Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: AbbVie, Apple, Arconic, CenturyLink, eHealth, Nvidia, Salesforce, Tesla, Teva and More

Investing

Published: February 18, 2020 9:10 am

Last Updated: February 19, 2020 8:15 am

Stocks were close to all-time highs last Friday ahead of the three-day weekend, despite the coronavirus news getting worse, but the news from Apple has sent the stock indexes lower on Tuesday over stronger concerns about supply chain woes from China. Despite the indexes being more volatile into 2020, and despite the pressure of what will be a very difficult election cycle the rest of this year, many investors have yet to make any major changes to their holdings after the incredible gains from 2019.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week. our goal is to try to find new ideas for traders and long-term investors alike. Some of the daily analyst calls cover stocks to buy, while some calls cover stocks to sell or to avoid.

We have provided these analyst calls in a quick-hit summary for easy reading, and additional comments and trading data have been added on many of the calls. The consensus analyst price targets and other valuation metrics are from the Refinitiv sell-side research service.

These are the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations from Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) was reiterated as Outperform and its target was raised to $105 from $98 at Cowen. AbbVie closed down over 1.3% at $94.05 ahead of the call, with a $100.42 consensus target price.

Amarin Corp. PLC (NASDAQ: AMRN) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup, but the firm lowered its target price to $24 from $27 (versus a $17.62 prior close). It had a $30.20 consensus target price.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Cowen.

American Outdoor Brands Corp. (NASDAQ: AOBC) was reiterated as Neutral at Wedbush Securities, but the firm did raise its target price to $12 from $10 (versus a $10.21 close), based on a strengthening firearm demand environment.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was indicated down 2.5% at $316.80 after warning that the coronavirus outbreak in China has hurt its local sales and will have an impact on its supply chain that will act as a drag on other sales outside of China. Wedbush reiterated Apple as Outperform with the same $400 target price. Nomura/Instinet also reiterated its Neutral rating and $295 target price.

Arconic Inc. (NYSE: ARNC) was raised to Buy from Hold and was given a $38 target price (versus a $33.36 close) at Argus. The shares have a $36.40 consensus target price.

CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral with a $10 target price at MoffattNathanson. Shares closed up 0.1% at $13.90 ahead of the call but were indicated down over 2% at $13.60 ahead of Tuesday’s open.

Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE: D) was reiterated as Outperform and the target price was raised to $90 from $85 (versus an $87.46 close) at Credit Suisse.

Eidos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: EIDX) was downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

eHealth Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) was reiterated as Buy with a $200 price target and was listed as the favorite idea for small-cap growth investors at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform and the target price was lowered to $74 from $85 (versus a $73.51 close) at RBC Capital Markets. The stock had an $80 consensus target price and was indicated down 1% at $72.75 on Tuesday morning.

Kodiak Sciences Inc. (NYSE: KOD) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.

Laboratory Corp. of America (NYSE: LH) was reiterated as Overweight and the target price was raised to $211 from $189 at Morgan Stanley. LabCorp closed up 0.3% at $195.28 ahead of this call, with a $204.88 consensus target price.