Benzinga | Aug 3, 2020 09:32AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For August 3, 2020

Upgrades

* Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating for Yum Brands Inc (NYSE:YUM) from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Yum Brands showed an EPS of $0.82, compared to $0.93 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $119.72 and a 52-week-low of $54.95. Yum Brands closed at $91.15 at the end of the last trading period.

* Bernstein upgraded the previous rating for Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM) from Market Perform to Outperform. In the third quarter, Qualcomm showed an EPS of $0.86, compared to $0.80 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $107.75 and a 52-week-low of $58.00. At the end of the last trading period, Qualcomm closed at $105.61.

* According to Stifel, the prior rating for Covanta Holding Corp (NYSE:CVA) was changed from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Covanta Holding had an EPS of ($0.10), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of ($0.16). The current stock performance of Covanta Holding shows a 52-week-high of $17.97 and a 52-week-low of $6.57. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $9.83.

* For Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), BTIG upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. In the second quarter, Expedia Group showed an EPS of ($4.09), compared to $1.77 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $139.88 and a 52-week-low of $40.76. At the end of the last trading period, Expedia Group closed at $81.01.

* For Nabors Industries Ltd (NYSE:NBR), Barclays upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Nabors Industries showed an EPS of ($14.45), compared to ($0.41) from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Nabors Industries shows a 52-week-high of $87.00 and a 52-week-low of $0.20. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $42.52.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Floor & Decor Holdings Inc (NYSE:FND) was changed from Neutral to Buy. Floor & Decor Hldgs earned $0.13 in the second quarter, compared to $0.34 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $71.72 and a 52-week-low of $24.36. Floor & Decor Hldgs closed at $65.89 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to UBS, the prior rating for Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Pinterest had an EPS of ($0.07), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of ($0.06). The stock has a 52-week-high of $36.83 and a 52-week-low of $10.10. At the end of the last trading period, Pinterest closed at $34.29.

* For Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK), Goldman Sachs upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. In the second quarter, Merck & Co showed an EPS of $1.37, compared to $1.30 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Merck & Co shows a 52-week-high of $92.64 and a 52-week-low of $65.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $80.24.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Kansas City Southern (NYSE:KSU) was changed from Underweight to Neutral. In the second quarter, Kansas City Southern showed an EPS of $1.15, compared to $1.64 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Kansas City Southern shows a 52-week-high of $184.16 and a 52-week-low of $92.86. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $171.82.

* For Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS), Pivotal Research upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Pinterest earned ($0.07) in the second quarter, compared to ($0.06) in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Pinterest shows a 52-week-high of $36.83 and a 52-week-low of $10.10. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $34.29.

* JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Minerals Technologies Inc (NYSE:MTX) from Neutral to Overweight. Minerals Technologies earned $0.85 in the second quarter, compared to $1.11 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $59.18 and a 52-week-low of $27.28. At the end of the last trading period, Minerals Technologies closed at $46.76.

* For Varian Medical Systems Inc (NYSE:VAR), Evercore ISI Group upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating In-Line. 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 $150.06 and a 52-week-low of $89.62. At the end of the last trading period, Varian Medical Systems closed at $142.71.

* According to Evercore ISI Group, the prior rating for MoneyGram International Inc (NASDAQ:MGI) was changed from Underperform to In-Line. In the second quarter, MoneyGram showed an EPS of $0.01, compared to $0.12 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $6.70 and a 52-week-low of $1.15. MoneyGram closed at $3.48 at the end of the last trading period.



Downgrades

* For Weyerhaeuser Co (NYSE:WY), DA Davidson downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. For the second quarter, Weyerhaeuser had an EPS of $0.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.16. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.58 and a 52-week-low of $13.10. At the end of the last trading period, Weyerhaeuser closed at $27.79.

* According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Omega Healthcare Investors Inc (NYSE:OHI) was changed from Strong Buy to Outperform. In the first quarter, Omega Healthcare showed an EPS of $0.79, compared to $0.76 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.22 and a 52-week-low of $13.33. At the end of the last trading period, Omega Healthcare closed at $32.37.

* For Macrogenics Inc (NASDAQ:MGNX), Citigroup downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. In the second quarter, Macrogenics showed an EPS of ($0.94), compared to ($0.65) from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Macrogenics shows a 52-week-high of $32.18 and a 52-week-low of $4.04. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $25.40.

* According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for WEX Inc (NYSE:WEX) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. WEX earned $1.21 in the second quarter, compared to $2.28 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of WEX shows a 52-week-high of $236.51 and a 52-week-low of $71.12. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $158.25.

* For Helmerich & Payne Inc (NYSE:HP), Barclays downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Underweight. For the third quarter, Helmerich & Payne had an EPS of ($0.34), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.41. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.34 and a 52-week-low of $12.40. Helmerich & Payne closed at $17.83 at the end of the last trading period.

* Stephens & Co. downgraded the previous rating for DuPont de Nemours Inc (NYSE:DD) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. For the second quarter, DuPont de Nemours had an EPS of $0.70, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.97. The current stock performance of DuPont de Nemours shows a 52-week-high of $73.80 and a 52-week-low of $28.33. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $53.49.



Initiations

* Stifel initiated coverage on Geron Corp (NASDAQ:GERN) with a Buy rating. For the first quarter, Geron had an EPS of ($0.08), compared to year-ago quarter EPS of ($0.05). The current stock performance of Geron shows a 52-week-high of $2.40 and a 52-week-low of $0.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1.59.

* HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on ORIC Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ORIC) with a Buy rating. The price target for ORIC Pharmaceuticals is set to $52.00. The current stock performance of ORIC Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $40.67 and a 52-week-low of $19.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $20.07.

* With a current rating of Buy, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:MIRM). The price target seems to have been set at $52.00 for Mirum Pharmaceuticals. Mirum Pharmaceuticals earned ($0.86) in the first quarter. The current stock performance of Mirum Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $28.31 and a 52-week-low of $6.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $22.08.

* Piper Sandler initiated coverage on NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:NGM) with an Overweight rating. The price target for NGM Biopharmaceuticals is set to $30.00. In the first quarter, NGM Biopharmaceuticals showed an EPS of ($0.28), compared to ($1.21) from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $23.95 and a 52-week-low of $8.81. At the end of the last trading period, NGM Biopharmaceuticals closed at $18.29.