 52-week-low of $120.77. Motorola Solutions closed at $142.97 at the end of the last trading period.

For Two Harbors Investment Corp (NYSE:TWO), Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Market Perform. For the second quarter, Two Harbors Investment had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.39. The stock has a 52-week-high of $15.85 and a 52-week-low of $2.25. At the end of the last trading period, Two Harbors Investment closed at $5.58.

For GTT Communications Inc (NYSE:GTT), Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Underperform. For the first quarter, GTT Communications had an EPS of $1.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of $15.77 and a 52-week-low of $3.94. At the end of the last trading period, GTT Communications closed at $4.96.

According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for Pan American Silver Corp (NASDAQ:PAAS) was changed from Buy to Hold. Pan American Silver earned $0.28 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $40.11 and a 52-week-low of $10.61. At the end of the last trading period, Pan American Silver closed at $32.04.

Stephens & Co. downgraded the previous rating for Beacon Roofing Supply Inc (NASDAQ:BECN) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Beacon Roofing Supply earned $1.01 in the third quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $36.78 and a 52-week-low of $11.66. Beacon Roofing Supply closed at $30.44 at the end of the last trading period.

According to JMP Securities, the prior rating for Pfenex Inc (AMEX:PFNX) was changed from Market Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Pfenex showed an EPS of $0.30, compared to $0.24 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Pfenex shows a 52-week-high of $14.00 and a 52-week-low of $5.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.85.

According to RBC Capital, the prior rating for Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON) was changed from Outperform to Sector Perform. For the second quarter, Honeywell International had an EPS of $1.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.10. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $184.06 and a 52-week-low of $101.08. Honeywell International closed at $160.30 at the end of the last trading period.

For Esperion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ESPR), Credit Suisse downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, Esperion Therapeutics had an EPS of $4.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.01. The stock has a 52-week-high of $76.98 and a 52-week-low of $24.82. At the end of the last trading period, Esperion Therapeutics closed at $33.48.

According to BTIG, the prior rating for Varian Medical Systems Inc (NYSE:VAR) was changed from Buy to Neutral. Varian Medical Systems earned $0.78 in the third quarter, compared to $1.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $176.19 and a 52-week-low of $89.62. At the end of the last trading period, Varian Medical Systems closed at $173.27.

For Consolidated Edison Inc (NYSE:ED), KeyBanc downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Sector Weight. For the second quarter, Consolidated Edison had an EPS of $0.60, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.58. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $95.10 and a 52-week-low of $62.03. Consolidated Edison closed at $73.26 at the end of the last trading period.



Initiations

* JP Morgan initiated coverage on Berkeley Lights Inc (NASDAQ:BLI) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Berkeley Lights is set to $75.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $77.99 and a 52-week-low of $55.85. Berkeley Lights closed at $56.42 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Pandion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PAND). The price target seems to have been set at $25.00 for Pandion Therapeutics. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.74 and a 52-week-low of $16.67. Pandion Therapeutics closed at $18.85 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, Stifel initiated coverage on Renalytix AI PLC (NASDAQ:RNLX). The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Renalytix AI. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.00 and a 52-week-low of $14.06. Renalytix AI closed at $15.68 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on ALX Oncology Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ALXO). The price target seems to have been set at $64.00 for ALX Oncology Holdings. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.00 and a 52-week-low of $29.06. ALX Oncology Holdings closed at $41.02 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Outperform, SVB Leerink initiated coverage on Pandion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PAND). The price target seems to have been set at $24.00 for Pandion Therapeutics. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.74 and a 52-week-low of $16.67. At the end of the last trading period, Pandion Therapeutics closed at $18.85.

* Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Vivint Smart Home Inc (NYSE:VVNT) with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Vivint Smart Home is set to $19.00. Vivint Smart Home earned $0.49 in the second quarter. The current stock performance of Vivint Smart Home shows a 52-week-high of $32.00 and a 52-week-low of $8.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.38.

* With a current rating of Outperform, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Twelve Seas Investment Co (NASDAQ:BROG). The price target seems to have been set at $13.00 for Twelve Seas Investment. In the third quarter, Twelve Seas Investment earned $0.02. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.98 and a 52-week-low of $7.36. At the end of the last trading period, Twelve Seas Investment closed at $9.72.

* Jefferies initiated coverage on Bellerophon Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:BLPH) with a Buy rating. The price target for Bellerophon Therapeutics is set to $19.00. For the second quarter, Bellerophon Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.51, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.06. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $26.00 and a 52-week-low of $0.27. Bellerophon Therapeutics closed at $12.06 at the end of the last trading period.

* Piper Sandler initiated coverage on ALX Oncology Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ALXO) with an Overweight rating. The price target for ALX Oncology Holdings is set to $55.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.00 and a 52-week-low of $29.06. ALX Oncology Holdings closed at $41.02 at the end of the last trading period.