Benzinga | Sep 1, 2020 09:47AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For September 1, 2020

Upgrades

* For Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM), Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, Qualcomm had an EPS of $0.86, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.80. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $121.06 and a 52-week-low of $58.00. Qualcomm closed at $119.10 at the end of the last trading period.

* B. Riley FBR upgraded the previous rating for NeoPhotonics Corp (NYSE:NPTN) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, NeoPhotonics showed an EPS of $0.16, compared to $0.03 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.34 and a 52-week-low of $4.65. At the end of the last trading period, NeoPhotonics closed at $6.67.

* For Bloomin Brands Inc (NASDAQ:BLMN), Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Strong Buy. Bloomin Brands earned $0.74 in the second quarter, compared to $0.36 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $24.29 and a 52-week-low of $4.54. At the end of the last trading period, Bloomin Brands closed at $14.34.

* Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, Novartis showed an EPS of $1.36, compared to $1.34 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $99.84 and a 52-week-low of $69.18. At the end of the last trading period, Novartis closed at $86.05.

* BTIG upgraded the previous rating for Zoom Video Communications Inc (NASDAQ:ZM) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Zoom Video Communications showed an EPS of $0.92, compared to $0.08 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $325.90 and a 52-week-low of $60.97. Zoom Video Communications closed at $325.10 at the end of the last trading period.

* For CNO Financial Group Inc (NYSE:CNO), Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. For the second quarter, CNO Finl Gr had an EPS of $0.55, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.48. The current stock performance of CNO Finl Gr shows a 52-week-high of $20.93 and a 52-week-low of $8.79. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.32.

* Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Spire Inc (NYSE:SR) from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Spire earned $0.07 in the third quarter, compared to $0.07 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Spire shows a 52-week-high of $88.00 and a 52-week-low of $56.97. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $58.25.

* For Zoom Video Communications Inc (NASDAQ:ZM), Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Sell to the current rating Neutral. Zoom Video Communications earned $0.92 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $325.90 and a 52-week-low of $60.97. Zoom Video Communications closed at $325.10 at the end of the last trading period.

* Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating for Zendesk Inc (NYSE:ZEN) from Neutral to Overweight. For the second quarter, Zendesk had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.05. The stock has a 52-week-high of $101.94 and a 52-week-low of $50.23. At the end of the last trading period, Zendesk closed at $96.38.

* KeyBanc upgraded the previous rating for Extra Space Storage Inc (NYSE:EXR) from Underweight to Sector Weight. Extra Space Storage earned $1.23 in the second quarter, compared to $1.22 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $124.45 and a 52-week-low of $72.70. Extra Space Storage closed at $106.63 at the end of the last trading period.



Downgrades

* Needham downgraded the previous rating for Rosetta Stone Inc (NYSE:RST) from Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Rosetta Stone showed an EPS of $0.15, compared to $0.12 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Rosetta Stone shows a 52-week-high of $31.24 and a 52-week-low of $8.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $30.38.

* For Brinker International Inc (NYSE:EAT), Raymond James downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Market Perform. 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 $45.04.

* According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI) was changed from Strong Buy to Outperform. Darden Restaurants earned $1.24 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.76 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $128.41 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. At the end of the last trading period, Darden Restaurants closed at $86.60.

* According to BMO Capital, the prior rating for Akcea Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AKCA) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. Akcea Therapeutics earned $0.49 in the second quarter, compared to $0.40 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.79 and a 52-week-low of $8.00. At the end of the last trading period, Akcea Therapeutics closed at $18.28.

* Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded the previous rating for Aimmune Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AIMT) from Overweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, Aimmune Therapeutics had an EPS of $1.06, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.01. The stock has a 52-week-high of $37.00 and a 52-week-low of $10.09. At the end of the last trading period, Aimmune Therapeutics closed at $34.22.

* Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating for Acasti Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ACST) from Outperform to Perform. Acasti Pharma earned $0.05 in the first quarter, compared to $0.15 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Acasti Pharma shows a 52-week-high of $3.08 and a 52-week-low of $0.23. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.24.



Initiations

* With a current rating of Buy, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Murphy Oil Corp (NYSE:MUR). The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Murphy Oil. In the second quarter, Murphy Oil showed an EPS of $0.71, compared to $0.21 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.12 and a 52-week-low of $4.50. At the end of the last trading period, Murphy Oil closed at $13.74.

* Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Motorola Solutions Inc (NYSE:MSI) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Motorola Solutions is set to $28.00. Motorola Solutions earned $1.39 in the second quarter, compared to $1.69 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Motorola Solutions shows a 52-week-high of $187.49 and a 52-week-low of $120.77. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $154.91.

* With a current rating of Outperform, SVB Leerink initiated coverage on CytoSorbents Corp (NASDAQ:CTSO). The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for CytoSorbents. In the second quarter, CytoSorbents showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.11 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $11.74 and a 52-week-low of $3.49. At the end of the last trading period, CytoSorbents closed at $8.44.

* Baird initiated coverage on WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:WSC) with a Neutral rating. The price target for WillScot Mobile Mini is set to $21.00. WillScot Mobile Mini earned $0.10 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.79 and a 52-week-low of $7.45. At the end of the last trading period, WillScot Mobile Mini closed at $17.90.

* With a current rating of Buy, Citigroup initiated coverage on IBEX Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:IBEX). The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for IBEX Holdings. The stock has a 52-week-high of $18.00 and a 52-week-low of $14.66. At the end of the last trading period, IBEX Holdings closed at $15.99.

* With a current rating of Buy, Jefferies initiated coverage on Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CMPI). The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Checkmate Pharmaceuticals. Checkmate Pharmaceuticals closed at $15.58 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on INmune Bio Inc (NASDAQ:INMB). The price target seems to have been set at $23.00 for INmune Bio. In the second quarter, INmune Bio showed an EPS of $0.20, compared to $0.04 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of INmune Bio shows a 52-week-high of $24.42 and a 52-week-low of $2.20. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.50.

* With a current rating of Buy, DA Davidson initiated coverage on CarParts.com Inc (NASDAQ:PRTS). The price target seems to have been set at $19.00 for CarParts.com. CarParts.com earned $0.03 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of CarParts.com shows a 52-week-high of $16.44 and a 52-week-low of $1.04. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.05.

* JP Morgan initiated coverage on Freeline Therapeutics Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:FRLN) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Freeline Therapeutics is set to $27.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.11.

* JP Morgan initiated coverage on TG Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:TGTX) with an Overweight rating. The price target for TG Therapeutics is set to $38.00. TG Therapeutics earned $0.47 in the second quarter, compared to $0.42 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $25.02 and a 52-week-low of $4.95. At the end of the last trading period, TG Therapeutics closed at $24.80.

* RBC Capital initiated coverage on IBEX Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:IBEX) with an Outperform rating. The price target for IBEX Holdings is set to $23.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.00 and a 52-week-low of $14.66. IBEX Holdings closed at $15.99 at the end of the last trading period.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Glu Mobile Inc (NASDAQ:GLUU) with a Buy rating. The price target for Glu Mobile is set to $9.80. In the second quarter, Glu Mobile showed an EPS of $0.05, compared to $0.02 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $10.85 and a 52-week-low of $3.98. Glu Mobile closed at $7.94 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, Stifel initiated coverage on Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:APLS). The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Apellis Pharmaceuticals. For the second quarter, Apellis Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $1.57, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.12. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.04 and a 52-week-low of $16.85. At the end of the last trading period, Apellis Pharmaceuticals closed at $30.83.