Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For March 17, 2023

Upgrades

Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating for FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC) from Neutral to Buy. For the fourth quarter, FMC had an EPS of $2.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.16. The stock has a 52-week-high of $140.82 and a 52-week-low of $98.24. At the end of the last trading period, FMC closed at $116.76.

Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating for Columbia Banking System Inc (NASDAQ:COLB) from Neutral to Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Columbia Banking System had an EPS of $0.88, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.55. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.53 and a 52-week-low of $20.25. At the end of the last trading period, Columbia Banking System closed at $21.94.

Seaport Global upgraded the previous rating for Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) from Sell to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Duke Energy had an EPS of $1.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.88. The stock has a 52-week-high of $116.33 and a 52-week-low of $83.78. At the end of the last trading period, Duke Energy closed at $97.20.

According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:WBD) was changed from Peer Perform to Outperform. In the fourth quarter, Warner Bros. Discovery showed an EPS of $0.37, compared to $0.08 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $27.50 and a 52-week-low of $8.82. At the end of the last trading period, Warner Bros. Discovery closed at $14.16.

According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) was changed from Underperform to Peer Perform. American Airlines Group earned $1.17 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.42 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $21.42 and a 52-week-low of $11.65. American Airlines Group closed at $14.12 at the end of the last trading period.

For GDS Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:GDS), Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. In the fourth quarter, GDS Holdings showed an EPS of $0.15, compared to $0.30 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $48.39 and a 52-week-low of $8.41. At the end of the last trading period, GDS Holdings closed at $16.24.

Piper Sandler upgraded the previous rating for Sterling Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:SBT) from Neutral to Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Sterling Bancorp had an EPS of $0.00, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.10. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $7.16 and a 52-week-low of $4.49. Sterling Bancorp closed at $5.28 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Exane BNP Paribas, the prior rating for Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was changed from Neutral to Outperform. In the fourth quarter, Alphabet showed an EPS of $1.05, compared to $1.53 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $143.75 and a 52-week-low of $83.34. At the end of the last trading period, Alphabet closed at $100.32.

According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:WBD) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Warner Bros. Discovery had an EPS of $0.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.08. The current stock performance of Warner Bros. Discovery shows a 52-week-high of $27.50 and a 52-week-low of $8.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $14.16.

Baird upgraded the previous rating for Applied Industrial Technologies Inc (NYSE:AIT) from Neutral to Outperform. For the second quarter, Applied Industrial had an EPS of $2.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.55. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $149.42 and a 52-week-low of $88.20. Applied Industrial closed at $134.32 at the end of the last trading period.

For LivePerson Inc (NASDAQ:LPSN), Credit Suisse upgraded the previous rating of Underweight to Neutral. LivePerson earned $0.25 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.62 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $26.64 and a 52-week-low of $4.02. At the end of the last trading period, LivePerson closed at $4.13.

For Chubb Ltd (NYSE:CB), JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Overweight. For the fourth quarter, Chubb had an EPS of $4.05, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $3.81. The stock has a 52-week-high of $231.37 and a 52-week-low of $173.88. At the end of the last trading period, Chubb closed at $191.86.

Oppenheimer upgraded the previous rating for Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) from Perform to Outperform. In the fourth quarter, Synchrony Finl showed an EPS of $1.26, compared to $1.48 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $41.87 and a 52-week-low of $27.22. Synchrony Finl closed at $29.16 at the end of the last trading period.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded the previous rating for Fidelity National Information Services Inc (NYSE:FIS) from Market Perform to Outperform. For the fourth quarter, Fidelity National Info had an EPS of $1.71, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.92. The stock has a 52-week-high of $106.64 and a 52-week-low of $49.14. At the end of the last trading period, Fidelity National Info closed at $52.15.

For NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA), Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating of Equal-Weight to Overweight. For the fourth quarter, NVIDIA had an EPS of $0.88, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.32. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $289.34 and a 52-week-low of $108.14. NVIDIA closed at $255.41 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

UBS downgraded the previous rating for Braze Inc (NASDAQ:BRZE) from Buy to Neutral. In the third quarter, Braze showed an EPS of $0.15, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $50.96 and a 52-week-low of $22.62. Braze closed at $33.15 at the end of the last trading period.

Guggenheim downgraded the previous rating for AEye Inc (NASDAQ:LIDR) from Buy to Neutral. AEye earned $0.11 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.13 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $6.33 and a 52-week-low of $0.40. At the end of the last trading period, AEye closed at $0.45.

According to Argus Research, the prior rating for Bath & Body Works Inc (NYSE:BBWI) was changed from Buy to Hold. For the fourth quarter, Bath & Body Works had an EPS of $1.86, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.30. The stock has a 52-week-high of $57.90 and a 52-week-low of $25.81. At the end of the last trading period, Bath & Body Works closed at $35.25.

For Ondas Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ONDS), Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Perform. In the fourth quarter, Ondas Holdings showed an EPS of $0.44, compared to $0.10 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $8.30 and a 52-week-low of $1.32. Ondas Holdings closed at $1.46 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for QualTek Services Inc (NASDAQ:QTEK) was changed from Outperform to Perform. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $3.78 and a 52-week-low of $0.27. QualTek Services closed at $0.28 at the end of the last trading period.

Gordon Haskett downgraded the previous rating for Dollar General Corp (NYSE:DG) from Accumulate to Hold. Dollar Gen earned $2.96 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.57 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $262.07 and a 52-week-low of $183.25. Dollar Gen closed at $212.09 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Atlantic Equities, the prior rating for First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, First Republic Bank showed an EPS of $1.88, compared to $2.02 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $174.19 and a 52-week-low of $17.53. First Republic Bank closed at $34.27 at the end of the last trading period.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded the previous rating for Bread Financial Holdings Inc (NYSE:BFH) from Outperform to Market Perform. Bread Finl Hldgs earned $2.68 in the fourth quarter, compared to $1.21 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Bread Finl Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of $60.72 and a 52-week-low of $28.94. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $31.46.

For Kaleyra Inc (NYSE:KLR), Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Perform. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $24.85 and a 52-week-low of $2.00. Kaleyra closed at $2.18 at the end of the last trading period.

For DigitalOcean Holdings Inc (NYSE:DOCN), Oppenheimer downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Perform. In the fourth quarter, DigitalOcean Holdings showed an EPS of $0.28, compared to $0.10 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $63.14 and a 52-week-low of $23.39. DigitalOcean Holdings closed at $35.05 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:CERE) from Overweight to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Cerevel Therapeutics Hldg had an EPS of $0.59, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.40. The current stock performance of Cerevel Therapeutics Hldg shows a 52-week-high of $41.43 and a 52-week-low of $19.88. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $24.32.

For NovoCure Ltd (NASDAQ:NVCR), JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Underweight. NovoCure earned $0.36 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $120.03 and a 52-week-low of $56.39. NovoCure closed at $64.43 at the end of the last trading period.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Emergent BioSolutions Inc (NYSE:EBS) from Neutral to Underweight. In the fourth quarter, Emergent BioSolutions showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $4.50 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.02 and a 52-week-low of $9.17. At the end of the last trading period, Emergent BioSolutions closed at $9.65.

Truist Securities downgraded the previous rating for Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:VEEV) from Buy to Hold. In the fourth quarter, Veeva Sys showed an EPS of $1.15, compared to $0.90 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Veeva Sys shows a 52-week-high of $232.26 and a 52-week-low of $151.06. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $175.78.

According to Wedbush, the prior rating for First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) was changed from Outperform to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, First Republic Bank had an EPS of $1.88, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.02. The current stock performance of First Republic Bank shows a 52-week-high of $174.19 and a 52-week-low of $17.53. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $34.27.

For Qualtrics International Inc (NASDAQ:XM), Exane BNP Paribas downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Qualtrics International showed an EPS of $0.03, compared to $0.07 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $30.91 and a 52-week-low of $9.32. At the end of the last trading period, Qualtrics International closed at $17.69.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Terex Corp (NYSE:TEX) was changed from Buy to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, Terex had an EPS of $1.34, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.82. The stock has a 52-week-high of $60.85 and a 52-week-low of $26.69. At the end of the last trading period, Terex closed at $49.68.

For Macrogenics Inc (NASDAQ:MGNX), Guggenheim downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. In the fourth quarter, Macrogenics showed an EPS of $0.21, compared to $0.95 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $10.20 and a 52-week-low of $2.13. At the end of the last trading period, Macrogenics closed at $6.99.

According to Oppenheimer, the prior rating for RingCentral Inc (NYSE:RNG) was changed from Outperform to Perform. RingCentral earned $0.60 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $129.51 and a 52-week-low of $28.00. RingCentral closed at $31.97 at the end of the last trading period.

According to Telsey Advisory Group, the prior rating for The Honest Co Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. For the fourth quarter, Honest Co had an EPS of $0.14, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.10. The stock has a 52-week-high of $6.16 and a 52-week-low of $1.82. At the end of the last trading period, Honest Co closed at $1.86.

For Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF), Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded the previous rating of Market Outperform to Market Perform. For the fourth quarter, Synchrony Finl had an EPS of $1.26, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.48. The current stock performance of Synchrony Finl shows a 52-week-high of $41.87 and a 52-week-low of $27.22. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $29.16.

According to Cantor Fitzgerald, the prior rating for REE Automotive Ltd (NASDAQ:REE) was changed from Overweight to Neutral. For the fourth quarter, REE Automotive had an EPS of $0.07, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.09. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $2.56 and a 52-week-low of $0.29. REE Automotive closed at $0.38 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Maxim Group initiated coverage on Zevra Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ZVRA) with a Buy rating. The price target for Zevra Therapeutics is set to $12.00. In the fourth quarter, Zevra Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.08 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Zevra Therapeutics shows a 52-week-high of $6.92 and a 52-week-low of $4.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.71.

BTIG initiated coverage on Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL) with a Buy rating. The price target for Seadrill is set to $50.00. Seadrill earned $0.36 in the third quarter, compared to $0.55 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $45.48 and a 52-week-low of $24.51. At the end of the last trading period, Seadrill closed at $35.80.

Stifel initiated coverage on Inventiva SA (NASDAQ:IVA) with a Buy rating. The price target for Inventiva is set to $27.00. None

Citigroup initiated coverage on Bumble Inc (NASDAQ:BMBL) with a Buy rating. The price target for Bumble is set to $24.00. Bumble earned $0.23 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $39.31 and a 52-week-low of $17.62. Bumble closed at $19.37 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on Churchill Downs Inc (NASDAQ:CHDN). The price target seems to have been set at $300.00 for Churchill Downs. For the fourth quarter, Churchill Downs had an EPS of $1.46, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.27. The current stock performance of Churchill Downs shows a 52-week-high of $253.29 and a 52-week-low of $172.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $243.89.

With a Buy rating, Truist Securities initiated coverage on IQVIA Holdings Inc (NYSE:IQV). The price target seems to have been set at $265.00 for IQVIA Hldgs. IQVIA Hldgs earned $2.78 in the fourth quarter, compared to $2.55 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of IQVIA Hldgs shows a 52-week-high of $254.88 and a 52-week-low of $165.75. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $196.43.

SVB Leerink initiated coverage on Centessa Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ:CNTA) with an Outperform rating. The price target for Centessa Pharmaceuticals is set to $6.00. In the third quarter, Centessa Pharmaceuticals showed an EPS of $0.57, compared to $0.45 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Centessa Pharmaceuticals shows a 52-week-high of $9.91 and a 52-week-low of $2.90. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $4.00.

SVB Leerink initiated coverage on PTC Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PTCT) with a Market Perform rating. The price target for PTC Therapeutics is set to $48.00. For the fourth quarter, PTC Therapeutics had an EPS of $1.89, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.03. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $55.52 and a 52-week-low of $25.04. PTC Therapeutics closed at $48.10 at the end of the last trading period.

Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Galecto Inc (NASDAQ:GLTO) with an Overweight rating. The price target for Galecto is set to $16.00. Galecto earned $0.55 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.53 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $2.95 and a 52-week-low of $1.06. At the end of the last trading period, Galecto closed at $1.76.

Capital One initiated coverage on Zscaler Inc (NASDAQ:ZS) with a Equal-Weight rating. The price target for Zscaler is set to $125.00. For the second quarter, Zscaler had an EPS of $0.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.13. The current stock performance of Zscaler shows a 52-week-high of $253.72 and a 52-week-low of $99.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $108.13.

With a Buy rating, Citigroup initiated coverage on Atour Lifestyle Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:ATAT). The price target seems to have been set at $28.30 for Atour Lifestyle Holdings. The current stock performance of Atour Lifestyle Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $29.40 and a 52-week-low of $11.05. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $24.08.

With a Buy rating, WestPark Capital initiated coverage on Okta Inc (NASDAQ:OKTA). The price target seems to have been set at $120.00 for Okta. Okta earned $0.30 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.18 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Okta shows a 52-week-high of $176.02 and a 52-week-low of $44.13. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $84.36.

Baird initiated coverage on BILL Holdings Inc (NYSE:BILL) with a Neutral rating. The price target for BILL Holdings is set to $86.00. BILL Holdings earned $0.42 in the second quarter, compared to $0.00 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of BILL Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $244.89 and a 52-week-low of $68.30. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $76.63.

With a Buy rating, Stifel initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:VKTX). The price target seems to have been set at $22.00 for Viking Therapeutics. In the fourth quarter, Viking Therapeutics showed an EPS of $0.26, compared to $0.16 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $11.98 and a 52-week-low of $2.02. Viking Therapeutics closed at $10.94 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings initiations.