Benzinga | Nov 30, 2020 10:01AM EST

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For November 30, 2020

Upgrades

* B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating for Ventas Inc (NYSE:VTR) from Underperform to Buy. For the third quarter, Ventas had an EPS of $0.75, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.96. The stock has a 52-week-high of 63.38 and a 52-week-low of 13.345. At the end of the last trading period, Ventas closed at $47.92.

* According to Guggenheim, the prior rating for Nuance Communications Inc (NASDAQ:NUAN) was changed from Neutral to Buy. Nuance Communications earned $0.18 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.33 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 43.17 and a 52-week-low of 13.51. At the end of the last trading period, Nuance Communications closed at $42.72.

* Truist Securities upgraded the previous rating for Proofpoint Inc (NASDAQ:PFPT) from Hold to Buy. For the third quarter, Proofpoint had an EPS of $0.59, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.49. The current stock performance of Proofpoint shows a 52-week-high of 133.0 and a 52-week-low of 83.81. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $101.44.

* Raymond James upgraded the previous rating for United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) from Market Perform to Outperform. United Airlines Holdings earned $8.16 in the third quarter, compared to $4.07 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 93.67 and a 52-week-low of 17.8. At the end of the last trading period, United Airlines Holdings closed at $45.30.

* Loop Capital upgraded the previous rating for Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) from Hold to Buy. Apple earned $0.73 in the fourth quarter, compared to $3.03 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 137.98 and a 52-week-low of 53.1525. Apple closed at $116.59 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC), RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Underperform to the current rating Sector Perform. In the third quarter, Wells Fargo showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Wells Fargo shows a 52-week-high of 54.75 and a 52-week-low of 20.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $28.46.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the third quarter, Wells Fargo showed an EPS of $0.42, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 54.75 and a 52-week-low of 20.76. At the end of the last trading period, Wells Fargo closed at $28.46.

* For U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, U.S. Bancorp had an EPS of $0.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of 61.11 and a 52-week-low of 28.36. At the end of the last trading period, U.S. Bancorp closed at $44.20.

* For Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Overweight. Synchrony Finl earned $0.63 in the third quarter, compared to $1.22 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 38.18 and a 52-week-low of 12.15. Synchrony Finl closed at $31.09 at the end of the last trading period.

* Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) from Underweight to Overweight. In the third quarter, State Street showed an EPS of $1.45, compared to $1.51 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of State Street shows a 52-week-high of 85.89 and a 52-week-low of 42.1. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $71.71.

* Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:COF) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the third quarter, Capital One Financial had an EPS of $5.06, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 107.59 and a 52-week-low of 38.0. Capital One Financial closed at $87.76 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to BBVA, the prior rating for Cemex SAB de CV (NYSE:CX) was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. For the third quarter, Cemex had an EPS of $0.98, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.11. The current stock performance of Cemex shows a 52-week-high of 4.91 and a 52-week-low of 1.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.68.

* For Bank of New York Mellon Corp (NYSE:BK), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, Bank of New York Mellon had an EPS of $0.98, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.07. The stock has a 52-week-high of 51.6 and a 52-week-low of 26.4. At the end of the last trading period, Bank of New York Mellon closed at $39.97.

* For Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX), RBC Capital upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to the current rating Outperform. In the third quarter, Vertex Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $2.64, compared to $1.23 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of 306.08 and a 52-week-low of 197.47. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $226.71.



Downgrades

* B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Celanese Corp (NYSE:CE) from Neutral to Underperform. For the third quarter, Celanese had an EPS of $1.95, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.53. The current stock performance of Celanese shows a 52-week-high of 138.31 and a 52-week-low of 52.7. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $133.85.

* For Yunji Inc (NASDAQ:YJ), Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to the current rating Underweight. In the third quarter, Yunji showed an EPS of $0.00, compared to $0.00 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Yunji shows a 52-week-high of 6.05 and a 52-week-low of 1.67. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $3.81.

* B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:RYTM) from Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals had an EPS of $0.77, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.04. The stock has a 52-week-high of 32.24 and a 52-week-low of 12.99. At the end of the last trading period, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals closed at $29.27.

* For PPL Corp (NYSE:PPL), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. For the third quarter, PPL had an EPS of $0.58, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.61. The current stock performance of PPL shows a 52-week-high of 36.83 and a 52-week-low of 18.12. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $29.12.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) was changed from Overweight to Underweight. JPMorgan Chase earned $2.92 in the third quarter, compared to $2.68 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 141.1 and a 52-week-low of 76.91. JPMorgan Chase closed at $121.28 at the end of the last trading period.

* Raymond James downgraded the previous rating for Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) from Outperform to Market Perform. Delta Air Lines earned $3.30 in the third quarter, compared to $2.32 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 62.48 and a 52-week-low of 17.51. Delta Air Lines closed at $41.05 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Raymond James, the prior rating for American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) was changed from Market Perform to Underperform. For the third quarter, American Airlines Group had an EPS of $5.54, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.42. The current stock performance of American Airlines Group shows a 52-week-high of 30.78 and a 52-week-low of 8.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.98.

* According to Raymond James, the prior rating for Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) was changed from Strong Buy to Outperform. For the third quarter, Southwest Airlines had an EPS of $1.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.18. The current stock performance of Southwest Airlines shows a 52-week-high of 58.83 and a 52-week-low of 22.465. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $47.74.

* According to Barclays, the prior rating for Rockwell Automation Inc (NYSE:ROK) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Rockwell Automation earned $1.87 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 267.48 and a 52-week-low of 115.38. Rockwell Automation closed at $255.96 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Methanex Corp (NASDAQ:MEOH), Bernstein downgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Underperform. Methanex earned $1.03 in the third quarter, compared to $0.27 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Methanex shows a 52-week-high of 42.32 and a 52-week-low of 9.0. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $42.20.

* According to Barclays, the prior rating for Lennox International Inc (NYSE:LII) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Lennox International earned $3.53 in the third quarter, compared to $3.34 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 319.77 and a 52-week-low of 163.395. At the end of the last trading period, Lennox International closed at $289.68.

* For Kodiak Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:KOD), JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Neutral. In the third quarter, Kodiak Sciences showed an EPS of $0.80, compared to $0.33 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 141.98 and a 52-week-low of 26.1398. At the end of the last trading period, Kodiak Sciences closed at $135.00.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) was changed from Equal-Weight to Underweight. Goldman Sachs Group earned $9.68 in the third quarter, compared to $4.79 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Goldman Sachs Group shows a 52-week-high of 250.46 and a 52-week-low of 130.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $235.67.

* According to Barclays, the prior rating for Fortive Corp (NYSE:FTV) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, Fortive showed an EPS of $0.94, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 82.12 and a 52-week-low of 37.3101. Fortive closed at $71.37 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS), Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating of Overweight to the current rating Equal-Weight. Discover Financial earned $2.45 in the third quarter, compared to $2.36 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 87.43 and a 52-week-low of 23.25. Discover Financial closed at $78.83 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) was changed from Overweight to Underweight. In the third quarter, Bank of America showed an EPS of $0.51, compared to $0.75 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 35.72 and a 52-week-low of 17.95. At the end of the last trading period, Bank of America closed at $29.00.

* RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for PTC Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PTCT) from Sector Perform to Underperform. PTC Therapeutics earned $1.03 in the third quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of PTC Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of 64.62 and a 52-week-low of 30.7923. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $63.99.



Initiations

* Cowen & Co. initiated coverage on Synaptics Inc (NASDAQ:SYNA) with a Market Perform rating. The price target for Synaptics is set to $85.00. For the first quarter, Synaptics had an EPS of $1.85, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.22. The stock has a 52-week-high of 92.32 and a 52-week-low of 44.4101. At the end of the last trading period, Synaptics closed at $80.66.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Impinj Inc (NASDAQ:PI) with a Buy rating. The price target for Impinj is set to $46.00. Impinj earned $0.29 in the third quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 36.58 and a 52-week-low of 11.4701. At the end of the last trading period, Impinj closed at $35.48.

* Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO) with a Hold rating. The price target for Moody's is set to $300.00. For the third quarter, Moody's had an EPS of $2.69, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.15. The current stock performance of Moody's shows a 52-week-high of 305.955 and a 52-week-low of 164.19. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $277.28.

* KeyBanc initiated coverage on SciPlay Corp (NASDAQ:SCPL) with an Overweight rating. The price target for SciPlay is set to $18.00. In the third quarter, SciPlay showed an EPS of $0.23, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of SciPlay shows a 52-week-high of 18.5 and a 52-week-low of 5.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.65.