Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For August 31, 2023

Upgrades

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Mesoblast Ltd (NASDAQ:MESO) from Hold to Buy. NoneThe current stock performance of Mesoblast shows a 52-week-high of $5.12 and a 52-week-low of $1.16. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $1.43.

Argus Research upgraded the previous rating for Oshkosh Corp (NYSE:OSK) from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Oshkosh had an EPS of $2.69, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.41. The stock has a 52-week-high of $106.66 and a 52-week-low of $69.31. At the end of the last trading period, Oshkosh closed at $103.23.

Evercore ISI Group upgraded the previous rating for Okta Inc (NASDAQ:OKTA) from Underperform to In-Line. For the second quarter, Okta had an EPS of $0.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.10. The stock has a 52-week-high of $94.64 and a 52-week-low of $44.13. At the end of the last trading period, Okta closed at $73.57.

For Shopify Inc (NYSE:SHOP), Canaccord Genuity upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. Shopify earned $0.14 in the second quarter, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Shopify shows a 52-week-high of $71.43 and a 52-week-low of $23.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $60.01.

BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating for The Hanover Insurance Group Inc (NYSE:THG) from Market Perform to Outperform. Hanover Insurance Gr earned $1.91 in the second quarter, compared to $2.32 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $148.78 and a 52-week-low of $103.90. At the end of the last trading period, Hanover Insurance Gr closed at $106.00.

Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Arista Networks Inc (NYSE:ANET) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Arista Networks showed an EPS of $1.58, compared to $1.08 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $193.91 and a 52-week-low of $98.72. Arista Networks closed at $187.10 at the end of the last trading period.

For Guidewire Software Inc (NYSE:GWRE), Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Equal-Weight. For the third quarter, Guidewire Software had an EPS of $0.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.26. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $86.79 and a 52-week-low of $52.19. Guidewire Software closed at $83.80 at the end of the last trading period.

Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating for Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) from Sell to Neutral. Exxon Mobil earned $1.94 in the second quarter, compared to $4.14 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $119.92 and a 52-week-low of $83.89. Exxon Mobil closed at $110.88 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Raymond James, the prior rating for SkyWest Inc (NASDAQ:SKYW) was changed from Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, SkyWest showed an EPS of $0.35, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of SkyWest shows a 52-week-high of $45.98 and a 52-week-low of $14.76. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $41.40.

For 3M Co (NYSE:MMM), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Equal-Weight. 3M earned $2.17 in the second quarter, compared to $2.48 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of 3M shows a 52-week-high of $133.89 and a 52-week-low of $92.38. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $104.45.

JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Vasta Platform Ltd (NASDAQ:VSTA) from Neutral to Overweight. Vasta Platform earned $0.20 in the second quarter, compared to $0.18 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Vasta Platform shows a 52-week-high of $5.60 and a 52-week-low of $3.05. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $3.66.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Chardan Capital downgraded the previous rating for Outlook Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:OTLK) from Buy to Neutral. For the third quarter, Outlook Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The current stock performance of Outlook Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $2.03 and a 52-week-low of $0.21. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.27.

Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating for Dollar General Corp (NYSE:DG) from Outperform to Perform. In the second quarter, Dollar Gen showed an EPS of $2.13, compared to $2.98 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $261.57 and a 52-week-low of $151.27. At the end of the last trading period, Dollar Gen closed at $157.66.

Susquehanna downgraded the previous rating for C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ:CHRW) from Neutral to Negative. In the second quarter, C.H. Robinson Worldwide showed an EPS of $0.90, compared to $2.52 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $116.76 and a 52-week-low of $86.63. At the end of the last trading period, C.H. Robinson Worldwide closed at $94.63.

Susquehanna downgraded the previous rating for RXO Inc (NYSE:RXO) from Neutral to Negative. In the second quarter, RXO showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.56 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $23.74 and a 52-week-low of $14.75. RXO closed at $18.81 at the end of the last trading period.

For Outlook Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:OTLK), HC Wainwright & Co. downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Outlook Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.08, compared to $0.08 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $2.03 and a 52-week-low of $0.21. At the end of the last trading period, Outlook Therapeutics closed at $0.27.

According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Victoria's Secret & Co (NYSE:VSCO) was changed from Overweight to Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Victoria's Secret showed an EPS of $0.24, compared to $1.09 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Victoria's Secret shows a 52-week-high of $48.12 and a 52-week-low of $16.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $17.94.

Evercore ISI Group downgraded the previous rating for Chewy Inc (NYSE:CHWY) from Outperform to In-Line. In the second quarter, Chewy showed an EPS of $0.15, compared to $0.05 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Chewy shows a 52-week-high of $52.88 and a 52-week-low of $25.29. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.33.

CLSA downgraded the previous rating for Gaotu Techedu Inc (NYSE:GOTU) from Outperform to Underperform. Gaotu Techedu earned $0.03 in the second quarter, compared to $0.00 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $5.49 and a 52-week-low of $0.64. Gaotu Techedu closed at $3.24 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Hostess Brands Inc (NASDAQ:TWNK) from Overweight to Neutral. Hostess Brands earned $0.28 in the second quarter, compared to $0.22 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.97 and a 52-week-low of $21.59. At the end of the last trading period, Hostess Brands closed at $28.06.

For Medical Properties Trust Inc (NYSE:MPW), Mizuho downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, Medical Properties Trust showed an EPS of $0.48, compared to $0.46 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.15 and a 52-week-low of $6.38. Medical Properties Trust closed at $7.34 at the end of the last trading period.

Morgan Stanley downgraded the previous rating for Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) from Equal-Weight to Underweight. Palantir Technologies earned $0.05 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Palantir Technologies shows a 52-week-high of $20.24 and a 52-week-low of $5.84. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.33.

According to B. Riley Securities, the prior rating for MasterCraft Boat Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:MCFT) was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, MasterCraft Boat Hldgs showed an EPS of $1.37, compared to $1.92 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of MasterCraft Boat Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of $35.29 and a 52-week-low of $18.49. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $21.76.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Raymond James initiated coverage on Middlefield Banc Corp (NASDAQ:MBCN) with a Market Perform rating. For the second quarter, Middlefield Banc had an EPS of $0.63, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.70. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.21 and a 52-week-low of $22.09. At the end of the last trading period, Middlefield Banc closed at $26.99.

Raymond James initiated coverage on Flushing Financial Corp (NASDAQ:FFIC) with an Outperform rating. The price target for Flushing Financial is set to $17.00. In the second quarter, Flushing Financial showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.70 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Flushing Financial shows a 52-week-high of $21.55 and a 52-week-low of $9.28. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.04.

With an Outperform rating, Raymond James initiated coverage on Plumas Bancorp (NASDAQ:PLBC). The price target seems to have been set at $38.00 for Plumas. In the second quarter, Plumas showed an EPS of $1.12, compared to $0.96 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.31 and a 52-week-low of $27.50. At the end of the last trading period, Plumas closed at $34.71.

With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on RadNet Inc (NASDAQ:RDNT). The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for RadNet. For the second quarter, RadNet had an EPS of $0.24, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.15. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $12.14. At the end of the last trading period, RadNet closed at $33.01.

Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on Microvast Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:MVST) with a Buy rating. The price target for Microvast Holdings is set to $8.00. For the second quarter, Microvast Holdings had an EPS of $0.02, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.05. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $2.91 and a 52-week-low of $0.88. Microvast Holdings closed at $1.81 at the end of the last trading period.

BMO Capital initiated coverage on Civitas Resources Inc (NYSE:CIVI) with an Outperform rating. The price target for Civitas Resources is set to $95.00. Civitas Resources earned $1.72 in the second quarter, compared to $4.63 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $81.63 and a 52-week-low of $52.77. At the end of the last trading period, Civitas Resources closed at $81.28.

BMO Capital initiated coverage on Chord Energy Corp (NASDAQ:CHRD) with an Outperform rating. The price target for Chord Energy is set to $185.00. In the second quarter, Chord Energy showed an EPS of $3.65, compared to $7.30 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $164.79 and a 52-week-low of $117.05. Chord Energy closed at $158.66 at the end of the last trading period.

HC Wainwright & Co. initiated coverage on Lyra Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:LYRA) with a Buy rating. The price target for Lyra Therapeutics is set to $12.00. In the second quarter, Lyra Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.36, compared to $0.43 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Lyra Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $6.37 and a 52-week-low of $1.86. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $3.36.

With a Buy rating, Needham initiated coverage on MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (NASDAQ:MLTX). The price target seems to have been set at $76.00 for MoonLake. For the second quarter, MoonLake had an EPS of $0.23, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.34. The stock has a 52-week-high of $63.40 and a 52-week-low of $7.05. At the end of the last trading period, MoonLake closed at $56.19.

With an Overweight rating, JP Morgan initiated coverage on MP Materials Corp (NYSE:MP). The price target seems to have been set at $27.00 for MP Materials. In the second quarter, MP Materials showed an EPS of $0.09, compared to $0.41 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of MP Materials shows a 52-week-high of $36.67 and a 52-week-low of $19.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $20.33.

JP Morgan initiated coverage on Establishment Labs Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ESTA) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Establishment Labs Hldgs is set to $75.00. In the second quarter, Establishment Labs Hldgs showed an EPS of $0.65, compared to $1.52 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $79.88 and a 52-week-low of $44.48. Establishment Labs Hldgs closed at $58.09 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Outperform rating, Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CRNX). The price target seems to have been set at $40.00 for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. In the second quarter, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $0.94, compared to $0.81 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $24.58 and a 52-week-low of $15.23. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.52.

See all analyst ratings initiations.