Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Wal-Mart, Garmin, DSW, Kinder Morgan, Hasbro and More

Investing

Published: February 20, 2015 8:30 am

Last Updated: February 20, 2015 8:32 am

Stocks were down slightly on Friday morning, in a holding pattern, waiting for something to happen. While stocks recently hit new highs, and while investors believe the Fed will be patient in raising rates, the pattern that is over two years old now is that investors buy all the dips the stock market throws their way. These investors want to buy value or overlooked growth stories, as well as income and special situations when they arise. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of new analyst research calls each day to find new investing and trading ideas for its readers. Some of analyst reports cover stocks to Buy. Other reports cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

These are this Friday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations from 24/7 Wall St.

Approach Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: AREX) was downgraded to Hold from Buy, based on valuation, at Canacord Genuity.

Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CSH) was started as Buy with a $29 price target (versus a $20.72 close) at Jefferies.

DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $45 price target (versus a $35.81 close) at Canaccord Genuity.

EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.

ALSO READ: Deutsche Bank Raises Price Targets on 4 Top Refiners

Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities, just a day after Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised its rating.

Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ: JAZZ) was started as Outperform with a $200 price target (versus a $170.80 close) at BMO Capital Markets.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI) was started as Overweight with a $50 price target (versus a $42.01 close) at Barclays.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with a $21 price target at FBR Capital Markets. Merrill Lynch reiterated an Underperform rating and lowered its price objective to $13.

Noodles & Co. (NASDAQ: NDLS) was indicated down over 25% and trading under $21 after putting its 2015 guidance at the low-end of growth estimates. The restaurant chain was downgraded to Neutral at Janney Capital Markets, and it was downgraded to Neutral at Baird.

Northern Oil and Gas Inc. (NYSE: NOG) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Canaccord Genuity.

Oil States International Inc. (NYSE: OIS) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform and the price target was cut to $43 from $56 at Credit Suisse.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS) was raised to Buy from Hold with $66 price target (versus a $56.78 close) at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

ALSO READ: Meet the 2015 Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway Stocks

Rocket Fuel Inc. (NASDAQ: FUEL) was downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer, and the firm removed its $22 price target (versus a $14.77 close).

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.

In case you missed Thursday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades, they included Amarin, CenturyLink, Legg Mason, Rackspace, Transocean, Valero Energy and a dozen more.

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