Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of December 31, 2018



Upgrades:


Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report released on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $77.00 price target on the medical instruments supplier’s stock, up from their previous price target of $66.00. A number of other analysts also recently commented on BAX. Zacks Investment Research reiterated a hold rating and issued a $71.00 price objective on shares of Baxter International in a report on Monday, November 12th. Piper Jaffray Companies cut their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $83.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 1st. Citigroup upgraded shares of Baxter International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $69.00 to $76.00 in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $86.00 to $76.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group began coverage on shares of Baxter International in a report on Monday, December 17th. They issued an outperform rating and a $77.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Baxter International has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $75.72. Read more …

Viacom (NASDAQ:VIAB) was upgraded by analysts at Barrington Research from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a $35.00 target price on the stock. Barrington Research’s target price suggests a potential upside of 32.63% from the stock’s previous close. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. BidaskClub raised Viacom from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 19th. ValuEngine raised Viacom from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 20th. Zacks Investment Research raised Viacom from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $37.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, October 12th. UBS Group lowered Viacom from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $34.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, November 5th. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on Viacom in a report on Friday, December 7th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $33.76. Read more …

Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) from an underperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $45.50 target price on the financial services provider’s stock. Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Zacks Investment Research lowered Wells Fargo & Co from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, December 17th. ValuEngine lowered Wells Fargo & Co from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 12th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Co from $62.00 to $60.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 7th. Citigroup upgraded Wells Fargo & Co from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Wells Fargo & Co to $65.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, October 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $62.36. Read more …




Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report issued on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. They currently have $59.60 price objective on the industrial products company’s stock. EMR has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays lifted their price target on Emerson Electric from $85.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 24th. Cowen reissued a buy rating and set a $81.00 price target on shares of Emerson Electric in a research report on Wednesday, September 19th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Emerson Electric from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 4th. Berenberg Bank set a $67.00 price target on Emerson Electric and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 19th. Finally, Gordon Haskett lowered Emerson Electric from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Emerson Electric currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $75.55. Read more …


CIBC upgraded shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report report published on Thursday. They currently have $85.00 price target on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock. A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on GILD. BidaskClub lowered Gilead Sciences from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $92.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Wednesday, December 19th. ValuEngine upgraded Gilead Sciences from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, December 1st. Zacks Investment Research lowered Gilead Sciences from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Evercore ISI restated a buy rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Wednesday, October 31st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $88.39. Read more …

Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $88.00 target price on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock, up from their previous target price of $71.00. A number of other research firms have also recently commented on CELG. BidaskClub cut shares of Celgene from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, October 24th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Celgene from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, September 26th. Mizuho set a $117.00 price target on shares of Celgene and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Celgene in a report on Thursday, October 25th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Celgene in a report on Monday, October 1st. They issued an overweight rating and a $100.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $114.11. Read more …

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) was upgraded by investment analysts at Bank of America from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Several other brokerages have also issued reports on INTC. Northland Securities lowered Intel from a “market perform” rating to an “under perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 4th. ValuEngine raised Intel from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, December 1st. BNP Paribas set a $53.00 target price on Intel and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 4th. UBS Group lowered Intel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 29th. Finally, DZ Bank lowered Intel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $50.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, November 29th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have given a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $55.80. Read more …


Downgrades:


Citigroup downgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat reports. The firm currently has $68.00 price target on the healthcare product maker’s stock, down from their previous price target of $72.00. ABT has been the topic of a number of other reports. UBS Group started coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Tuesday, November 27th. They set a buy rating and a $83.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 11th. Cowen boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $72.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an average rating in a report on Friday, October 5th. Zacks Investment Research lowered Abbott Laboratories from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, September 19th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group raised Abbott Laboratories from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $74.10 target price on the stock in a report on Sunday, December 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $76.24. Read more …

JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of AFLAC (NYSE:AFL) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat reports. They currently have $51.00 price objective on the financial services provider’s stock. A number of other research firms also recently commented on AFL. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of AFLAC from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 27th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of AFLAC from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 12th. Finally, ValuEngine downgraded shares of AFLAC from a sell rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, November 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. AFLAC presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $48.46. Read more …

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Citigroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $96.00 price objective on the medical technology company’s stock, down from their previous price objective of $109.00. Citigroup‘s price target points to a potential upside of 9.30% from the stock’s previous close. MDT has been the topic of several other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Medtronic from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $100.00 to $109.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 19th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Medtronic from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $105.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 23rd. Oppenheimer restated a “buy” rating and set a $104.00 price objective on shares of Medtronic in a research note on Tuesday, November 20th. ValuEngine upgraded Medtronic from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 7th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price objective on Medtronic from $105.00 to $104.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Medtronic has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $104.81. Read more …




Novartis (NYSE:NVS) was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. BNP Paribas upgraded Novartis from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 11th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Novartis in a research note on Tuesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Exane BNP Paribas upgraded Novartis from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 11th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $95.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 18th. Finally, ValuEngine upgraded Novartis from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Novartis presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $90.94. Read more …

Macquarie cut shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $145.69 target price on the iPhone maker’s stock. AAPL has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley reissued a buy rating and issued a $245.00 target price (up previously from $232.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Wednesday, September 5th. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and set a $265.00 price target (up from $230.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Wednesday, September 5th. Wells Fargo & Co set a $210.00 price objective on shares of Apple and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 5th. Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, September 7th. Finally, Piper Jaffray Companies increased their target price on shares of Apple from $218.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-six have assigned a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the stock. Apple has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $195.64. Read more …

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) was downgraded by stock analysts at Bank of America from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on the stock. Standpoint Research began coverage on shares of AbbVie in a research report on Wednesday, December 26th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Morgan Stanley set a $88.00 price target on shares of AbbVie and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 20th. ValuEngine upgraded shares of AbbVie from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 12th. Argus reduced their price target on shares of AbbVie from $130.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of AbbVie from $78.00 to $71.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $102.39. Read more …

United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note issued on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a $119.00 price objective on the conglomerate’s stock, down from their prior price objective of $139.00. Royal Bank of Canada’s price target points to a potential upside of 12.51% from the company’s current price. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on UTX. Zacks Investment Research downgraded United Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 26th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of United Technologies in a research report on Thursday. ValuEngine raised United Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 23rd. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on United Technologies from $167.00 to $149.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 28th. Finally, Bank of America set a $180.00 price target on United Technologies and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 27th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $144.67. Read more …

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) was downgraded by investment analysts at Edward Jones from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Friday, The Fly reports. A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on BMY. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $61.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, September 12th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 8th. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, October 8th. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $61.56. Read more …

T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ:TROW) was downgraded by analysts at Goldman Sachs Group from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note issued on Friday. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup reduced their price target on T. Rowe Price Group from $105.00 to $101.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 19th. Bank of America reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 target price (down from $125.00) on shares of T. Rowe Price Group in a research report on Thursday, December 6th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded T. Rowe Price Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $106.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Saturday, November 17th. Deutsche Bank cut their target price on T. Rowe Price Group from $109.00 to $103.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $105.00 target price on T. Rowe Price Group and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $107.56. Read more …

Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) was downgraded by Bank of America from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued on Friday, The Fly reports. Several other research firms have also recently commented on TXN. Zacks Investment Research raised Texas Instruments from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “buy” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Texas Instruments in a research note on Wednesday, October 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Texas Instruments from $134.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 24th. Loop Capital lowered their target price on Texas Instruments to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 24th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Texas Instruments from $120.00 to $105.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have issued a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. Texas Instruments has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $117.11. Read more …



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