Benzinga | Dec 7, 2020 10:10AM EST

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For December 7, 2020

Upgrades

* For Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (NYSE:SPR), UBS upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. Spirit AeroSystems Hldgs earned $1.34 in the third quarter, compared to $1.62 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 85.13 and a 52-week-low of 13.69. Spirit AeroSystems Hldgs closed at $39.09 at the end of the last trading period.

* UBS upgraded the previous rating for Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) from Neutral to Buy. Boeing earned $1.39 in the third quarter, compared to $1.45 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 355.29 and a 52-week-low of 89.0. At the end of the last trading period, Boeing closed at $232.58.

* For Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV), Bernstein upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Outperform. For the third quarter, Southwest Airlines had an EPS of $1.99, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.18. The stock has a 52-week-high of 58.83 and a 52-week-low of 22.465. At the end of the last trading period, Southwest Airlines closed at $47.58.

* Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Asbury Automotive Group Inc (NYSE:ABG) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Asbury Automotive Group earned $4.08 in the third quarter, compared to $2.33 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Asbury Automotive Group shows a 52-week-high of 138.66 and a 52-week-low of 39.36. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $137.59.

* For Lyft Inc (NASDAQ:LYFT), Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Overweight. For the third quarter, Lyft had an EPS of $0.89, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.41. The stock has a 52-week-high of 54.5 and a 52-week-low of 14.5617. At the end of the last trading period, Lyft closed at $46.10.

* JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (NYSE:LW) from Neutral to Overweight. In the first quarter, Lamb Weston Hldgs showed an EPS of $0.61, compared to $0.79 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 96.32 and a 52-week-low of 39.06. Lamb Weston Hldgs closed at $76.40 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to KeyBanc, the prior rating for Packaging Corp of America (NYSE:PKG) was changed from Underweight to Sector Weight. In the third quarter, Packaging Corp of America showed an EPS of $1.57, compared to $1.92 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Packaging Corp of America shows a 52-week-high of 136.47 and a 52-week-low of 71.05. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $133.08.



Downgrades

* According to Stephens & Co., the prior rating for Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Teladoc Health earned $0.13 in the third quarter, compared to $0.28 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 253.0 and a 52-week-low of 75.2. Teladoc Health closed at $203.64 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY), MKM Partners downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Neutral. Occidental Petroleum earned $0.84 in the third quarter, compared to $0.11 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 47.58 and a 52-week-low of 8.52. Occidental Petroleum closed at $18.59 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Helmerich & Payne Inc (NYSE:HP), B of A Securities downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Underperform. For the fourth quarter, Helmerich & Payne had an EPS of $0.74, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 47.325 and a 52-week-low of 12.4. Helmerich & Payne closed at $24.94 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN), Susquehanna downgraded the previous rating of Positive to the current rating Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Accenture had an EPS of $1.70, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.74. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 253.93 and a 52-week-low of 137.152. Accenture closed at $253.45 at the end of the last trading period.

* Stephens & Co. downgraded the previous rating for McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, McDonald's showed an EPS of $2.22, compared to $2.11 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 231.91 and a 52-week-low of 124.23. McDonald's closed at $210.80 at the end of the last trading period.

* Jefferies downgraded the previous rating for Varian Medical Systems Inc (NYSE:VAR) from Buy to Hold. For the fourth quarter, Varian Medical Systems had an EPS of $1.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.21. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 176.19 and a 52-week-low of 89.62. Varian Medical Systems closed at $174.66 at the end of the last trading period.

* Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SIVB) from Overweight to Equal-Weight. SVB Financial earned $8.47 in the third quarter, compared to $5.15 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 363.1 and a 52-week-low of 127.39. At the end of the last trading period, SVB Financial closed at $358.32.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Lithia Motors Inc (NYSE:LAD) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. Lithia Motors earned $6.89 in the third quarter, compared to $3.39 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 310.57 and a 52-week-low of 55.74. At the end of the last trading period, Lithia Motors closed at $294.27.

* According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the third quarter, CRISPR Therapeutics showed an EPS of $1.32, compared to $2.40 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 151.11 and a 52-week-low of 32.3. At the end of the last trading period, CRISPR Therapeutics closed at $147.54.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Cree Inc (NASDAQ:CREE) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the first quarter, Cree showed an EPS of $0.19, compared to $0.03 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 93.96 and a 52-week-low of 27.77. At the end of the last trading period, Cree closed at $93.50.

* HSBC downgraded the previous rating for Altice USA Inc (NYSE:ATUS) from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Altice USA showed an EPS of $0.32, compared to $0.12 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 35.47 and a 52-week-low of 15.955. Altice USA closed at $34.72 at the end of the last trading period.

* Jefferies downgraded the previous rating for Sensata Technologies Holding PLC (NYSE:ST) from Buy to Hold. In the third quarter, Sensata Technologies showed an EPS of $0.66, compared to $0.90 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 54.37 and a 52-week-low of 18.25. Sensata Technologies closed at $50.14 at the end of the last trading period.



Initiations

* With a current rating of Buy, Seaport Global initiated coverage on Visa Inc (NYSE:V). The price target seems to have been set at $250.00 for Visa. For the fourth quarter, Visa had an EPS of $1.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.47. The stock has a 52-week-high of 217.65 and a 52-week-low of 133.93. At the end of the last trading period, Visa closed at $212.67.

* With a current rating of Buy, Seaport Global initiated coverage on Square Inc (NYSE:SQ). The price target seems to have been set at $250.00 for Square. For the third quarter, Square had an EPS of $0.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.25. The current stock performance of Square shows a 52-week-high of 215.0 and a 52-week-low of 32.33. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $208.14.

* For PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL), Seaport Global initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Neutral. PayPal Holdings earned $1.07 in the third quarter, compared to $0.61 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 220.57 and a 52-week-low of 82.07. At the end of the last trading period, PayPal Holdings closed at $217.77.

* With a current rating of Buy, Seaport Global initiated coverage on Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA). The price target seems to have been set at $370.00 for Mastercard. In the third quarter, Mastercard showed an EPS of $1.60, compared to $2.15 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 367.25 and a 52-week-low of 199.99. At the end of the last trading period, Mastercard closed at $344.21.

* Credit Suisse initiated coverage on Jack Henry & Associates Inc (NASDAQ:JKHY) with a Neutral rating. The price target for Jack Henry & Associates is set to $175.00. In the first quarter, Jack Henry & Associates showed an EPS of $1.19, compared to $1.16 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 200.98 and a 52-week-low of 123.64. At the end of the last trading period, Jack Henry & Associates closed at $158.48.

* HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Prothena Corp PLC (NASDAQ:PRTA) with a Buy rating. The price target for Prothena Corp is set to $22.00. In the third quarter, Prothena Corp showed an EPS of $0.77, compared to $0.49 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 17.63 and a 52-week-low of 7.1. Prothena Corp closed at $11.53 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on I-MAB (NASDAQ:IMAB). The price target seems to have been set at $55.00 for I-MAB. None The current stock performance of I-MAB shows a 52-week-high of 47.46 and a 52-week-low of 10.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.99.

* With a current rating of Buy, HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Galera Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:GRTX). The price target seems to have been set at $15.00 for Galera Therapeutics. In the third quarter, Galera Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.69, compared to $51.43 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Galera Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of 19.5 and a 52-week-low of 5.58. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $10.92.

* Jefferies initiated coverage on Fidelity National Information Services Inc (NYSE:FIS) with a Buy rating. The price target for Fidelity National Info is set to $175.00. In the third quarter, Fidelity National Info showed an EPS of $1.42, compared to $1.43 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 158.21 and a 52-week-low of 91.68. Fidelity National Info closed at $149.93 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Neutral, JP Morgan initiated coverage on DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:DKNG). The price target seems to have been set at $48.00 for DraftKings. In the third quarter, DraftKings earned $0.98. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 64.19 and a 52-week-low of 18.0. DraftKings closed at $49.25 at the end of the last trading period.