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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Apache, Apple, HP, Qualcomm, Sprouts and More

Stocks have marginally pulled back from their all-time highs early this week. Investors are being told over and over the raging bull market has changed into a stock picker’s market now. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each morning of the week, looking for new ideas and hidden gems for our readers. Some of the Wall Street research reports from analysts cover stocks to buy, and some of them cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

These are this Thursday’s top Wall Street analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations.

Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS. We would caution readers here that this stock has effectively more than doubled over the past five trading sessions, and full details of this call were not available at the time of publishing.

Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $118 from $103 by Argus, based on investors not realizing the positive asset changes of its portfolio.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was reiterated as Outperform at RBC Capital Markets, but the price target was raised to $100 from $96 (versus a $93.86 closing price).

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) was started with a Buy rating and a $75 price target (versus a $61.56 close) at UBS.

Computer Programs & Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CPSI) was downgraded to Underweight from Hold with a $55 price target (versus a $65.70 close) by KeyBanc Capital Markets.

ALSO READ: 11 Ways to Avoid the Next Stock Market Crash

Constellium N.V. (NYSE: CSTM) was started with a Buy rating and $36 price target (versus a $30.43 close) at Sterne Agee.

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) was reiterated with a Buy rating and the price target was raised to $60 from $55 (versus a $49.62 close) at Sterne Agee.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) was raised to Neutral from Sell and the price target was raised to $32 from $25 (versus a $33.25 close) by Goldman Sachs. While this remains a cautious call with a slightly underwhelming price target, Goldman Sachs had continuously been one of the more negative firms tracking Hewlett-Packard in its turnaround.

Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) was raised to Buy from Neutral and given a $16 price target (versus a $9.39 close) by UBS.

HollySys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) was started with a Buy rating and $26 price target (versus a $22.54 close) at Goldman Sachs.

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE: NMM) was started with a Buy rating and a $22 price target (versus a $18.68 close) by Jefferies.

Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OREX) was maintained as Outperform with a $10 price target but had its projected revenue estimates lowered by Credit Suisse after the PDUFA date was extended by three months.

ALSO READ: Major Upside From Analysts in Micron and SanDisk

Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack Inc. (NYSE: PBY) was reiterated with a Buy rating and $15 price target (versus a $11.25 close) at Argus, based on a solid earnings report and outlook.

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) was favorably mentioned by Canaccord Genuity after management meetings affirm that it is well positioned for strong trends through 2015 trends. The firm raised its price target to $95 from $90 (versus a $79.21 close) in the call.

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ: SFM) was raised to Outperform from Neutral and the price target was raised to $34 from $31 by Credit Suisse. The firm feels that the recent pullback is a buying opportunity.

ALSO READ: Two Analysts See AMD Headed Much Higher

Other Key Analyst Calls

ImmunoGen Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN) was raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank in a valuation call.

SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Markets.

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