Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of April 11 2022 (Part 2)

 

Upgrades:

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) was upgraded by research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.

JBHT has been the subject of a number of other reports. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $205.00 to $230.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $233.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $203.00 to $187.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $208.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, March 14th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $206.05. Read more …

 

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) was upgraded by analysts at Compass Point from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm currently has a $98.00 price objective on the financial services provider’s stock. Compass Point’s target price indicates a potential upside of 20.13% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $100.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $120.00 to $114.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 7th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $91.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday, February 21st. Argus increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 21st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $96.47. Read more …

 

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) was upgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on International Business Machines from $151.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 15th. UBS Group decreased their target price on International Business Machines from $124.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 25th. Zacks Investment Research lowered International Business Machines from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $140.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, April 5th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on International Business Machines in a research report on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on International Business Machines in a research report on Sunday, January 9th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $146.55. Read more …

 

 

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) was upgraded by stock analysts at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a $280.00 target price on the computer hardware maker’s stock. Citigroup’s target price indicates a potential upside of 29.32% from the stock’s previous close. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.

NVDA has been the topic of several other research reports. Summit Insights lowered NVIDIA from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 17th. New Street Research raised NVIDIA from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $280.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of NVIDIA from $347.00 to $298.00 in a report on Friday, April 8th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of NVIDIA in a report on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $350.00 price objective on shares of NVIDIA in a report on Tuesday, March 15th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, NVIDIA has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $327.00. Read more …

 

H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Robert W. Baird from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on FUL. Zacks Investment Research cut H.B. Fuller from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of H.B. Fuller from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the company from $75.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Friday, January 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of H.B. Fuller in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn reissued a “buy” rating on shares of H.B. Fuller in a research note on Thursday, January 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of H.B. Fuller from $80.00 to $72.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 28th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $74.83. Read more …

 

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) was upgraded by equities researchers at Cowen from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report released on Thursday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a $270.00 price objective on the aerospace company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $200.00. Cowen’s price objective would indicate a potential upside of 26.80% from the stock’s previous close.

HII has been the topic of several other research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a report on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Vertical Research raised shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $250.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 17th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a report on Wednesday, December 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $225.00 target price on the stock. TheStreet raised shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a report on Thursday, March 3rd. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $227.00. Read more …

 

 

 

Downgrades:

 

AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) was downgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note issued on Tuesday, Briefing.com reports. They presently have a $178.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley’s price objective points to a potential upside of 9.44% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 3rd. Scotiabank cut AmerisourceBergen from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $135.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 11th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on AmerisourceBergen from $175.00 to $179.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded AmerisourceBergen from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AmerisourceBergen currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $158.00. Read more …

 

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) was downgraded by stock analysts at Citigroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note issued on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. They presently have a $28.00 target price on the closed-end fund’s stock, down from their previous target price of $44.50. Citigroup’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 8.32% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on BEN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Franklin Resources from $33.00 to $27.00 in a report on Thursday, April 7th. BMO Capital Markets lowered shares of Franklin Resources from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $38.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, December 16th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Franklin Resources in a report on Thursday, December 16th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Franklin Resources in a report on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “hold” rating for the company. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of Franklin Resources from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $30.00 price target for the company. in a report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $31.25. Read more …

 

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) was downgraded by analysts at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a $45.00 price target on the network equipment provider’s stock, down from their previous price target of $65.00. Citigroup’s price objective would indicate a potential downside of 14.02% from the company’s previous close.

CSCO has been the topic of a number of other reports. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $64.00 to $63.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 17th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Cisco Systems from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Cisco Systems from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $65.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $70.00 to $69.00 in a report on Thursday, January 20th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $61.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, February 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $62.47. Read more …

 

 

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) was downgraded by equities researchers at BMO Capital Markets from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. They currently have a $174.00 price objective on the business services provider’s stock. BMO Capital Markets’ price target would suggest a potential upside of 6.55% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on WM. Erste Group downgraded shares of Waste Management to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Waste Management in a report on Tuesday, March 1st. They set a “neutral” rating and a $153.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $155.00. Read more …

 

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Truist Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Briefing.com reports. They currently have a $121.00 price target on the medical technology company’s stock, down from their prior price target of $124.00. Truist Financial’s price target indicates a potential upside of 9.42% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on MDT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Medtronic from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $130.00 to $105.00 in a report on Friday, December 17th. BTIG Research lowered shares of Medtronic from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $104.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 10th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Tuesday, March 1st. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Medtronic from $127.00 to $116.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 18th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Medtronic from $130.00 to $129.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 19th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $129.32. Read more …

 

TransAlta Renewables (TSE:RNW) was downgraded by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a C$21.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada’s price objective would indicate a potential upside of 13.76% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on RNW. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$19.00 to C$18.50 in a research note on Thursday, January 27th. Raymond James set a C$19.00 price objective on shares of TransAlta Renewables and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, February 25th. Industrial Alliance Securities downgraded TransAlta Renewables to a “hold” rating and set a C$19.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, March 10th. CIBC dropped their price objective on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$19.50 to C$19.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 28th. Finally, National Bankshares reduced their price target on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$19.00 to C$18.50 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of C$19.20. Read more …

 

 

Thor Industries (NYSE:THO) was downgraded by investment analysts at BNP Paribas from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report released on Wednesday, Briefing.com reports. They presently have a $65.00 price target on the construction company’s stock. BNP Paribas’ price objective points to a potential downside of 18.94% from the company’s current price.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on THO. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Thor Industries from $150.00 to $120.00 in a report on Thursday, March 10th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Thor Industries from $175.00 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Thor Industries in a report on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Truist Financial lowered Thor Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $125.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 2nd. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Thor Industries in a research note on Thursday, February 10th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $116.67. Read more …

 

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on GWW. William Blair reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research note on Thursday, February 3rd. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $535.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 4th. Atlantic Securities raised W.W. Grainger from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $580.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 15th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $392.00 to $432.00 in a research note on Friday, February 4th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on W.W. Grainger in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $510.55. Read more …

 

High Dividend: Franklin Resources

 

There are plenty of high dividend yield stocks in the market. But there are very few high yield stocks with a safe and growing dividend. Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) is one of those few high yield stocks with a safe, high yield dividend that’s growing every year.

 

This article analyzes high-yield stock Franklin Resources in detail. While it doesn’t have a 5.0%+ yield currently, its dividend yield of 4.2% is still high, especially in today’s low-interest-rate environment.

 

Business Overview

 

Franklin Resources, founded in 1947 and headquartered in San Mateo, CA, is a global asset manager with a long and successful history. The company offers investment management and related services to its customers, including sales, distribution, and shareholder servicing. As of Dec. 31, 2021, assets under management (AUM) totaled $1.578 trillion. The company has a current market capitalization of 14.02 billion.

 

On Feb. 1, 2022, the company reported first-quarter results for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The company fiscal year ends in September. Total revenue for the quarter was $2,224 million compared to $1,995.1 million in total revenue the company made in Q1 2021, or an 11% increase.

 

The investment management fees segment, which is the company’s primary source of revenue, grew by 14% for the quarter year-over-year. The sales and distribution fees segment was flat, while the shareholder servicing fees segment saw a negative growth of 3% year-over-year.

 

Operating income grew 36% compared to the first quarter of 2021. The reported operating income was $557.7 million compared to $409.1 million a year ago for the same period. This was done even with the increase in total operating expenses of 5%.

 

 

Thus, adjusted net income was $553.6 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $1.08 for the quarter, compared to $644.6 million and $1.26 for the previous quarter, and $373.4 million and $0.73 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2020. This represents a significant increase of 47.9% compared to the first quarter period.

 

Continue reading …

 

Dividend Increases Week 8 (Part 1)

 

In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks. (Member of The Dividend Champions or Canadian All-Star list)

 

Recently, 27 companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period. This is the first part of the week’s notifications.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.

 

 

 

 

 

The Home Depot, Inc. (HD)

The Home Depot, Inc. operates as a home improvement retailer. It operates The Home Depot stores that sell various building materials, home improvement products, building materials, lawn and garden products, and décor products, as well as provide installation, home maintenance, and professional service programs to do-it-yourself and professional customers. The Home Depot, Inc. was incorporated in 1978 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

On February 22, HD declared a quarterly dividend of $1.90 per share.

This is a 15.2% increase from prior dividend of $1.65. 

Payable March 24 for shareholders of record March 10, ex-div March 9.

 

Farmers National Banc Corp. (FMNB)

Farmers National Banc Corp., a financial holding company, operates in the banking, trust, retirement consulting, insurance, and financial management industries. It offers commercial and retail banking services, including checking, savings, and time deposit accounts. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Canfield, Ohio.

On February 22, FMNB declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share.

This is a 14.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.14. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record March 11, ex-div march 10.

 

AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF)

AMERISAFE, Inc., an insurance holding company, underwrites workers’ compensation insurance in the United States. Its workers’ compensation insurance policies provide benefits to injured employees for temporary or permanent disability, death, and medical and hospital expenses. The company offers workers’ compensation insurance for small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, principally construction, trucking, logging and lumber, manufacturing, agriculture, maritime, and oil and gas. The company was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in DeRidder, Louisiana.

On February 22, AMSF declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share.

This is a 6.9% increase from prior dividend of $0.29. 

Payable March 25 for shareholders of record March 11, ex-div March 10.

 

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (LEG)

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated designs, manufactures, and markets engineered components and products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Bedding Products; Specialized Products; and Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Carthage, Missouri.

On February 22, LEG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share.

This is a 5.0% increase from prior dividend of $0.40. 

Payable April 15 for shareholders of record March 15, ex-div March 14.

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO)

Assured Guaranty Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides credit protection products to public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Insurance and Asset Management. It offers financial guaranty insurance that protects holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments. Assured Guaranty Ltd. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

On February 23, AGO declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share.

This is a 13.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.22. 

Payable March 23 for shareholders of record March 9, ex-div March 8.

 

 

Eaton Corporation plc (ETN)

Eaton Corporation plc operates as a power management company worldwide. Eaton Corporation plc was founded in 1911 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

On February 23, ETN declared a quarterly dividend of $0.81 per share.

This is a 6.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.76. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record March 11, ex-div March 10.

 

Popular, Inc. (BPOP)

Popular, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various retail, mortgage, and commercial banking products and services in Puerto Rico and the United States. The company provides savings, NOW, money market, and other interest-bearing demand accounts; non-interest bearing demand deposits; and certificates of deposit. Popular, Inc. was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

On February 23, BPOP declared a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share.

This is a 22.2% increase from prior dividend of $0.45. 

Payable April 1 for shareholders of record March 15, ex-div March 14.

 

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)

Xcel Energy Inc., through its subsidiaries, generates, purchases, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility, and All Other segments. The company generates electricity through coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, solar, biomass, oil, wood/refuse, and wind energy sources.

On February 23, XEL declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4875 per share.

This is a 6.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.4575. 

Payable April 20 for shareholders of record March 15, ex-div March 14.

 

Universal Display Corporation (OLED)

Universal Display Corporation engages in the research, development, and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. As of February 18, 2021, it owned, exclusively licenses, or had sole rights to sublicense approximately 5,000 issued and pending patents worldwide. Universal Display Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey.

On February 23, OLED declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share.

This is a 50.0% increase from prior dividend of $0.20. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record March 17, ex-div March 16.

 

Danaher Corporation (DHR)

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental & Applied Solutions. Danaher Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Washington, the District of Columbia.

On February 23, DHR declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share.

This is a 19.0% increase from prior dividend of $0.21. 

Payable April 29 for shareholders of record March 25, ex-div March 24.

 

 

CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (CTO)

CTO Realty Growth, Inc. is a Florida-based publicly traded real estate company, which owns income properties comprised of approximately 2.4 million square feet in diversified markets in the United States and an approximately 23.5% interest in Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc., a publicly traded net lease real estate investment trust (NYSE: PINE).

On February 23, CTO declared a quarterly dividend of $1.08 per share.

This is an 8.0% increase from prior dividend of $1.00. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record March 10, ex-div March 9.

 

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN)

Franklin Resources, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships. It launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds through its subsidiaries. The firm invests in the public equity, fixed income, and alternative markets. Franklin Resources, Inc. was founded in 1947 and is based in San Mateo, California with an additional office in Hyderabad, India.

On February 23, BEN declared a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share.

This is a 3.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.28. 

Payable April 14 for shareholders of record March 31, ex-div March 30.

 

Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN)

Silgan Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells rigid packaging for consumer goods products in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Dispensing and Specialty Closures, Metal Containers, and Custom Containers. Silgan Holdings Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

On February 23, SLNG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share.

This is a 14.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.14. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record February 17, ex-div February 16.

 

First Savings Financial Group, Inc. (FSFG)

First Savings Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for First Savings Bank that provides various financial services to consumers and businesses in southern Indiana. The company operates through three segments: Core Banking, SBA Lending, and Mortgage Banking. First Savings Financial Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

On February 23, FSFG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share.

This is an 8.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.12. 

Payable March 31 for shareholders of record March 17, ex-div March 16.

 

Dividend Increases Week 50, 2021

 

In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks. (Member of The Dividend Champions or Canadian All-Star list)

 

Recently, 17 companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.

 

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 1 2021 (Part 1)

 

Upgrades:

 

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) was upgraded by analysts at Northland Securities from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note issued on Monday, PriceTargets.com reports. The firm presently has a $49.00 price target on the chip maker’s stock. Northland Securities’ price target indicates a potential downside of 0.39% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on INTC. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “sell” rating and issued a $44.00 target price (down previously from $51.00) on shares of Intel in a research report on Friday, October 22nd. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Intel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $58.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 9th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Intel from $57.00 to $52.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 22nd. Credit Suisse Group set a $80.00 price objective on Intel in a report on Friday, October 22nd. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on Intel from $52.00 to $45.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 22nd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $56.52. Read more …

 

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) was upgraded by equities researchers at Argus from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, Analyst Price Targets reports. The brokerage presently has a $110.00 price objective on the stock. Argus’ price objective would suggest a potential upside of 25.40% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Barclays lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 8th. Truist began coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Tuesday, July 27th. They set a “buy” rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Berenberg Bank reissued a “hold” rating and set a $92.00 price target (up previously from $86.00) on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Sunday, October 10th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $82.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $94.16. Read more …

 

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) was upgraded by research analysts at Stephens from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. The firm currently has a $130.00 price objective on the coffee company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $118.00. Stephens’ price objective indicates a potential upside of 22.56% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $104.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 28th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Starbucks in a report on Monday, October 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $135.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $144.00 to $128.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $125.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Atlantic Securities downgraded shares of Starbucks from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $105.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, September 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $123.00. Read more …

 

 

Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) was upgraded by stock analysts at HSBC from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on SNY. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Thursday, August 12th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Friday, August 6th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Sanofi from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $51.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Thursday, October 14th. Finally, SVB Leerink upgraded shares of Sanofi from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $51.00. Read more …

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of August 16, 2021

 

Disposals:

 

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) insider Michael John Short sold 2,693 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.49, for a total value of $246,382.57. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

CHRW traded up $0.42 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $92.32. The stock had a trading volume of 726,757 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,077,072. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $93.49. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. has a 1 year low of $84.67 and a 1 year high of $106.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.16 billion, a PE ratio of 19.24, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.44. Read more …

 

Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE) insider Michael D. Keller sold 3,431 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.40, for a total transaction of $437,109.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

Shares of NYSE NUE traded down $1.81 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $124.36. 272,866 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,328,026. The stock has a market cap of $36.52 billion, a PE ratio of 12.17 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 3.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Nucor Co. has a 52 week low of $44.05 and a 52 week high of $128.81. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $100.56. Read more …

 

American States Water (NYSE:AWR) Director Janice F. Wilkins sold 2,225 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.87, for a total transaction of $199,960.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Shares of AWR stock traded down $1.30 on Tuesday, hitting $89.21. The stock had a trading volume of 1,187 shares, compared to its average volume of 186,088. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.20 and a beta of 0.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $84.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.15. American States Water has a 52-week low of $69.25 and a 52-week high of $92.07. Read more …

 

 

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) EVP Ronald R. Reagan sold 4,166 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.00, for a total transaction of $349,944.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Shares of NYSE NEE traded down $0.60 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $83.35. The stock had a trading volume of 187,982 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,099,896. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $66.79 and a 12 month high of $87.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $163.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.63, a PEG ratio of 4.14 and a beta of 0.19. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $76.39. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of March 29, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) was upgraded by research analysts at BMO Capital Markets from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $36.00 target price on the closed-end fund's stock, up from their prior target price of $22.00. BMO Capital Markets' target price would suggest a potential upside of 22.45% from the stock's current price.

BEN has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Franklin Resources from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Franklin Resources from $21.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, December 18th. Barclays increased their price target on Franklin Resources from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Franklin Resources from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $24.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 5th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Franklin Resources from a "c+" rating to a "b" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Franklin Resources has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $23.77. Read more …

 

ViacomCBS (NASDAQ:VIAC) was upgraded by stock analysts at BMO Capital Markets from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report issued on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other analysts have also commented on VIAC. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price target on ViacomCBS from $30.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 11th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded ViacomCBS from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $68.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 1st. Macquarie cut shares of ViacomCBS from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 17th. Barclays lowered shares of ViacomCBS from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $36.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 19th. Finally, Citigroup cut shares of ViacomCBS from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their target price for the company from $42.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Monday, February 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. ViacomCBS has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $46.48. Read more …

 

Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI) was upgraded by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The firm presently has a $73.00 price objective on the stock, up from their prior price objective of $52.00. Morgan Stanley’s target price indicates a potential upside of 21.69% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup Inc. 3% Minimum Coupon Principal Protected Based Upon Russell lowered shares of Johnson Controls International from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $51.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, December 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Johnson Controls International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 14th. HSBC lowered shares of Johnson Controls International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $52.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 11th. Atlantic Securities upgraded shares of Johnson Controls International from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $56.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 9th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Johnson Controls International from $42.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $47.15. Read more …

 

 

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) was upgraded by analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Gabelli raised Ecolab from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 15th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Ecolab from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $221.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, February 17th. G.Research raised Ecolab from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 15th. Credit Suisse Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $210.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research report on Monday, March 22nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Ecolab from $225.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 8th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $210.69. Read more …

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 23, 2020

 

 

Upgrades: 

 

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) was upgraded by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report issued on Monday, The Fly reports. 

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Stephens initiated coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. They issued an "equal weight" rating on the stock. William Blair reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Rosenblatt Securities lifted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $205.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 11th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $256.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 13th. Finally, Berenberg Bank started coverage on Rockwell Automation in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $270.00 target price on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Rockwell Automation has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $225.24. 

NYSE:ROK opened at $247.63 on Monday. Rockwell Automation has a 52 week low of $115.38 and a 52 week high of $267.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.77 billion, a PE ratio of 37.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.78 and a beta of 1.47. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $241.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $222.63. Read more ... 

 

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) was upgraded by equities researchers at Guggenheim from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Stock Target Advisor reports. 

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on American Electric Power from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 26th. Wolfe Research lowered shares of American Electric Power from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 16th. KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $96.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. BidaskClub lowered shares of American Electric Power from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $106.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $102.50. Read more ... 

 

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP) (TSE:BIP.UN) was upgraded by investment analysts at Credit Suisse Group from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, AR Network reports. The firm currently has a $50.00 price target on the utilities provider's stock, up from their previous price target of $43.00. Credit Suisse Group's price target points to a potential downside of 2.86% from the company's current price. 

BIP has been the topic of a number of other reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $41.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, November 13th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $53.83. Read more ... 

 

 

Chubb (NYSE:CB) was upgraded by equities researchers at Raymond James from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Analyst Ratings Network reports. The firm currently has a $180.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock, up from their prior price target of $150.00. Raymond James’ price objective points to a potential upside of 20.78% from the stock’s current price. 

Several other equities analysts have also commented on CB. TheStreet upgraded shares of Chubb from a “c” rating to a “b-” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Chubb from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their price target for the company from $123.00 to $132.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Chubb from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $120.00 to $163.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 10th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Chubb from $144.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Chubb from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Chubb presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $149.29. Read more ...