Investing

Top Analysts Upgrades and Downgrades: Anadarko Petroleum, Bristol-Myers, Comcast, Disney, Merck and More

Lee Jackson

Published: December 19, 2016 8:55 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 4:39 pm

Despite last week ending on a moderately lower note, the Trump rally rolled on for yet another week of gains for investors. With trading volume expected to dive as we get ready to enjoy the holidays and close out 2016, we may see more slow trading days like last Friday. The futures were trading modestly higher Monday morning, indicating a slightly higher open.

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

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

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC) was started at Buy at Ladenburg Thalmann. The 52-week trading range is $28.26 to $73.33, and the consensus price objective on Wall Street is $75.47. The shares closed trading last Friday at $70.61.

ArcelorMittal Inc. (NYSE: MT) was downgraded to Sell from Hold at UBS. The 52-week range is $2.93 to $8.84, and the consensus price objective is $8.39. Shares closed last Friday at $7.66.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) is raised to Buy from Hold at Jefferies. The 52-week range is $49.03 to $77.12, and the consensus price target is $62.11. The stock closed on Friday at $58.62.

Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at a firm called Berenberg. The 52-week range is $40.52 to $55.77. The consensus price target is set at $55.59, and the shares closed Friday at $51.50.

Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) was reiterated at Buy and the price target raised to $80 from $77 at Jefferies. The consensus price target is $76.02. The 52-week range is $52.34 to $70.69. The stock ended last week at $69.87 per share.

Costco Inc. (NASDAQ: COST) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup. The 52-week range is $138.57 to $169.59, and the consensus price target is $170.50. Shares closed Friday at $160.41.

Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital. The 52-week range is $9.46 to $20.38. The consensus price target is $19.31. The stock closed Friday at $12.53.

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) was downgraded to Underperform from Hold at Jefferies. The 52-week trading range is $47.97 to $65.46, and the consensus price target is $68. The stock closed Friday at $62.44.

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) was reiterated at Buy and added to the US 1 list at Merrill Lynch. The analyst has a $125 price target on the stock, while the Wall Street consensus target is $106.86. The 52-week trading range is $86.25 to $110.10.

Other key analysts upgrades and downgrades were seen in the following:

AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) was reiterated at Hold at Stifel, and the firm lowered its price target on the shares to $56 from $60. The consensus price target is $62.58. The 52-week trading range is $46.17 to $78.14. The stock closed trading on Friday at $51.24.

Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) was started at Neutral at Janney. The 52-week range for the shares is $16.40 to $43.53, and the consensus price target is $35.25. The stock closed trading on Friday at $20.10.

Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) was raised to Buy from Hold at Evercore ISI. The 52-week range is $11.22 to $17.05. The consensus price target is $16.39. The stock closed last Friday at $15.70.

Carpenter Technology Corp. (NYSE: CRS) was started at Hold at Deutsche Bank. The 52-week range is $23.99 to $42.77, and the consensus price target is $31.80. The stock closed trading last Friday at $37.87.

HubSpot Inc. (NASDAQ: HUBS) was raised to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer. The 52-week range is $27.00 to $59.97, and the consensus price objective is set at $66.11. The shares closed Friday at $47.40.

Luxoft Holding Inc. (NYSE: LXFT) is raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Cowen. The 52-week range is $46.58 to $79.37, and the consensus price target is $67.56. Shares closed trading last Friday at $53.20.

RSP Permian Inc. (NYSE: RSPP) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Guggenheim. The 52-week range is $16.74 to $46.44. The consensus price target is posted at $51.60, and the stock closed last Friday at $44.25.

United Rentals Inc. (NYSE: URI) was raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS. The 52-week range is $41.90 to $109.90, and the consensus price target is $94.67. The stock closed Friday at $105.71.

Waste Connections Inc. (NYSE: WCN) was reiterated at Buy and a top pick at Stifel. The analyst raised its price target on the shares to $90 from $85. That compares with a consensus price target of $87. The 52-week trading range is $50.64 to $79.72, and the shares closed Friday at $77.52.

Zoe’s Kitchen Inc. (NYSE: ZOES) was reiterated at Hold at Stifel, but the analyst raise its price target to $25 from $22. The posted consensus price target is $26.36. The 52-week trading range is $20.20 to $41.46. The shares closed up big on Friday at $26.65.

In case you missed it, last Friday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Apple, Biogen, FedEx, Las Vegas Sands and more.

Also, Merrill Lynch has released 11 top stock ideas for 2017.

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