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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AMD, Lululemon, Oracle, Coca-Cola, Yum! Brands and More
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Stocks have recovered from their selling, and now we have the first week with dozens and dozens of earnings reports coming due. Many investors remain wary about growth, wanting bull market upside while avoiding the next selling wave. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each morning of the week for new ideas for our readers. Some research reports cover stocks to buy, while some cover stocks to sell or to avoid. These are this Monday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) posted great earnings and guidance and remains a candidate that could potentially still double in 2014, but Credit Suisse maintained its Underperform rating with a $3 price target.
American Electric Power Co. (NYSE: AEP) was downgraded to Neutral by ISI Group.
Athenahealth Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHN) was raised to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies.
Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with a $132.50 price target at Cowen.
Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) was reiterated as Outperform with a $46 price target at Credit Suisse.
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) earnings were called disappointing by Argus, but the firm did reiterate its Buy rating and $675 price target based on market share and it remaining attractively valued.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) was maintained as Neutral at Credit Suisse, but the comment was one of continued risks with the distinct impression of a company losing focus and investing in non-core (non-athletic) categories. Sterne Agee maintained its Underperform rating, calling the analyst day uneventful and with little substance for a sales turnaround.
Nordic American Tanker Ltd. (NYSE: NAT) was raised to Hold from Underperform by Jefferies.
Oracle Corp. (NYSE: ORCL) was removed from the U.S. Focus List at Credit Suisse, but the rating was maintained as Outperform and the price target was raised to $45 from $40 as the analyst’s bullishness remains.
Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ: PLXS) was raised to Buy at Needham & Co.
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Sterne Agee raised expectations in oil services: Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) with a Neutral rating saw its target price raised to $72 from $59, and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) with a Buy rating saw its target raised to $118 from $110.
Watts Water Technologies Inc. (NYSE: WTS) was raised to Outperform from Perform with a $70 price target by Oppenheimer.
Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at J.P. Morgan, setting a tone of caution ahead of this week’s earnings report.
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