Investing

Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AT&T, Chesapeake, Lululemon, Microsoft, PayPal, Wal-Mart, Yahoo and More

Jon C. Ogg

Published: October 21, 2016 8:55 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 2:06 am

Stocks were indicated lower on Friday as earnings looked mixed. So far, earnings season has gotten off to a decent start, and investors still seem willing and able to buy each pullback. This appetite for stocks is despite high valuations and a seven-and-a-half-year-old bull market. Investors are also looking for new ideas to generate gains or income ahead.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each morning. The goal is to find new investing and trading ideas for our readers. Some analyst research reports cover stocks to buy, and some feature stocks to sell or avoid.

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

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) was reiterated as Buy with a $48 price target (versus a $39.38 prior close) at Jefferies. The firm sees a Time Warner merger as unlikely. Wedbush Securities reiterated its Neutral rating on Time Warner but said its view of a merger is low. AT&T has a 52-week trading range of $32.22 to $43.89 and a consensus analyst price target of $42.61.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) had its investor day on Thursday. Merrill Lynch raised its rating to Neutral from Underperform with a $10 price objective, and Nomura raised its rating to Neutral from Reduce. The 52-week range is $1.50 to $8.15, and the consensus price target is $6.50.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) was maintained as Hold at Jefferies, but the price target was cut to $61 from $76 (versus a $58.58 close). It has a 52-week range of $43.14 to $81.81 and consensus price target of $70.66.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) was hitting new all-time highs and up 5.85% at $60.60 on Friday after earnings beat expectations. The stock was raised to Outperform from Market Perform by William Blair. Jefferies maintained its Underperform rating but raised its target to $43 from $40. The previous 52-week range is $48.04 to $58.70, and the consensus price target of $59.79.

PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) was reiterated as Buy with a $48 price target (versus a $40.24 close) at Jefferies. Stifel raised it to Buy from Hold. Wedbush reiterated its Outperform rating and raised its price target to $54 from $50. Credit Suisse reiterated its Outperform rating and raised its target price to $47 from $43. PayPal has a 52-week range of $30.52 to $41.75 and consensus price target of $44.94.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was started with a Neutral rating and assigned a $73 price target (versus a $68.73 close) at Piper Jaffray. The 52-week range is $67.07 to $73.19. The consensus price target is $74.92.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies. What is interesting here is that there is still upside called for with a price target of $48, and the firm sees an upside to $66 and a downside to $30. Yahoo has a 52-week range of $26.15 to $44.92 and a consensus price target of $45.28.

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Other key analyst upgrades and downgrades were seen as follows:

Abraxas Petroleum Corp. (NASDAQ: AXAS) was started as Buy with a $3 price target (versus a $1.79 close) at Rodman & Renshaw.

Asure Software Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR) was started with a Buy rating and assigned a $12 price target (versus a $6.85 close) at Roth Capital.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE: BK) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with a $50 price target (versus a $42.25 close) at Keefe Bruyette & Woods. Argus maintained a Hold rating, noting that its challenging revenue environment continues.

CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) was started as Buy with a $72 price target at Wunderlich.

Memorial Production Partners L.P. (NASDAQ: MEMP) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Raymond James.

PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy and the price target was cut to $103 from $111 (versus a $92.66 close) at Goldman Sachs. Credit Suisse maintained its Outperform rating but lowered earnings estimates.

Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE: SKX) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup, and the price target was lowered to $21 from $33. The company posted dismal earnings and shares were indicated down 16% at $19.25, lower than the prior $20.90 52-week low.

Union Pacific Corp. (NYSE: UNP) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Markets. Cowen also downgraded it, to Market Perform from Outperform. Credit Suisse maintained an Outperform rating but lowered its target price to $105 from $111.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: XENE) was started with a Buy rating and assigned an $18 price target (versus $8.35 close) at Stifel.

Merrill Lynch has five stocks with 35% to 85% implied upside.

Thursday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades were in American Express, Dynegy, BP, Goldman Sachs, Kinder Morgan, Select Comfort and a dozen more.