Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, MGIC Investment, TransCanada, Verizon and More

Investing

Published: July 20, 2016 8:55 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 5:32 am

The stock market is still challenging all-time highs, despite fears of Brexit and valuations being high. Investors just keep proving that they will buy their favorite stocks on pullbacks.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each morning in an effort to find new investing and trading ideas for its readers. Some of these analyst reports cover stocks to buy, while other reports feature stocks to sell or avoid.

These are the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen on Wednesday morning:

Johnson & Johnson Inc. (NYSE: JNJ) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $145 from $130 (versus a $125.25 prior close) at Argus. It has a consensus analyst price target of $120.83 and a 52-week trading range of $81.79 to $125.75.

Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $$290 from $255 at Argus. Credit Suisse maintained a Neutral rating, but the firm raised its target price to $255 from $225. Shares closed at $258.96, and the 52-week range is $181.91 to $263.37.

MGIC Investment Corp. (NYSE: MTG) was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $9 price target (versus a $6.81 close) at Compass Point. The 52-week range is $5.36 to $11.34, and the consensus price target is $9.45.

TransCanada Corp. (NYSE: TRP) was started with a Buy rating and given a $70 price target (versus a $46.51 close) at Goldman Sachs. The 52-week range is $28.40 to $47.49. The consensus analyst target is $47.90.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) was downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer. The stock closed at $55.70, and it has a 52-week range of $38.06 to $56.95. The consensus price target is $53.16.

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Other top analyst upgrades and downgrades were seen as follows:

Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) was maintained as Underperform with a $120 price target (versus a $136.34 close) at Credit Suisse. The firm said that its pricing checks highlighted value concerns and it lowered earnings expectations.

Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) was started as Buy with a $300 price target (versus a $232.01 close) at Argus. The move follows its acquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $100 price target (versus an $89.42 close) at Canaccord Genuity.

Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight and the price target was cut to $74 from $79 (versus a $67.77 close) at Morgan Stanley.

Kaiser Aluminum Corp. (NASDAQ: KALU) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.

Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.

Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ: PNRA) was started with an Outperform rating and was given a $250 price target (versus a $206.70 close) at RBC Capital Markets.

Papa John’s International Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) was raised to Overweight from Sector Weight with an $80 price target (versus a $69.12 close) at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

SAP A.G. (NYSE: SAP) was started with an Outperform rating at Credit Suisse. The firm noted that its S4 is driving solid results, and its price target in euros implies 20% upside.

Shutterfly Inc. (NASDAQ: SFLY) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Axiom Capital.

Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLK) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup.

Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.

Tenaris S.A. (NYSE: TS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.

Workday Inc. (NYSE: WDAY) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup.

Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Chipotle Mexican Grill, 3M, Mobileye, Netflix, Seagate Technology, Yahoo and many more. Monday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Cypress Semiconductor, Groupon, Humana, Infosys, Monster Beverage, Transocean and over a dozen more.

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