Benzinga·Oct 16Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For October 16, 2023
Upgrades
Scotiabank upgraded the previous rating for Alliant Energy Corp (NASDAQ:LNT) from Sector Perform to Sector Outperform. In the second quarter, Alliant Energy showed an EPS of $0.64, compared to $0.63 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $57.52 and a 52-week-low of $45.15. Alliant Energy closed at $49.75 at the end of the last trading period.
HSBC upgraded the previous rating for Dollar General Corp (NYSE:DG) from Reduce to Hold. 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 $101.09. At the end of the last trading period, Dollar Gen closed at $111.16.
For FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC), Vertical Research upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, FMC had an EPS of $0.50, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.93. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $134.38 and a 52-week-low of $61.50. FMC closed at $62.41 at the end of the last trading period.
For Veralto Corp (NYSE:VLTO), Vertical Research upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $89.00 and a 52-week-low of $70.47. Veralto closed at $71.85 at the end of the last trading period.
Exane BNP Paribas upgraded the previous rating for Planet Fitness Inc (NYSE:PLNT) from Underperform to Neutral. For the second quarter, Planet Fitness had an EPS of $0.65, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $85.91 and a 52-week-low of $44.13. Planet Fitness closed at $50.98 at the end of the last trading period.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Allison Transmission Holdings Inc (NYSE:ALSN) from Underweight to Neutral. Allison Transmission earned $1.92 in the second quarter, compared to $1.26 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $61.53 and a 52-week-low of $35.06. At the end of the last trading period, Allison Transmission closed at $58.57.
JP Morgan upgraded the previous rating for Nucor Corp (NYSE:NUE) from Underweight to Neutral. For the second quarter, Nucor had an EPS of $5.81, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $9.67. The stock has a 52-week-high of $182.68 and a 52-week-low of $114.88. At the end of the last trading period, Nucor closed at $147.06.
For Southern Co (NYSE:SO), Scotiabank upgraded the previous rating of Sector Perform to Sector Outperform. In the second quarter, Southern showed an EPS of $0.79, compared to $1.07 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Southern shows a 52-week-high of $75.80 and a 52-week-low of $58.85. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $66.55.
Citigroup upgraded the previous rating for Embraer SA (NYSE:ERJ) from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Embraer had an EPS of $0.32, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.25. The stock has a 52-week-high of $17.14 and a 52-week-low of $8.52. At the end of the last trading period, Embraer closed at $13.41.
For Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (NASDAQ:PTEN), B of A Securities upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. In the second quarter, Patterson-UTI Energy showed an EPS of $0.43, compared to $0.05 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $19.81 and a 52-week-low of $9.70. Patterson-UTI Energy closed at $13.78 at the end of the last trading period.
According to UBS, the prior rating for TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the first quarter, TAL Education had an EPS of $0.03, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.03. The current stock performance of TAL Education shows a 52-week-high of $10.45 and a 52-week-low of $2.82. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $8.91.
For Trinity Industries Inc (NYSE:TRN), Susquehanna upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Positive. Trinity Industries earned $0.23 in the second quarter, compared to $0.14 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $31.68 and a 52-week-low of $20.07. At the end of the last trading period, Trinity Industries closed at $21.91.
According to Susquehanna, the prior rating for Greenbrier Companies Inc (NYSE:GBX) was changed from Neutral to Positive. Greenbrier Companies earned $1.02 in the third quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Greenbrier Companies shows a 52-week-high of $48.21 and a 52-week-low of $23.97. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $40.39.
According to Wells Fargo, the prior rating for Chesapeake Utilities Corp (NYSE:CPK) was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Chesapeake Utilities earned $0.90 in the second quarter, compared to $0.88 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Chesapeake Utilities shows a 52-week-high of $132.91 and a 52-week-low of $89.00. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $91.80.
Wells Fargo upgraded the previous rating for Sabra Health Care REIT Inc (NASDAQ:SBRA) from Underweight to Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Sabra Health Care REIT showed an EPS of $0.33, compared to $0.39 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $14.50 and a 52-week-low of $10.08. At the end of the last trading period, Sabra Health Care REIT closed at $14.23.
For Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE), Jefferies upgraded the previous rating of Hold to Buy. For the second quarter, Pfizer had an EPS of $0.67, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $2.04. The current stock performance of Pfizer shows a 52-week-high of $54.93 and a 52-week-low of $31.77. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $32.11.
According to Loop Capital, the prior rating for Wayfair Inc (NYSE:W) was changed from Sell to Hold. For the second quarter, Wayfair had an EPS of $0.21, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.94. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $90.71 and a 52-week-low of $28.13. Wayfair closed at $47.31 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Stifel, the prior rating for Colgate-Palmolive Co (NYSE:CL) was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Colgate-Palmolive showed an EPS of $0.77, compared to $0.72 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $82.09 and a 52-week-low of $67.62. At the end of the last trading period, Colgate-Palmolive closed at $70.95.
For UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH), UBS upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to Buy. In the third quarter, UnitedHealth Group showed an EPS of $6.56, compared to $5.79 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $557.99 and a 52-week-low of $445.68. UnitedHealth Group closed at $539.40 at the end of the last trading period.
According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for NICE Ltd (NASDAQ:NICE) was changed from Equal-Weight to Overweight. In the second quarter, NICE showed an EPS of $2.13, compared to $1.86 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of $231.54 and a 52-week-low of $158.29. NICE closed at $158.70 at the end of the last trading period.
Morgan Stanley upgraded the previous rating for Varonis Systems Inc (NASDAQ:VRNS) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Varonis Systems earned $0.01 in the second quarter, compared to $0.00 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Varonis Systems shows a 52-week-high of $32.64 and a 52-week-low of $15.61. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $30.58.
According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for Check Point Software Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:CHKP) was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. Check Point Software earned $2.00 in the second quarter, compared to $1.64 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $138.60 and a 52-week-low of $107.54. At the end of the last trading period, Check Point Software closed at $134.31.
For Alignment Healthcare Inc (NASDAQ:ALHC), Raymond James upgraded the previous rating of Outperform to Strong Buy. Alignment Healthcare earned $0.15 in the second quarter, compared to $0.06 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of $13.92 and a 52-week-low of $4.88. At the end of the ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Also mentioned:$PLNT$D$TRN$TWNK$DHI$UBS
