Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For September 14, 2023

Upgrades

According to OTR Global, the prior rating for Align Technology Inc (NASDAQ:ALGN) was changed from Mixed to Positive. For the second quarter, Align Tech had an EPS of $2.22, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.00. The current stock performance of Align Tech shows a 52-week-high of $413.20 and a 52-week-low of $172.29. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $322.41.

Colliers Securities upgraded the previous rating for AvalonBay Communities Inc (NYSE:AVB) from Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, AvalonBay Communities showed an EPS of $2.66, compared to $2.43 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $211.60 and a 52-week-low of $153.07. AvalonBay Communities closed at $180.00 at the end of the last trading period.

For National Fuel Gas Co (NYSE:NFG), Scotiabank upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to Sector Outperform. For the third quarter, National Fuel Gas had an EPS of $1.01, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.54. The stock has a 52-week-high of $72.10 and a 52-week-low of $48.89. At the end of the last trading period, National Fuel Gas closed at $52.86.

For Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL), DZ Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the first quarter, Oracle had an EPS of $1.19, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.03. The current stock performance of Oracle shows a 52-week-high of $127.54 and a 52-week-low of $60.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $111.84.

For First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC), DA Davidson upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. First Bancorp earned $0.71 in the second quarter, compared to $1.03 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of First Bancorp shows a 52-week-high of $48.93 and a 52-week-low of $26.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $27.67.

For Semtech Corp (NASDAQ:SMTC), Summit Insights Group upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Semtech had an EPS of $0.11, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.87. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. At the end of the last trading period, Semtech closed at $22.87.

Susquehanna upgraded the previous rating for Semtech Corp (NASDAQ:SMTC) from Neutral to Positive. In the second quarter, Semtech showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Semtech shows a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $22.87.

For Virtu Financial Inc (NASDAQ:VIRT), Citigroup upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Virtu Finl had an EPS of $0.37, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.73. The current stock performance of Virtu Finl shows a 52-week-high of $23.73 and a 52-week-low of $16.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.89.

According to Wolfe Research, the prior rating for Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY) was changed from Peer Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, Etsy showed an EPS of $0.93, compared to $0.51 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $149.91 and a 52-week-low of $63.51. At the end of the last trading period, Etsy closed at $64.56.

For Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH), Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Norwegian Cruise Line showed an EPS of $0.30, compared to $1.14 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Norwegian Cruise Line shows a 52-week-high of $22.75 and a 52-week-low of $10.84. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $16.35.

Redburn Partners upgraded the previous rating for Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL) from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Carnival had an EPS of $0.31, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.64. The stock has a 52-week-high of $19.55 and a 52-week-low of $6.12. At the end of the last trading period, Carnival closed at $15.02.

For First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR), BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to Outperform. In the second quarter, First Solar showed an EPS of $1.89, compared to $0.52 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $232.00 and a 52-week-low of $115.66. First Solar closed at $170.50 at the end of the last trading period.

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for Prudential Financial Inc (NYSE:PRU) from Underperform to Hold. Prudential Financial earned $2.94 in the second quarter, compared to $1.74 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Prudential Financial shows a 52-week-high of $110.95 and a 52-week-low of $75.37. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $96.58.

Jefferies upgraded the previous rating for MetLife Inc (NYSE:MET) from Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, MetLife had an EPS of $1.94, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $77.34 and a 52-week-low of $48.95. MetLife closed at $63.79 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings upgrades.

Downgrades

Maxim Group downgraded the previous rating for NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd (NASDAQ:NLSP) from Buy to Hold. NoneThe current stock performance of NLS Pharmaceutics shows a 52-week-high of $1.88 and a 52-week-low of $0.43. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $0.82.

For Semtech Corp (NASDAQ:SMTC), Benchmark downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Semtech showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.87 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $35.18 and a 52-week-low of $17.82. At the end of the last trading period, Semtech closed at $22.87.

For RTX Corp (NYSE:RTX), DZ Bank downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. RTX earned $1.29 in the second quarter, compared to $1.16 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of RTX shows a 52-week-high of $108.84 and a 52-week-low of $73.66. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $75.56.

According to MoffettNathanson, the prior rating for CS Disco Inc (NYSE:LAW) was changed from Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, CS Disco showed an EPS of $0.11, compared to $0.23 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $13.28 and a 52-week-low of $5.27. CS Disco closed at $7.75 at the end of the last trading period.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for JM Smucker Co (NYSE:SJM) was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the first quarter, JM Smucker showed an EPS of $2.21, compared to $1.67 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of JM Smucker shows a 52-week-high of $163.07 and a 52-week-low of $128.36. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $128.41.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Digital Turbine Inc (NASDAQ:APPS) was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the first quarter, Digital Turbine showed an EPS of $0.18, compared to $0.38 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Digital Turbine shows a 52-week-high of $20.40 and a 52-week-low of $6.88. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $6.94.

According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for RTX Corp (NYSE:RTX) was changed from Neutral to Underperform. RTX earned $1.29 in the second quarter, compared to $1.16 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $108.84 and a 52-week-low of $73.66. At the end of the last trading period, RTX closed at $75.56.

For Carrier Global Corp (NYSE:CARR), Mizuho downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, Carrier Global had an EPS of $0.79, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.70. The stock has a 52-week-high of $60.04 and a 52-week-low of $33.11. At the end of the last trading period, Carrier Global closed at $55.24.

RBC Capital downgraded the previous rating for IBEX Ltd (NASDAQ:IBEX) from Outperform to Sector Perform. For the fourth quarter, IBEX had an EPS of $0.33, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.42. The current stock performance of IBEX shows a 52-week-high of $31.39 and a 52-week-low of $15.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $18.15.

According to Redburn Partners, the prior rating for MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI) was changed from Buy to Neutral. MSCI earned $3.26 in the second quarter, compared to $2.78 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $572.50 and a 52-week-low of $385.00. MSCI closed at $535.25 at the end of the last trading period.

For Hostess Brands Inc (NASDAQ:TWNK), Jefferies downgraded the previous rating of Buy to Hold. In the second quarter, Hostess Brands showed an EPS of $0.28, compared to $0.22 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $33.74 and a 52-week-low of $21.59. At the end of the last trading period, Hostess Brands closed at $33.50.

JP Morgan downgraded the previous rating for Arco Platform Ltd (NASDAQ:ARCE) from Overweight to Neutral. Arco Platform earned $0.24 in the second quarter, compared to $0.08 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $14.22 and a 52-week-low of $7.85. Arco Platform closed at $13.77 at the end of the last trading period.

For Frontier Group Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ULCC), TD Cowen downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Frontier Group Holdings showed an EPS of $0.31, compared to $0.09 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Frontier Group Holdings shows a 52-week-high of $14.34 and a 52-week-low of $5.51. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $5.59.

See all analyst ratings downgrades.

Initiations

Maxim Group initiated coverage on Contango Ore Inc (AMEX:CTGO) with a Buy rating. The price target for Contango Ore is set to $36.00. In the fourth quarter, Contango Ore showed an EPS of $1.38, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $33.67 and a 52-week-low of $17.01. Contango Ore closed at $17.85 at the end of the last trading period.

Argus Research initiated coverage on Verisk Analytics Inc (NASDAQ:VRSK) with a Buy rating. The price target for Verisk Analytics is set to $288.00. Verisk Analytics earned $1.51 in the second quarter, compared to $1.53 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $247.14 and a 52-week-low of $163.02. At the end of the last trading period, Verisk Analytics closed at $245.56.

Evercore ISI Group initiated coverage on Fortrea Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:FTRE) with an In-Line rating. The price target for Fortrea Holdings is set to $31.00. For the second quarter, Fortrea Holdings had an EPS of $0.52, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.97. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $37.30 and a 52-week-low of $24.93. Fortrea Holdings closed at $28.82 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Outperform rating, TD Cowen initiated coverage on BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc (NYSE:BJ). The price target seems to have been set at $80.00 for BJ's Wholesale Club. BJ's Wholesale Club earned $0.97 in the second quarter, compared to $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $80.31 and a 52-week-low of $60.33. BJ's Wholesale Club closed at $67.46 at the end of the last trading period.

With a Buy rating, Roth MKM initiated coverage on Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:DFLI). The price target seems to have been set at $4.00 for Dragonfly Energy Hldgs. Dragonfly Energy Hldgs earned $0.25 in the second quarter, compared to $0.04 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $28.02 and a 52-week-low of $1.38. At the end of the last trading period, Dragonfly Energy Hldgs closed at $1.68.

Berenberg initiated coverage on RAPT Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:RAPT) with a Buy rating. The price target for RAPT Therapeutics is set to $34.00. For the second quarter, RAPT Therapeutics had an EPS of $0.66, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.62. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.45 and a 52-week-low of $15.66. At the end of the last trading period, RAPT Therapeutics closed at $19.14.

With a Neutral rating, DA Davidson initiated coverage on Herbalife Ltd (NYSE:HLF). The price target seems to have been set at $13.50 for Herbalife. In the second quarter, Herbalife showed an EPS of $0.74, compared to $0.96 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $25.03 and a 52-week-low of $11.14. Herbalife closed at $14.59 at the end of the last trading period.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO). The price target seems to have been set at $390.00 for Moody's. In the second quarter, Moody's showed an EPS of $2.30, compared to $2.22 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Moody's shows a 52-week-high of $363.19 and a 52-week-low of $230.64. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $343.20.

With an Outperform rating, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on First Advantage Corp (NASDAQ:FA). The price target seems to have been set at $17.00 for First Advantage. First Advantage earned $0.24 in the second quarter, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $15.89 and a 52-week-low of $10.08. First Advantage closed at $13.61 at the end of the last trading period.

See all analyst ratings initiations.