The futures were higher again on Wednesday after a second straight day of big gains across the major indexes and the transports. The only selling we saw once again was in the Treasury market, where yields were up across the curve as traders continue to take gains after a big rally. Again, much of the risk-on strength was attributed to reports that the symptoms for the Omicron variant are much milder than those of Delta. Strategists across Wall Street remain focused on market positives and continued stock repurchases from major corporations, which will end soon as the windows will be closing in advance of fourth-quarter blackouts.

The biggest data point this week that could shake up the markets comes on Friday, as the Consumer Price Index report will come out just five days before Federal Reserve policymakers will huddle up to discuss inflation risks. Wall Street economists and strategists are expecting the headline CPI number to hit a stunning 6.7%, which would be the highest rate posted since 1982. If a larger number hits the tape, we could see a big risk-off move.

24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week with a goal of finding new ideas for investors and traders alike. Some of these daily analyst calls cover stocks to buy. Other calls cover stocks to sell or avoid. Remember that no single analyst call should ever be used as a basis to buy or sell a stock. Consensus analyst target data is from Refinitiv.

These are the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA): Goldman Sachs maintained a Buy rating on the stock and has a $305 price target. The stock has traded as high as $278.57 in the past year but closed trading on Tuesday at $208.83.

Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT): Stifel started coverage on the real estate giant with a Buy rating and a $192 price target. The target is lower at $173.25. The last trade on Tuesday was reported at $171.34.

CommScope Holding Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: COMM): The Jefferies upgrade to Buy from Hold included a target price boost to $15 from $11. The consensus target is $14.61. The shares were last seen Tuesday at $11.32, after almost an almost 11% gain for the day.

Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE: CTRA): JPMorgan resumed coverage with a Neutral rating and a $28 price target. The consensus target is $27.76, and the stock closed Tuesday at $20.12.

Essex Property Trust Inc. (NYSE: ESS): Stifel started coverage on the real estate heavyweight with a Buy rating and a $390 price objective. That compares with a $355.86 consensus target and Tuesday’s closing share price of $344.95.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NASDAQ: GT): Deutsche Bank upgraded the shares to Buy from Hold and also raised the price target to $32. The consensus target is $24. The shares were last seen Tuesday at $21.69.

Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON): BofA Securities downgraded the industrial giant to Neutral from Buy and lowered the price target to $245. The consensus target is $241.40. The stock closed at $207.15 on Tuesday.

ITT Inc. (NYSE: ITT): BofA Securities raised the stock from Neutral to Buy with a $130 target price. The consensus target is $112.18, and the stock closed on Tuesday at $101.39.

JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ: JD): Macquarie resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and a $105 target price. That is just higher than the $104.43 consensus. Tuesday’s closing share price was $78.09.

Kraft Heinz Co. (NASDAQ: KHC): Guggenheim lowered its Buy rating on the food and condiments giant to Neutral with a $33 price target. The consensus target is up at $40.69. The shares were last seen on Tuesday at $34.51.

Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW): This big-box retailer was named as the Bull of the Day stock at Zacks, which said that consumers are still prioritizing the home, which is a growth catalyst for this home improvement play. Shares most recently closed at $256.91 and have a consensus price target of $269.54, which would be an all-time high.

MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA): Sidoti raised the shares to Buy from Neutral and has a $183 price target. The consensus target is $170.25. The last trade Tuesday was reported at $148.72.

Nio Inc. (NYSE: NIO): Tiger Securities started coverage of the electric vehicle stock with a Buy rating. Over the past 52 weeks, the shares have traded between $29.66 and $66.99. The final trade on Tuesday was reported at $33.12.

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: PTEN): Morgan Stanley raised its Equal Weight rating on the oilfield service stock to Overweight and hiked the $10 target price to $12. The consensus target is $10.98. The stock closed Tuesday at $8.06, which was up just shy of 5% for the day.

Pinduoduo Inc. (NASDAQ: PDD): Macquarie resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and a $95 price target. The consensus target is much higher at $113.47. The stock closed Tuesday at $63.03, up almost 13% on the day.
Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR): Evercore ISI’s upgrade to Outperform from In Line included a target price hike to $75 from $72. The consensus target for the franchisor of quick-service restaurants under the Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes brands is $70. The last trade on Tuesday hit the tape at $60.03, which was up over 4% for the day.

RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM): Evercore ISI raised the stock to Outperform from In Line and has a $105 price target. The consensus target is much lower at $ 93. The final trade for Tuesday was at $96.43.

Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ: SIMO): Cowen reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares and nudged the $100 price target to $105. The consensus price objective is just $96.10. The stock closed on Tuesday at $87.98, up a stunning 16% after the company announced a $200 million share repurchase program

Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX): MKM Partners upgraded the ubiquitous coffee retailer to Buy from Neutral and also moved their target price to $130 from $114. The consensus target is $122.64, and the last trade on Tuesday came in at $116.26.

Stryker Corp. (NYSE: SYK): Loop Capital started coverage of the medical devices heavyweight with a Buy rating and a $305 price objective. The consensus target is just $285.86. The shares were last seen on Tuesday at $260.55.

Vroom Inc. (NASDAQ: VRM): JPMorgan downgraded the shares to Neutral from Overweight and slashed the price target to $15 from $30. The stock has a massive $37.55 consensus target, but it closed on Tuesday at $13.40.

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ZBH): Loop Capital started the biotech leader with a Buy rating and a $165 target price. The consensus target is up at $169.50. The shares were last seen on Tuesday at $128.43.

With some strategists seeing tepid, single-digit gains in store for 2022, it makes sense to consider dependable dividends, as total return could be the name of the game next year. Five top stocks could be strong plays in a very inflationary world.

Tuesday’s early top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Bloomin’ Brands, Boston Beer, Bumble, Goldman Sachs, Juniper Networks, Merck, Moderna, Petco Health, Southern Company, Spirit Airlines and Wells Fargo. Analyst calls seen later in the day were on Alibaba, Apple, Canopy Growth, Tesla and more.

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