Benzinga | Jan 6, 2021 10:14AM EST

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For January 6, 2021



Upgrades

* For Regenxbio Inc (NASDAQ:RGNX), Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Strong Buy. For the third quarter, Regenxbio had an EPS of $0.23, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.94. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.97 and a 52-week-low of $20.03. At the end of the last trading period, Regenxbio closed at $44.91.

* For NanoString Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:NSTG), Cowen & Co. upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, NanoString Technologies had an EPS of $0.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.64. The stock has a 52-week-high of $75.35 and a 52-week-low of $13.85. At the end of the last trading period, NanoString Technologies closed at $68.42.

* Barclays upgraded the previous rating for Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ:WING) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Wingstop had an EPS of $0.30, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.20. The stock has a 52-week-high of $170.00 and a 52-week-low of $44.27. At the end of the last trading period, Wingstop closed at $136.06.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Mastercard had an EPS of $1.60, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of $367.25 and a 52-week-low of $199.99. At the end of the last trading period, Mastercard closed at $347.59.

* B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for The Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) from Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Hershey had an EPS of $1.86, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.61. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $161.83 and a 52-week-low of $109.88. Hershey closed at $150.74 at the end of the last trading period.

* B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ:FRPT) from Neutral to Buy. Freshpet earned $0.09 in the third quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $147.56 and a 52-week-low of $40.79. At the end of the last trading period, Freshpet closed at $140.33.

* For Fleetcor Technologies Inc (NYSE:FLT), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Fleetcor Technologies had an EPS of $2.80, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.10. The current stock performance of Fleetcor Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $329.85 and a 52-week-low of $168.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $267.07.

* For Continental Resources Inc (NYSE:CLR), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the third quarter, Continental Resources had an EPS of $0.16, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.54. The current stock performance of Continental Resources shows a 52-week-high of $36.20 and a 52-week-low of $6.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $19.22.

* According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc (NASDAQ:RRGB) was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers earned $0.19 in the third quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $37.29 and a 52-week-low of $4.04. At the end of the last trading period, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers closed at $20.11.

* For Performance Food Group Co (NYSE:PFGC), Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the first quarter, Performance Food Group had an EPS of $0.25, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.50. The current stock performance of Performance Food Group shows a 52-week-high of $54.49 and a 52-week-low of $7.41. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.28.

* For Amyris Inc (NASDAQ:AMRS), Cowen & Co. upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Amyris had an EPS of $0.18, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.45. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $8.27 and a 52-week-low of $1.40. Amyris closed at $8.02 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to Neutral. For the first quarter, Accenture had an EPS of $2.17, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.09. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $271.18 and a 52-week-low of $137.15. Accenture closed at $257.98 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Edison International (NYSE:EIX), Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. Edison Intl earned $1.67 in the third quarter, compared to $1.50 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Edison Intl shows a 52-week-high of $78.93 and a 52-week-low of $43.63. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $60.84.

* According to Deutsche bank, the prior rating for Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:COF) was changed from Hold to Buy. In the third quarter, Capital One Financial showed an EPS of $5.06, compared to $3.32 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Capital One Financial shows a 52-week-high of $107.59 and a 52-week-low of $38.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $100.18.

* For Arista Networks Inc (NYSE:ANET), Credit Suisse upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Outperform. For the third quarter, Arista Networks had an EPS of $2.42, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.69. The current stock performance of Arista Networks shows a 52-week-high of $293.78 and a 52-week-low of $156.63. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $286.09.

* According to Barclays, the prior rating for Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Barrick Gold had an EPS of $0.41, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.15. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $31.22 and a 52-week-low of $12.65. Barrick Gold closed at $24.29 at the end of the last trading period.

* For MetLife Inc (NYSE:MET), Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. MetLife earned $1.95 in the third quarter, compared to $1.54 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $53.28 and a 52-week-low of $22.85. MetLife closed at $46.65 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS) was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Cintas earned $2.62 in the second quarter, compared to $2.27 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $369.20 and a 52-week-low of $154.33. Cintas closed at $348.89 at the end of the last trading period.

* For JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:JBHT), Citigroup upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, JB Hunt Transport Servs showed an EPS of $1.18, compared to $1.40 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $144.34 and a 52-week-low of $75.29. At the end of the last trading period, JB Hunt Transport Servs closed at $138.07.

* Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating for CenterPoint Energy Inc (NYSE:CNP) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the third quarter, CenterPoint Energy showed an EPS of $0.34, compared to $0.53 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $27.53 and a 52-week-low of $11.58. CenterPoint Energy closed at $21.57 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to KeyBanc, the prior rating for Cirrus Logic Inc (NASDAQ:CRUS) was changed from Sector Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, Cirrus Logic showed an EPS of $1.26, compared to $1.55 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $91.63 and a 52-week-low of $47.04. Cirrus Logic closed at $86.36 at the end of the last trading period.



Downgrades

* For WEX Inc (NYSE:WEX), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, WEX showed an EPS of $1.59, compared to $2.59 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $236.51 and a 52-week-low of $71.12. At the end of the last trading period, WEX closed at $202.29.

* According to Wedbush, the prior rating for Regions Financial Corp (NYSE:RF) was changed from Outperform to Neutral. For the third quarter, Regions Financial had an EPS of $0.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.39. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $16.88 and a 52-week-low of $6.94. Regions Financial closed at $16.25 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Range Resources Corp (NYSE:RRC), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, Range Resources had an EPS of $0.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.07. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $9.41 and a 52-week-low of $1.61. Range Resources closed at $7.43 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Perrigo Co PLC (NYSE:PRGO), RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Sector Perform. For the third quarter, Perrigo had an EPS of $0.93, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.04. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $63.86 and a 52-week-low of $40.01. Perrigo closed at $44.28 at the end of the last trading period.

* Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating for PepsiCo Inc (NASDAQ:PEP) from Outperform to In-Line. In the third quarter, PepsiCo showed an EPS of $1.66, compared to $1.56 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $148.77 and a 52-week-low of $101.42. At the end of the last trading period, PepsiCo closed at $144.70.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for PBF Energy Inc (NYSE:PBF) was changed from Neutral to Underperform. In the third quarter, PBF Energy showed an EPS of $2.87, compared to $0.66 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $33.99 and a 52-week-low of $4.06. PBF Energy closed at $7.30 at the end of the last trading period.

* Stephens & Co. downgraded the previous rating for Magellan Health Inc (NASDAQ:MGLN) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Magellan Health showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $1.23 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Magellan Health shows a 52-week-high of $94.71 and a 52-week-low of $30.60. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $93.78.

* Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating for Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (NASDAQ:KDP) from Outperform to In-Line. Keurig Dr Pepper earned $0.39 in the third quarter, compared to $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Keurig Dr Pepper shows a 52-week-high of $32.24 and a 52-week-low of $18.98. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $31.64.

* For Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (NYSE:HII), Vertical Research downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. Huntington Ingalls Indus earned $5.45 in the third quarter, compared to $3.74 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $279.71 and a 52-week-low of $136.44. Huntington Ingalls Indus closed at $165.52 at the end of the last trading period.

* For DXC Technology Co (NYSE:DXC), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Underperform. In the second quarter, DXC Technology showed an EPS of $0.64, compared to $1.38 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of DXC Technology shows a 52-week-high of $36.97 and a 52-week-low of $7.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.88.

* B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Cabot Oil & Gas Corp (NYSE:COG) from Neutral to Underperform. Cabot Oil & Gas earned $0.09 in the third quarter, compared to $0.29 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.67 and a 52-week-low of $13.06. At the end of the last trading period, Cabot Oil & Gas closed at $16.77.

* For PNM Resources Inc (NYSE:PNM), Wells Fargo downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Underweight. For the third quarter, PNM Resources had an EPS of $1.40, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.29. The current stock performance of PNM Resources shows a 52-week-high of $56.14 and a 52-week-low of $27.08. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $48.20.

* Wells Fargo downgraded the previous rating for PG&E Corp (NYSE:PCG) from Equal-Weight to Underweight. For the third quarter, PG&E had an EPS of $0.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.11. The current stock performance of PG&E shows a 52-week-high of $18.34 and a 52-week-low of $6.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.38.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Ormat Technologies Inc (NYSE:ORA) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Ormat Technologies showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.30 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $95.19 and a 52-week-low of $53.44. At the end of the last trading period, Ormat Technologies closed at $95.05.

* For Myovant Sciences Ltd (NYSE:MYOV), Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, Myovant Sciences showed an EPS of $0.75, compared to $0.79 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $30.90 and a 52-week-low of $5.98. Myovant Sciences closed at $24.02 at the end of the last trading period.

* ScotiaBank downgraded the previous rating for Methanex Corp (NASDAQ:MEOH) from Sector Outperform to Sector Perform. In the third quarter, Methanex showed an EPS of $1.03, compared to $0.27 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Methanex shows a 52-week-high of $47.74 and a 52-week-low of $9.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $46.95.

* SVB Leerink downgraded the previous rating for Millendo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MLND) from Outperform to Market Perform. For the third quarter, Millendo Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.87. The stock has a 52-week-high of $9.88 and a 52-week-low of $1.26. At the end of the last trading period, Millendo Therapeutics closed at $1.69.

* According to Exane BNP Paribas, the prior rating for LyondellBasell Industries NV (NYSE:LYB) was changed from Neutral to Underperform. For the third quarter, LyondellBasell Industries had an EPS of $1.27, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.60. The current stock performance of LyondellBasell Industries shows a 52-week-high of $93.35 and a 52-week-low of $33.71. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $92.33.

* B. Riley FBR downgraded the previous rating for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:KTOS) from Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Kratos Defense & Security showed an EPS of $0.14, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.98 and a 52-week-low of $5.00. At the end of the last trading period, Kratos Defense & Security closed at $26.91.

* According to Deutsche bank, the prior rating for Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) was changed from Buy to Hold. For the third quarter, Coca-Cola had an EPS of $0.55, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.56. The stock has a 52-week-high of $60.13 and a 52-week-low of $36.27. At the end of the last trading period, Coca-Cola closed at $52.20.

* According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Kellogg Co (NYSE:K) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. Kellogg earned $0.91 in the third quarter, compared to $1.03 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $72.88 and a 52-week-low of $52.66. At the end of the last trading period, Kellogg closed at $61.81.

* According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Beyond Meat Inc (NASDAQ:BYND) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. In the third quarter, Beyond Meat showed an EPS of $0.28, compared to $0.06 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $197.50 and a 52-week-low of $48.18. At the end of the last trading period, Beyond Meat closed at $126.07.

* Wells Fargo downgraded the previous rating for American Electric Power Co Inc (NASDAQ:AEP) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, American Electric Power showed an EPS of $1.47, compared to $1.46 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of American Electric Power shows a 52-week-high of $104.97 and a 52-week-low of $65.14. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $81.43.



Initiations

* With a Equal-Weight rating, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Certara Inc (NASDAQ:CERT). The price target seems to have been set at $35.00 for Certara. The current stock performance of Certara shows a 52-week-high of $41.79 and a 52-week-low of $29.70. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.37.

* For Opendoor Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:OPEN), Wedbush initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Outperform. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $32.39 and a 52-week-low of $21.41. Opendoor Technologies closed at $25.60 at the end of the last trading period.

* With an Overweight rating, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on C3.ai Inc (NYSE:AI). The price target seems to have been set at $130.00 for C3.ai. The stock has a 52-week-high of $183.90 and a 52-week-low of $1.40. At the end of the last trading period, C3.ai closed at $121.76.

* Baird initiated coverage on Ventas Inc (NYSE:VTR) with a Neutral rating. The price target for Ventas is set to $49.00. Ventas earned $0.75 in the third quarter, compared to $0.96 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ventas shows a 52-week-high of $63.38 and a 52-week-low of $13.35. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.44.

* With an Overweight rating, JP Morgan initiated coverage on Scholar Rock Holding Corp (NASDAQ:SRRK). The price target seems to have been set at $59.00 for Scholar Rock Holding. Scholar Rock Holding earned $0.79 in the third quarter, compared to $0.55 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Scholar Rock Holding shows a 52-week-high of $55.16 and a 52-week-low of $9.23. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $46.45.

* Stifel initiated coverage on Sangamo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SGMO) with a Hold rating. The price target for Sangamo Therapeutics is set to $16.00. Sangamo Therapeutics earned $0.01 in the third quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.43 and a 52-week-low of $4.81. Sangamo Therapeutics closed at $16.01 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Shift Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SFT), Benchmark initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Hold. In the third quarter, Shift Technologies showed an EPS of $0.64, compared to $0.55 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $12.34 and a 52-week-low of $6.40. At the end of the last trading period, Shift Technologies closed at $8.05.

* With an Overweight rating, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on SCYNEXIS Inc (NASDAQ:SCYX). The price target seems to have been set at $30.00 for SCYNEXIS. For the third quarter, SCYNEXIS had an EPS of $0.28, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of $8.10 and a 52-week-low of $0.50. At the end of the last trading period, SCYNEXIS closed at $7.26.

* JP Morgan initiated coverage on Protagonist Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PTGX) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Protagonist Therapeutics is set to $35.00. Protagonist Therapeutics earned $0.21 in the third quarter, compared to $0.61 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $25.65 and a 52-week-low of $5.30. At the end of the last trading period, Protagonist Therapeutics closed at $19.02.

* Stifel initiated coverage on Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:NLTX) with a Buy rating. The price target for Neoleukin Therapeutics is set to $18.00. Neoleukin Therapeutics earned $0.19 in the third quarter, compared to $0.44 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $18.13 and a 52-week-low of $5.81. At the end of the last trading period, Neoleukin Therapeutics closed at $14.61.

* With a Hold rating, Stifel initiated coverage on Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR). The price target seems to have been set at $18.00 for Nektar Therapeutics. In the third quarter, Nektar Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.61, compared to $0.56 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $28.60 and a 52-week-low of $13.63. Nektar Therapeutics closed at $17.98 at the end of the last trading period.

* Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on Nanobiotix SA (NASDAQ:NBTX) with an Outperform rating. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $21.55 and a 52-week-low of $15.89. Nanobiotix closed at $19.36 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a Hold rating, Stifel initiated coverage on Beam Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:BEAM). The price target seems to have been set at $84.00 for Beam Therapeutics. Beam Therapeutics earned $0.69 in the third quarter, compared to $3.31 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $100.65 and a 52-week-low of $13.00. Beam Therapeutics closed at $84.07 at the end of the last trading period.

* Rosenblatt initiated coverage on Alteryx Inc (NYSE:AYX) with a Buy rating. The price target for Alteryx is set to $150.00. Alteryx earned $0.39 in the third quarter, compared to $0.24 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Alteryx shows a 52-week-high of $185.75 and a 52-week-low of $75.17. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $112.84.

* With a Buy rating, Chardan Capital initiated coverage on Vincera Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:VINC). The price target seems to have been set at $33.00 for Vincera Pharma. The current stock performance of Vincera Pharma shows a 52-week-high of $22.28 and a 52-week-low of $17.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $19.45.