The futures traded higher this Friday morning as investors looked to wrap up a solid week on Wall Street. With just two weeks left in 2017, we may start to see some increases in volume as institutional accounts start adding year-end window dressing stocks and complete some final tax loss selling. The one trend that has dominated this bull market is that investors keep finding new reasons to buy stocks after every sell-off. Those same investors are looking for new investment and trading ideas to generate gains and income.
24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week to find new investing and trading ideas for our readers. Some of the top analyst reports cover stocks to buy. Other analyst calls cover stocks to sell or to avoid.
Additional color and commentary has been added on some of these daily analyst calls. The consensus analyst price target data are from the Thomson Reuters sell-side research service.
These were the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and other research calls from Friday, December 15, 2017.
BP Midstream Partners L.P. (NYSE: BPMP) was started with a Neutral rating at Mitsubishi UFJ. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $16.85 to $18.91. The Wall Street consensus price target is $21.57, and the shares closed trading on Thursday at $18.
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Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSII) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Needham as the firm feels that 2018 revenue estimate at the company is ambitious. The 52-week trading range is $23 to $33.11. The consensus price target is posted at $33.67. The stock ended trading on Thursday at $24.73.
Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) saw its price target raised to $66 from $62 at Cowen. That compares with a consensus target of $64.76. The analysts noted a positive investors day in which the company provided 2018 guidance forecasting revenue growth of 4% to 6% and earnings per share growth of 10% to 15%. The 52-week trading range is $43.81 to $55.75. The shares closed right near the top end of that range on Thursday at $55.25.
Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ: ESRX) was raised to Outperform from Perform at Robert W. Baird, which also raised the price target to $81 from $72. The consensus price target is $71.25. The 52-week trading range is $55.80 to $73.42, and shares closed Thursday at $69.02.
Form Factor Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) was raised to Strong Buy from Buy at Needham, and the price target was also lifted to $22 from $20. That compares with the consensus price target of $20.18. The stock is a top pick for 2018 based on the analyst’s expectation for solid demand, share gains in foundry/logic and low expectations set by conservative consensus estimates. As it is the leading supplier of probe cards, Cowen expects the company to continue delivering solid growth after a very strong 2017, with growth trends in AP, Mobile Data and Auto. The shares have traded in a 52-week range of $10.45 to $18.65, and they closed Thursday at $14.90.
Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure Inc. (NYSE: SOI) saw its price target raised from $20 to $23 at Imperial Capital. The analysts note the company is adding incremental supply chain capabilities, system demand remains strong (pricing and contract length) and its Kingfisher transload facility nears an on-time startup. The 52-week trading range is $9.90 to $19.55. The consensus price objective is $21.06. The stock closed Thursday at $18.26.
Under Armour Inc. (NYSE: UAA) was raised to Buy from Hold at Stifel. The 52-week range for the sports apparel giant is $11.40 to $31.06. The consensus price target is $13.29, but the stock closed above that level on Thursday at $13.82
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX) saw its target raised to $10 from $7 at Mizuho, but the firm kept an Underperform rating on the shares. The consensus price objective for the battered specialty pharmaceutical stock was not available. The 52-week trading range is $8.23 to $22.81. The stock closed Thursday at $19.68, down almost 11%.
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Other key analysts upgrades and downgrades were seen in the following:
Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) is raised to Buy from Hold at Stifel. The 52-week trading range for the stock is $5.93 to $11.46, and the consensus price target is $8.93. Shares ended the trading day on Thursday at $10.94
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS) was started with a Neutral rating at D.A. Davidson. The 52-week trading range is $159.09 to $206.66. The consensus price target is $177.91. Shares closed way above that level Thursday at $202.46.
Fitbit Inc. (NYSE: FIT) was downgraded to Sell from Hold at Stifel. The 52-week range is $4.90 to $8.40, and the consensus price objective is $6.71. The stock closed Thursday at $6.82.
Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) was raised to Buy from Hold at Canaccord Genuity. The 52-week range is $28.42 to $77.86. The consensus price target is $44.76. The stock closed Thursday at $44.33.
Gulfport Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: GPOR) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan. The consensus price target is $19.23, and shares have traded in a 52-week range of $10.90 to $23.11. The stock closed Thursday at $12.19.
Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) was raised to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan. The 52-week trading is $10.55 to $19.02. The consensus price objective is $18.03. The stock closed Thursday a $15.12.
Medical Properties Trust Inc. (NYSE: MPW) is raised to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan. The 52-week trading range is $11.90 to $14.22. The consensus price target is $13.77. The stock closed Thursday at $13.76.
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Nordson Inc. (NASDAQ: NDSN) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Gabelli. The 52-week range for the shares is $107.16 to $150.48. The consensus price objective is $145.82. The stock closed Thursday at $143.86.
Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (NASDAQ: ORIG) was started at Outperform at Credit Suisse. The 52-week range was not available. The posted consensus price target is $22, and the shares closed Thursday at $24.55.
Snyder’s-Lance Inc. (NASDAQ: LNCE) saw its price target raised to $50 from $40 at Deutsche Bank. That compares with a consensus price target of $41.71. The 52-week trading range is $31.03 to $45.50. The shares closed on Thursday up big at $44.52, almost a 13% gain.
In case you missed it, here are Thursday’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades, which include CBS, Honeywell, KeyCorp, Lennox, Nike, Southwest Airlines, Verizon and more.
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