Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Apple, BHP, Ford, GM, IBM, NetEase, Shire and More

Investing

Published: October 21, 2014 8:30 am

Last Updated: October 21, 2014 8:33 am

Stocks were firm again on Tuesday morning. Investors have now formally proven yet again that they are willing to buy value and overlooked stocks on the dips. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst reports each morning to hunt for new investment and trading ideas for our readers. Some of these key analyst reports cover stocks to buy, while others cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

These are this Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades featured by 24/7 Wall St.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is trading slightly higher after earnings, but we have yet to see many analyst upgrades or downgrades. Canaccord Genuity raised its price target to $120 from $115. Wells Fargo maintained its Market Perform rating but raised its valuation range up to $92.00 to $102.00 from $89.00 to $99.00, based on 13 to 14 times expected 2015 earnings. Credit Suisse maintained its Neutral rating and $110 price target. It was maintained Outperform with a $115 price target at Oppenheimer.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE: BHP) was downgraded to Hold from Buy with a $53 price target (versus a $59.32 close) at Jefferies.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) was started as Neutral at Susquehanna.

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) was maintained as Underperform at Credit Suisse, but the price target was slashed to $125 from $160 in the call. IBM was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Evercore. Wells Fargo maintained its Market Perform rating, but lowered its price valuation range to $167.00 to $177.00 from the prior range of $185.00 to $195.00 — based solely on 10 times expected 2015 earnings.

Twitter Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) was started with a Neutral rating at Citigroup.

ALSO READ: 5 Merrill Lynch Battered Biotechs That Could Double

Other Key Analyst Calls on Tuesday

Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) was raised to Outperform with a valuation target range of $15.00 to $16.00 at Wells Fargo, and the firm called it too cheap to ignore anymore.

Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED) was downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley. This was recently featured in our safest high-yield dividends.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with a $37 price target (versus a $30.82 close) at Bernstein.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) was started as Neutral at Susquehanna.

Inland Real Estate Corp. (NYSE: IRC) was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral on valuation and its price objective was maintained at $10.25 by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

NetEase.com Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Post Holdings Inc. (NYSE: POST) was raised to Buy from Neutral and the price target was raised to $44 from $42 (versus a $34.87 close) at Goldman Sachs.

RealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK) was started as Buy with a $12.50 price target (versus a $6.23 close) at B. Riley, a call that is effectively one that is expected to double.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ: ROIC) was started as Market Perform at Wells Fargo. The firm said it likes its market focus and management but wants a cheaper entry point.

Shire PLC (NASDAQ: SHPG) was started as Buy at Deutsche Bank, despite its merger officially being dead.

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) was started with an Outperform rating and given a $43-45 valuation range at Wells Fargo, based on 17 times 2015 expected earnings.

TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) was started with an Outperform rating and $99 price target at Oppenheimer, versus its $83.54 close.

ALSO READ: The 10 Safest High-Yield Dividends

In case you missed this Monday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades, they were in AIG, Align Technology, Cliffs Natural Resources, Cyber-Ark Software, MannKind, Micron Technology and a half dozen others.

Are You Still Paying With a Debit Card?

The average American spends $17,274 on debit cards a year, and it’s a HUGE mistake. First, debit cards don’t have the same fraud protections as credit cards. Once your money is gone, it’s gone. But more importantly you can actually get something back from this spending every time you swipe.

Issuers are handing out wild bonuses right now. With some you can earn up to 5% back on every purchase. That’s like getting a 5% discount on everything you buy!

Our top pick is kind of hard to imagine. Not only does it pay up to 5% back, it also includes a $200 cash back reward in the first six months, a 0% intro APR, and…. $0 annual fee. It’s quite literally free money for any one that uses a card regularly. Click here to learn more!

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings to provide coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.