Benzinga | Sep 29, 2020 09:50AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For September 29, 2020

Upgrades

* Argus Research upgraded the previous rating for Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI) from Hold to Buy. For the first quarter, Darden Restaurants had an EPS of $0.56, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $124.01 and a 52-week-low of $26.15. Darden Restaurants closed at $100.53 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Stephens & Co., the prior rating for NCR Corp (NYSE:NCR) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the second quarter, NCR had an EPS of $0.27, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.76. The current stock performance of NCR shows a 52-week-high of $35.87 and a 52-week-low of $10.55. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $20.03.

* According to UBS, the prior rating for ONEOK Inc (NYSE:OKE) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, ONEOK had an EPS of $0.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.75. The current stock performance of ONEOK shows a 52-week-high of $78.48 and a 52-week-low of $12.16. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $26.00.

* For Square Inc (NYSE:SQ), Wolfe Research upgraded the previous rating of Peer Perform to the current rating Outperform. In the second quarter, Square showed an EPS of $0.18, compared to $0.21 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $170.61 and a 52-week-low of $32.33. Square closed at $160.67 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Cowen & Co., the prior rating for RH (NYSE:RH) was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. For the second quarter, RH had an EPS of $4.90, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.20. The stock has a 52-week-high of $410.49 and a 52-week-low of $73.14. At the end of the last trading period, RH closed at $360.86.

* According to Independent Research, the prior rating for JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, JPMorgan Chase showed an EPS of $1.38, compared to $2.59 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of JPMorgan Chase shows a 52-week-high of $141.10 and a 52-week-low of $76.91. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $96.19.

* For Extended Stay America Inc (NASDAQ:STAY), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. For the second quarter, Extended Stay America had an EPS of $0.04, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.29 and a 52-week-low of $5.35. Extended Stay America closed at $12.31 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Core Laboratories NV (NYSE:CLB), ABN Amro upgraded the previous rating of Sell to the current rating Hold. For the second quarter, Core Laboratories had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.46. The current stock performance of Core Laboratories shows a 52-week-high of $49.22 and a 52-week-low of $6.68. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.00.

* According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) was changed from Sell to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Estee Lauder Cos showed an EPS of $0.53, compared to $0.64 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $224.23 and a 52-week-low of $137.01. Estee Lauder Cos closed at $215.78 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Baird, the prior rating for Franklin Electric Co Inc (NASDAQ:FELE) was changed from Neutral to Outperform. Franklin Electric earned $0.54 in the second quarter, compared to $0.70 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $61.49 and a 52-week-low of $41.25. Franklin Electric closed at $58.43 at the end of the last trading period.

* BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating for The Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) from Market Perform to Outperform. For the second quarter, Hershey had an EPS of $1.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.31. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $161.83 and a 52-week-low of $109.88. Hershey closed at $140.31 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to JP Morgan, the prior rating for Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D) was changed from Neutral to Overweight. Dominion Energy earned $0.82 in the second quarter, compared to $0.77 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Dominion Energy shows a 52-week-high of $90.89 and a 52-week-low of $57.79. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $77.16.



Downgrades

* According to MKM Partners, the prior rating for WPX Energy Inc (NYSE:WPX) was changed from Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, WPX Energy had an EPS of $0.12, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.09. The stock has a 52-week-high of $14.43 and a 52-week-low of $1.94. At the end of the last trading period, WPX Energy closed at $5.19.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (NYSE:HST) was changed from Neutral to Underperform. In the second quarter, Host Hotels & Resorts showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.53 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $18.90 and a 52-week-low of $7.86. Host Hotels & Resorts closed at $10.93 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Choice Hotels International Inc (NYSE:CHH) was changed from Neutral to Underperform. In the second quarter, Choice Hotels Intl showed an EPS of $0.13, compared to $1.19 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $109.26 and a 52-week-low of $46.25. At the end of the last trading period, Choice Hotels Intl closed at $88.38.



Initiations

* Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on TTM Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:TTMI) with a Buy rating. The price target for TTM Technologies is set to $15.00. In the second quarter, TTM Technologies showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.20 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $16.25 and a 52-week-low of $8.06. At the end of the last trading period, TTM Technologies closed at $11.44.

* With a current rating of Buy, B of A Securities initiated coverage on Shutterstock Inc (NYSE:SSTK). The price target seems to have been set at $63.00 for Shutterstock. For the second quarter, Shutterstock had an EPS of $0.62, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.33. The current stock performance of Shutterstock shows a 52-week-high of $59.45 and a 52-week-low of $28.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $51.97.

* With a current rating of Buy, BTIG initiated coverage on Penumbra Inc (NYSE:PEN). The price target seems to have been set at $233.00 for Penumbra. In the second quarter, Penumbra showed an EPS of $0.30, compared to $0.27 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $241.81 and a 52-week-low of $121.80. Penumbra closed at $194.38 at the end of the last trading period.

* B of A Securities initiated coverage on Black Knight Inc (NYSE:BKI) with a Buy rating. The price target for Black Knight is set to $97.00. Black Knight earned $0.52 in the second quarter, compared to $0.49 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Black Knight shows a 52-week-high of $87.31 and a 52-week-low of $50.01. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $85.78.

* B of A Securities initiated coverage on Axsome Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AXSM) with an Underperform rating. The price target for Axsome Therapeutics is set to $66.00. For the second quarter, Axsome Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.49, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.41. The stock has a 52-week-high of $109.94 and a 52-week-low of $13.64. At the end of the last trading period, Axsome Therapeutics closed at $76.46.

* Needham initiated coverage on Stoke Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:STOK) with a Buy rating. The price target for Stoke Therapeutics is set to $42.00. For the second quarter, Stoke Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.39, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.54. The stock has a 52-week-high of $37.88 and a 52-week-low of $15.82. At the end of the last trading period, Stoke Therapeutics closed at $34.93.

* B. Riley FBR initiated coverage on Crexendo Inc (NASDAQ:CXDO) with a Buy rating. The price target for Crexendo is set to $8.00. Crexendo earned $0.04 in the second quarter, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Crexendo shows a 52-week-high of $12.78 and a 52-week-low of $3.20. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.84.

* For GreenPower Motor Company Inc (NASDAQ:GP), BTIG initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Buy. The stock has a 52-week-high of $22.75 and a 52-week-low of $9.99. At the end of the last trading period, GreenPower Motor Co closed at $10.87.

* With a current rating of Overweight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Performance Food Group Co (NYSE:PFGC). The price target seems to have been set at $45.00 for Performance Food Group. In the fourth quarter, Performance Food Group showed an EPS of $0.86, compared to $0.70 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $54.49 and a 52-week-low of $7.41. At the end of the last trading period, Performance Food Group closed at $34.79.

* With a current rating of Equal-Weight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Sysco Corp (NYSE:SYY). The price target seems to have been set at $66.00 for Sysco. For the fourth quarter, Sysco had an EPS of $0.29, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.10. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $85.98 and a 52-week-low of $26.00. Sysco closed at $61.89 at the end of the last trading period.

* For US Foods Holding Corp (NYSE:USFD), Morgan Stanley initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, US Foods Hldg showed an EPS of $0.25, compared to $0.64 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $42.43 and a 52-week-low of $8.32. At the end of the last trading period, US Foods Hldg closed at $23.02.

* With a current rating of Outperform, RBC Capital initiated coverage on Magnite Inc (NASDAQ:MGNI). The price target seems to have been set at $9.00 for Magnite. Magnite earned $0.10 in the second quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $8.29 and a 52-week-low of $5.57. Magnite closed at $6.66 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Hold, Berenberg initiated coverage on AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV). The price target seems to have been set at $98.00 for AbbVie. In the second quarter, AbbVie showed an EPS of $2.34, compared to $2.26 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $101.28 and a 52-week-low of $62.55. AbbVie closed at $87.29 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, Berenberg initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY). The price target seems to have been set at $73.00 for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Bristol-Myers Squibb earned $1.63 in the second quarter, compared to $1.18 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $68.34 and a 52-week-low of $45.76. At the end of the last tradingperiod, Bristol-Myers Squibb closed at $59.72.

* Berenberg initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) with a Hold rating. The price target for Eli Lilly is set to $144.00. For the second quarter, Eli Lilly had an EPS of $1.89, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.50. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $170.75 and a 52-week-low of $101.36. Eli Lilly closed at $148.12 at the end of the last trading period.

* Berenberg initiated coverage on Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) with a Hold rating. The price target for Merck & Co is set to $88.00. For the second quarter, Merck & Co had an EPS of $1.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.30. 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 $82.77.

* With a current rating of Hold, Berenberg initiated coverage on Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE). The price target seems to have been set at $38.00 for Pfizer. In the second quarter, Pfizer showed an EPS of $0.78, compared to $0.80 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Pfizer shows a 52-week-high of $40.97 and a 52-week-low of $27.88. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $36.41.