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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Agilent, CSC, Intel, Jabil, Kinder Morgan, Nasdaq, Square, Yahoo and More

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Stocks were indicated lower again on Wednesday, making the expected gains in December more in question ahead of an expected rate hike. The one trend that has lasted for over four years now is that investors have found many reasons to buy every single pullback. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day. The goal is to find new investing and trading ideas for our readers. Some of the daily analyst reports cover stocks to buy, while others cover stocks to sell or avoid.

These are this Wednesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at R.W. Baird and the price target was raised to $48 from $45. Agilent shares closed at $41.17. The consensus analyst price target is $44.34, and the 52-week trading range is $33.12 to $43.59.

Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC) was raised to Buy at Jefferies with a $37 price target, on a post-split basis (versus a $30.46 prior close). Jefferies said that CSC thinks an inflection point could be near on weak revenue turnaround, with potential margin expansion and with a low valuation and management execution.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) was raised to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $42.00 (up from a prior target of $33.00) at Nomura Securities. Intel was called a survivor in this call.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel, and the firm’s price target was removed.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI) did finally slash its dividend to reflect lower oil prices. Jefferies maintained its Hold rating. Credit Suisse maintained its Neutral rating and lowered its price target. RBC Capital Markets cut its rating to Sector Perform.

Nasdaq Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) was started with an Outperform rating and a price target of $69.00 at RBC Capital Markets.

Square Inc. (NYSE: SQ) was started with a Neutral rating and a price target of $11.00 (versus a $12.12 close) at Susquehanna.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) was maintained as Buy with a $49 price target (versus a $34.85 close) at Jefferies on the heels of reports that the Alibaba stake spin-off is now not happening. FBR maintained its Outperform rating.


Other key analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen on Wednesday were in the following:

AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) reiterated guidance, but it was maintained as Hold at Canaccord Genuity.

Ball Corp. (NYSE: BLL) was raised to Buy and the price target was raised to $84 from $74 (versus a $67.44 close) at Jefferies. The firm said that Ball will have upside of $96 once Rexam is approved and once the deal is fully integrated.

Consumer Portfolio Services Inc. (NASDAQ: CPSS) was started as Neutral and the fair value estimate was set at $7.00 (versus a $5.19 close) at Janney Capital Markets.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) was started as Buy at Maxim Group.

Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) was reiterated as Outperform with a $99 price target (versus an $86.41 close) at Credit Suisse. The firm believes there is an additional appreciation for its efforts in Alzheimer’s and animal health.

Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE: FIG) was reinstated as Neutral with a $6 price target at Credit Suisse.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (NYSE: ICE) was started with a Sector Perform rating and a price target of $266.00 at RBC Capital Markets.

Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) was reiterated as Outperform with a raised $79 price target (versus a $70.82 close and a $76 prior target) at Credit Suisse. The firm raised Kellogg’s 2017 estimates.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: NCLH) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $50.00 at Goldman Sachs.


Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SWHC) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform with a price target of $23.00 at RBC Capital Markets.

Team Health Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TMH) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $75 from $73 at Canaccord Genuity. The firm said the mid-November financing and the closing of the IPC Healthcare acquisition should drive both cost and revenue synergies.

Universal Display Corp. (NASDAQ: OLED) was maintained as Hold at Canaccord Genuity, but the price target was raised to $52 from $41.

Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) was reiterated as Buy with a $30 price target at Stifel. The firm thinks Urban Outfitter’s comparable sales are tracking as planned this quarter.

If you missed out on Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades, they included Amazon.com, Blackstone, FireEye, Myriad Genetics, Visa, CBOE, Hershey, Vail Resorts and many more.

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