Benzinga | Sep 9, 2020 09:45AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For September 9, 2020

Upgrades

* For Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. In the second quarter, Duke Energy showed an EPS of $1.08, compared to $1.12 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $103.79 and a 52-week-low of $62.13. At the end of the last trading period, Duke Energy closed at $80.67.

* BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating for Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW) from Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Sherwin-Williams showed an EPS of $7.10, compared to $6.57 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Sherwin-Williams shows a 52-week-high of $699.81 and a 52-week-low of $325.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $669.41.

* According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for SmileDirectClub Inc (NASDAQ:SDC) was changed from Underperform to Peer Perform. Interestingly, in the second quarter, SmileDirectClub's EPS was $0.13. The current stock performance of SmileDirectClub shows a 52-week-high of $21.10 and a 52-week-low of $3.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.57.

* For Thor Industries Inc (NYSE:THO), BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Outperform. For the third quarter, Thor Industries had an EPS of $0.43, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.65. The current stock performance of Thor Industries shows a 52-week-high of $121.33 and a 52-week-low of $32.30. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $92.41.

* For Aramark (NYSE:ARMK), Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. In the third quarter, Aramark showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.47 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $47.22 and a 52-week-low of $9.65. At the end of the last trading period, Aramark closed at $27.94.

* For Invitation Homes Inc (NYSE:INVH), Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Sell to the current rating Buy. Invitation Homes earned $0.32 in the second quarter, compared to $0.31 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Invitation Homes shows a 52-week-high of $32.70 and a 52-week-low of $15.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.19.

* Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating for Vivint Smart Home Inc (NYSE:VVNT) from Hold to Buy. Vivint Smart Home earned $0.49 in the second quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $32.00 and a 52-week-low of $8.51. At the end of the last trading period, Vivint Smart Home closed at $15.58.

* MKM Partners upgraded the previous rating for Continental Resources Inc (NYSE:CLR) from Neutral to Buy. Continental Resources earned $0.71 in the second quarter, compared to $0.59 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Continental Resources shows a 52-week-high of $40.25 and a 52-week-low of $6.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.13.



Downgrades

* According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Gogo Inc (NASDAQ:GOGO) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the second quarter, Gogo had an EPS of $1.04, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $10.68 and a 52-week-low of $1.33. Gogo closed at $9.06 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Apartment Investment & Management Co (NYSE:AIV), Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, Apartment Inv & Mgmt had an EPS of $0.63, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.60. The current stock performance of Apartment Inv & Mgmt shows a 52-week-high of $55.68 and a 52-week-low of $24.53. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $36.79.

* For Essex Property Trust Inc (NYSE:ESS), Piper Sandler downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, Essex Property Trust had an EPS of $3.16, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.33. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $334.17 and a 52-week-low of $175.81. Essex Property Trust closed at $221.74 at the end of the last trading period.



Initiations

* Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Veracyte Inc (NASDAQ:VCYT) with an Underweight rating. The price target for Veracyte is set to $35.00. Veracyte earned $0.22 in the second quarter, compared to $0.05 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Veracyte shows a 52-week-high of $36.42 and a 52-week-low of $13.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $30.70.

* Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (NYSE:SPR) with an Underweight rating. The price target for Spirit AeroSystems Hldgs is set to $18.00. Spirit AeroSystems Hldgs earned $2.28 in the second quarter, compared to $1.71 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $92.81 and a 52-week-low of $13.69. At the end of the last trading period, Spirit AeroSystems Hldgs closed at $20.23.

* Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Pacific Biosciences of California Inc (NASDAQ:PACB) with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Pacific Biosciences is set to $7.00. In the second quarter, Pacific Biosciences showed an EPS of $0.15, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $7.25 and a 52-week-low of $2.20. Pacific Biosciences closed at $6.51 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Equal-Weight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on NanoString Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:NSTG). The price target seems to have been set at $43.00 for NanoString Technologies. NanoString Technologies earned $0.72 in the second quarter, compared to $0.57 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of NanoString Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $42.32 and a 52-week-low of $13.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.95.

* With a current rating of Outperform, Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:DKNG). The price target seems to have been set at $60.00 for DraftKings. In the second quarter, DraftKings showed an EPS of $0.55, compared to $0.15 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of DraftKings shows a 52-week-high of $44.79 and a 52-week-low of $18.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.01.

* With a current rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on Everi Holdings Inc (NYSE:EVRI). The price target seems to have been set at $12.00 for Everi Holdings. Everi Holdings earned $0.63 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $14.88 and a 52-week-low of $1.55. At the end of the last trading period, Everi Holdings closed at $7.08.

* With a current rating of Equal-Weight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN). The price target seems to have been set at $400.00 for Illumina. Illumina earned $0.62 in the second quarter, compared to $1.35 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Illumina shows a 52-week-high of $404.20 and a 52-

* Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Stitch Fix Inc (NASDAQ:SFIX) with a Buy rating. The price target for Stitch Fix is set to $34.00. Stitch Fix earned $0.33 in the third quarter, compared to $0.07 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Stitch Fix shows a 52-week-high of $30.44 and a 52-week-low of $10.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.60.

* With a current rating of Buy, DA Davidson initiated coverage on eGain Corp (NASDAQ:EGAN). The price target seems to have been set at $16.00 for eGain. In the fourth quarter, eGain showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of eGain shows a 52-week-high of $14.85 and a 52-week-low of $4.80. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $11.14.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Five9 Inc (NASDAQ:FIVN). The price target seems to have been set at $133.00 for Five9. Five9 earned $0.21 in the second quarter, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $131.98 and a 52-week-low of $50.73. At the end of the last trading period, Five9 closed at $111.84.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Guardant Health Inc (NASDAQ:GH). The price target seems to have been set at $110.00 for Guardant Health. In the second quarter, Guardant Health showed an EPS of $0.57, compared to $0.13 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Guardant Health shows a 52-week-high of $100.00 and a 52-week-low of $55.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $90.97.

* With a current rating of Overweight, JP Morgan initiated coverage on Horizon Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ:HZNP). The price target seems to have been set at $110.00 for Horizon Therapeutics. Horizon Therapeutics earned $0.40 in the second quarter, compared to $0.49 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $78.93 and a 52-week-low of $23.81. Horizon Therapeutics closed at $69.70 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Equal-Weight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Invitae Corp (NYSE:NVTA). The price target seems to have been set at $38.00 for Invitae. In the second quarter, Invitae showed an EPS of $0.77, compared to $0.52 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $37.22 and a 52-week-low of $7.42. Invitae closed at $30.23 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, Loop Capital initiated coverage on Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS). The price target seems to have been set at $140.00 for Qualys. For the second quarter, Qualys had an EPS of $0.74, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.55. The current stock performance of Qualys shows a 52-week-high of $125.22 and a 52-week-low of $63.37. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $98.67.

* With a current rating of Hold, Loop Capital initiated coverage on SailPoint Technologies Holdings Inc (NYSE:SAIL). The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for SailPoint Technologies. SailPoint Technologies earned $0.15 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $41.29 and a 52-week-low of $11.61. At the end of the last trading period, SailPoint Technologies closed at $37.41.

* Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) with an Outperform rating. The price target for FedEx is set to $300.00. FedEx earned $2.53 in the fourth quarter, compared to $5.01 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of FedEx shows a 52-week-high of $231.58 and a 52-week-low of $88.69. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $221.09.