Investing

Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Apple, CVS Health, Priceline, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Workday and Many More

Lee Jackson

Published: February 28, 2017 9:30 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 2:25 pm

The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a 12th consecutive gain yesterday matching a record set way back in 1987. This morning the futures are looking slightly down, as investors try to step some and look at where we stand after a breathtaking run. Wall Street will be watching and listening closely tonight when President Donald Trump delivers an address to Congress that will focus on economic opportunity and national security.

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 Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations.

Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) price target was raised to $180 from $150 at Guggenheim. That compares with a Wall Street consensus price at $140.91. The 52-week trading range for the technology giant is $89.47 to $139.48. The shares closed Monday at $136.93.

CVS Health Inc. (NYSE: CVS) was removed from the Merrill Lynch US 1 List, but the firm kept its Buy rating on the shares. The 52-week trading range is $69.30 to $106.67. The Wall Street consensus target for the pharmacy chain is $86.34. The shares closed Monday at $81.41.

CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) was started with a Neutral rating at MoffettNathanson. The 52-week range is $22.86 to $33.45. The consensus price target is $27.67, and shares closed yesterday at $24.61.

Insulet Corp. (NASDAQ: PODD) had its price target for shares raised to $50 from $48 at Wedbush. That compares with a consensus price target of $44.25. The 52-week range is $26.50 to $46.92, and shares closed yesterday at $46.17.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) was downgraded to Market Perform from Strong Buy at Raymond James. The 52-week range is $16.78 to $26.24, and the consensus price objective is $24.67, so this looks like a valuation call. The stock closed yesterday at $26.30.

Priceline Inc.’s (NASDAQ: PCLN) price target was raised to $1,900 from $1,800 at a firm called The Benchmark Company. That compares with a consensus price objective of $174.66. The 52-week trading range for the internet travel behemoth is $1148 to $1664. The shares closed Monday at $1632.01

Ramaco Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: METC) was started at Jefferies with a Buy rating and a $16 price target. Credit Suisse started the stock with an Outperform rating and a $14 target. The stock had a recent initial public offering, so there is no Wall Street consensus posted. The stock has moved in a range from $10.74 to $14.78 since it began trading. Shares closed Monday at $10.89.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NASDAQ: TEVA) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Argus. The 52-week range for the generic drug giant is $31.90 to $59.35. The Wall Street consensus price target is $40.57. The stock closed Monday at $35.41.

Workday Inc.’s (NASDAQ: WDAY) price target was raised to $91 from $86 at Wedbush after reporting earnings results. That compares to a Wall Street consensus target of $84.09. The shares were downgraded from Buy to Hold at Evercore ISI. The 52-week range is $63.61 to $93.35. The shares closed yesterday at $90.19 but were trading down over 5% in the premarket.

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

Aircastle Ltd. (NYSE: AYR) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Merrill Lynch. The 52-week range is $18.26 to $25.98. The consensus price objective is $24.50. The stock closed Monday at $23.83.

Atlantica Yield PLC (NASDAQ: ABY) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Guggenheim. The 52-week range is $14.26 to $22.35, and the consensus price objective is $22.33. The stock close Monday at $21.80.

Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel, which raise the price target on the shares to $22 from $21. That compares with a consensus target of $20.50. The 52-week range is $3.55 to $23.49. The stock closed up big on Monday at $23.09, so this looks like a valuation call.

Fiesta Restaurants Inc.’s (NASDAQ: FRGI) price target was lowered to $28 from $32 at Wedbush. That compares with a consensus target of $29.58. The 52-week range is $20.15 to $38.54. Shares closed yesterday at $25.95, but are trading down sharply in the premarket.

TEGNA Inc.’s (NASDAQ: TGNA) price target was raised to $30 from $25 at The Benchmark Company. That’s versus a consensus target of $26. The 52-week range is $17.91 to $26.65. The stock close Monday at $25.66.

In case you missed it, Monday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Aflac, Carnival, J.C. Penney, Sunoco Under Armour and more.

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