Benzinga | Aug 13, 2020 09:33AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For August 13, 2020

Upgrades

* According to Gordon Haskett, the prior rating for Brinker International Inc (NYSE:EAT) was changed from Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, Brinker International showed an EPS of $0.88, compared to $1.36 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $47.57 and a 52-week-low of $7.00. At the end of the last trading period, Brinker International closed at $34.56.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for CNH Industrial NV (NYSE:CNHI) was changed from Neutral to Overweight. In the second quarter, CNH Industrial showed an EPS of $0.07, compared to $0.31 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $11.99 and a 52-week-low of $5.06. CNH Industrial closed at $7.84 at the end of the last trading period.

* For The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL), Oppenheimer upgraded the previous rating of Perform to the current rating Outperform. Estee Lauder Cos earned $0.86 in the third quarter, compared to $1.28 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $220.42 and a 52-week-low of $137.01. At the end of the last trading period, Estee Lauder Cos closed at $211.46.

* Northcoast Research upgraded the previous rating for KAR Auction Services Inc (NYSE:KAR) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, KAR Auction Services showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.30 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of KAR Auction Services shows a 52-week-high of $28.61 and a 52-week-low of $9.41. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.84.

* According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Southwestern Energy Co (NYSE:SWN) was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. For the second quarter, Southwestern Energy had an EPS of $0.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The stock has a 52-week-high of $3.90 and a 52-week-low of $1.06. At the end of the last trading period, Southwestern Energy closed at $3.04.

* According to Evercore ISI Group, the prior rating for StoneCo Ltd (NASDAQ:STNE) was changed from In-Line to Outperform. StoneCo earned $0.10 in the second quarter, compared to $0.16 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of StoneCo shows a 52-week-high of $55.00 and a 52-week-low of $17.72. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $49.29.

* For American Financial Group Inc (NYSE:AFG), Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating Market Perform. American Financial Group earned $1.05 in the second quarter, compared to $2.12 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $115.03 and a 52-week-low of $44.01. American Financial Group closed at $68.22 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Revolve Group Inc (NYSE:RVLV), Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Strong Buy. In the second quarter, Revolve Group showed an EPS of $0.20, compared to $0.18 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $27.99 and a 52-week-low of $7.17. At the end of the last trading period, Revolve Group closed at $19.41.

* According to Piper Sandler, the prior rating for Cimarex Energy Co (NYSE:XEC) was changed from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Cimarex Energy had an EPS of $0.51, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.82. The stock has a 52-week-high of $55.29 and a 52-week-low of $12.15. At the end of the last trading period, Cimarex Energy closed at $29.21.

* Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating for Keysight Technologies Inc (NYSE:KEYS) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Keysight Technologies showed an EPS of $0.78, compared to $1.22 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $110.00 and a 52-week-low of $77.93. Keysight Technologies closed at $99.62 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) was changed from Underweight to Neutral. Occidental Petroleum earned $1.76 in the second quarter, compared to $0.97 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $48.85 and a 52-week-low of $9.00. Occidental Petroleum closed at $14.92 at the end of the last trading period.



Downgrades

* For Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc (NASDAQ:CBMG), Baird downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Neutral. In the second quarter, Cellular Biomedicine Gr showed an EPS of $0.70, compared to $0.63 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.50 and a 52-week-low of $10.98. Cellular Biomedicine Gr closed at $19.27 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Deere & Co (NYSE:DE), JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underweight. In the second quarter, Deere showed an EPS of $2.11, compared to $3.52 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $195.85 and a 52-week-low of $106.14. At the end of the last trading period, Deere closed at $192.30.

* Seaport Global downgraded the previous rating for KB Home (NYSE:KBH) from Buy to Neutral. KB Home earned $0.55 in the second quarter, compared to $0.51 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $40.51 and a 52-week-low of $9.82. KB Home closed at $36.87 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Noble Energy Inc (NASDAQ:NBL) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Noble Energy earned $0.24 in the second quarter, compared to $0.10 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Noble Energy shows a 52-week-high of $27.31 and a 52-week-low of $2.73. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.72.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Oshkosh Corp (NYSE:OSK) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. Oshkosh earned $1.29 in the third quarter, compared to $2.72 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $95.62 and a 52-week-low of $46.72. Oshkosh closed at $83.30 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for Varex Imaging Corp (NASDAQ:VREX) was changed from Outperform to Perform. Varex Imaging earned $0.20 in the third 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 $14.27. At the end of the last trading period, Varex Imaging closed at $16.00.

* According to Deutsche Bank, the prior rating for BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc (NYSE:BJ) was changed from Buy to Hold. In the first quarter, BJ's Wholesale Club showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $0.26 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $43.10 and a 52-week-low of $18.84. At the end of the last trading period, BJ's Wholesale Club closed at $41.64.

* For Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. Ameren earned $0.98 in the second quarter, compared to $0.72 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Ameren shows a 52-week-high of $87.66 and a 52-week-low of $58.74. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $81.99.

* For Invesco Ltd (NYSE:IVZ), Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Underweight. Invesco earned $0.35 in the second quarter, compared to $0.65 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.01 and a 52-week-low of $6.38. Invesco closed at $11.39 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Carpenter Technology Corp (NYSE:CRS), Cowen & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Market Perform. In the fourth quarter, Carpenter Tech showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $1.00 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $56.33 and a 52-week-low of $13.60. Carpenter Tech closed at $23.99 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for Allegheny Technologies Inc (NYSE:ATI) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Allegheny Technologies showed an EPS of $0.02, compared to $0.40 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $24.17 and a 52-week-low of $4.95. Allegheny Technologies closed at $9.32 at the end of the last trading period.

* Deutsche Bank downgraded the previous rating for Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Micron Technology showed an EPS of $0.82, compared to $1.05 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $61.19 and a 52-week-low of $31.13. At the end of the last trading period, Micron Technology closed at $48.48.

* Goldman Sachs downgraded the previous rating for Nabors Industries Ltd (NYSE:NBR) from Neutral to Sell. In the second quarter, Nabors Industries showed an EPS of $14.45, compared to $0.41 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $87.00 and a 52-week-low of $0.20. Nabors Industries closed at $55.16 at the end of the last trading period.

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Initiations

* Barclays initiated coverage on Ameriprise Financial Inc (NYSE:AMP) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Ameriprise Financial is set to $195.00. In the second quarter, Ameriprise Financial showed an EPS of $2.64, compared to $4.06 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $180.85 and a 52-week-low of $80.01. At the end of the last trading period, Ameriprise Financial closed at $161.18.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Barclays initiated coverage on LPL Financial Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:LPLA). The price target seems to have been set at $100.00 for LPL Finl Hldgs. LPL Finl Hldgs earned $1.42 in the second quarter, compared to $1.85 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $99.60 and a 52-week-low of $32.01. At the end of the last trading period, LPL Finl Hldgs closed at $84.37.

* Truist Securities initiated coverage on TCR2 Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:TCRR) with a Buy rating. The price target for TCR2 Therapeutics is set to $40.00. For the first quarter, TCR2 Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $4.85. The current stock performance of TCR2 Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $21.06 and a 52-week-low of $5.84. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.74.

* Barclays initiated coverage on Voya Financial Inc (NYSE:VOYA) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Voya Finl is set to $60.00. In the second quarter, Voya Finl showed an EPS of $1.09, compared to $1.52 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Voya Finl shows a 52-week-high of $63.81 and a 52-week-low of $29.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $51.76.

* Citigroup initiated coverage on AudioCodes Ltd (NASDAQ:AUDC) with a Neutral rating. The price target for AudioCodes is set to $38.00. In the second quarter, AudioCodes showed an EPS of $0.32, compared to $0.22 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of AudioCodes shows a 52-week-high of $44.94 and a 52-week-low of $9.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $34.95.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on National Instruments Corp (NASDAQ:NATI) with a Neutral rating. The price target for National Instruments is set to $38.00. For the second quarter, National Instruments had an EPS of $0.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.22. The current stock performance of National Instruments shows a 52-week-high of $47.89 and a 52-week-low of $20.42. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $35.99.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on PDC Energy Inc (NASDAQ:PDCE) with a Buy rating. The price target for PDC Energy is set to $20.00. PDC Energy earned $0.14 in the second quarter, compared to $0.34 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PDC Energy shows a 52-week-high of $36.49 and a 52-week-low of $4.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.28.

* With a current rating of Outperform, SVB Leerink initiated coverage on AVEO Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:AVEO). The price target seems to have been set at $7.00 for AVEO Pharmaceuticals. For the second quarter, AVEO Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $0.42, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.02. The current stock performance of AVEO Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $10.71 and a 52-week-low of $0.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.40.

* With a current rating of Buy, Jefferies initiated coverage on Chiasma Inc (NASDAQ:CHMA). The price target seems to have been set at $8.00 for Chiasma. Chiasma earned $0.50 in the second quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $7.75 and a 52-week-low of $2.88. At the end of the last trading period, Chiasma closed at $4.44.