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Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Baker Hughes, BP, Duke Energy, Finish Line, HP, Schlumberger, UPS, Workday and More
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The stock market has proven that volatility can return, but even after a huge sell-off the markets have come roaring back to recapture much of what had been lost. Stocks were indicated to open higher on Monday, and the bull market is now only about a week shy of being nine years old. So far, it has remained the case that the one trend that is investors’ friend is to buy the pullbacks. Investors also still have to decide how they want to be positioned for 2018 and beyond.
24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week to find new ideas for investors and traders alike. Some analyst reports and research reports cover stocks to buy. Others cover stocks to sell or to avoid.
Additional color and commentary has been added on most of the daily analyst reports. The consensus analyst price targets and other valuation metrics are from the Thomson Reuters sell-side research service.
These were the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and other research calls from Monday, February 26, 2018.
American Water Works Co. Inc. (NYSE: AWK) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform with an $88 price target (versus an $80.63 prior close) at Wells Fargo.
Baker Hughes, a GE Company (NYSE: BHGE) was raised to Neutral from Underperform with a $33 price objective (versus a $28.03 close) at Merrill Lynch. This is after GE has telegraphed that it is now not likely to exit its majority stake ahead of its 2019 contracted period.
BP PLC (NYSE: BP) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Markets. BP’s American depositary shares (ADSs) closed at $40.10 on Friday, in a 52-week trading range of $33.10 to $44.62.
Dine Brands Global Inc. (NYSE: DIN) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Raymond James. Its shares closed at $68.99 on Friday, in a 52-week of $36.71 to $69.83.
Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $86 price target (versus a $77.22 close) at Deutsche Bank.
ENI SpA (NYSE: E) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Markets. Its ADSs closed up 1.7% at $34.24 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $29.44 to $37.48.
Finish Line Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL) was raised to Positive from Neutral with a $14 price target (versus a $10.48 close) at Susquehanna.
General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) was downgraded to Hold from Buy with a $48 price target (versus a $52.98 close) at Societe Generale.
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) was raised to Overweight from Neutral with a $28 price target (versus a $22.13 close) at JPMorgan. More than a half-dozen other upgrades were also seen on Friday.
Hudson Ltd. (NYSE: HUD) was started as Buy with a $19 price target (versus a $16.76 close) at Goldman Sachs.
Landmark Infrastructure Partners Ltd. (NASDAQ: LMRK) was started as Market Perform at Wells Fargo.
24/7 Wall St.Sage Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SAGE) was started as Overweight with a $225 price target (versus a $164.15 close) at Morgan Stanley.
Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $75 price objective (versus a $66.50 close) at Merrill Lynch.
Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: SLGL) closed up 3.6% at $11.13 ahead of its IPO quiet period ending. JMP Securities issued a Market Outperform rating with a $20 target price. BMO Capital Markets issued an Outperform rating and $18 target, and Jefferies issued a Buy rating and a $17 price target.
Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) was raised to Outperform from Neutral with a $73 price target (versus a $68.25 close) at Credit Suisse.
Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK) was raised to Neutral from Sell with a $1.30 price target (versus a $1.26 close) at UBS.
United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $131 price target (versus a $105.61 close) at Loop Capital.
Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Macquarie.
Some of Merrill Lynch’s top ideas for the first quarter are still a bargain since the market pulled back.
Friday’s top analyst calls included Albermarle, Allergan, Boston Scientific, eBay, FedEx, Gogo, LendingTree, Nokia, UPS, Vertex and over a dozen more.
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