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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AMD, Apple, CDW, Facebook, J.C. Penney and More
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Stocks are challenging new highs regularly now, but investors are nervous not to buy the top or to avoid the next major market sell off. 24/7 Wall St. looks over dozens of analyst research reports each morning to find new picks and ideas for our readers. Some analyst calls cover stocks to buy, others cover stocks to sell. These are this Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen from Wall Street research firms.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) was started with a Buy rating and a new $5 price target at Ascendiant Capital. It was also maintained as Neutral with a $4 price target at Sterne Agee after its discussions with the head of AMD’s Server Business unit. As a reminder, AMD was one of our nine stocks that could double in 2014, and that remains the case now.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at Pacific Crest, with a $635 price target. The call is based on sufficient support from cash generation and the belief that the iPhone 6 could renew growth.
CDW Corp. (NASDAQ: CDW) was maintained as Buy but was added to the prized Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs, and the price target was raised to $32 from $29 (versus a $25.68 close).
Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $85 from $70 at Citigroup, with the consensus target being closer to $72.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup, and the price target was raised to $11 from $7.50 in the call (versus a $8.42 closing price). Shares are indicated up 5% on the news. How many upgrades does this dog get, and to a Buy rating to boot?
Other Key Analyst Calls
Bank of Ireland (NYSE: IRE) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America Merrill Lynch as a classic recovery story, and the price target is $21.62, after converting from euros, versus a $19.10 close.
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ: GWPH) was started with a Buy rating by Merrill Lynch, with a price target of $93 (versus a $77.28 close).
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) was started with a Sell rating and a new $20 price target at Ascendiant Capital.
InterMune Inc. (NASDAQ: ITMN) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs, and the price target was raised to $45 from $40.
Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with a $68 target at Wells Fargo.
Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQ: NTRS) was downgraded to Sell from an already cautious Neutral by UBS.
State Street Corp. (NYSE: STT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
Unisys Corp. (NYSE: UIS) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Raymond James.
Vipshop Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: VIPS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.
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