Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of May 23 2022

 

Upgrades:

 

Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED) was upgraded by research analysts at Guggenheim from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a $94.00 price target on the utilities provider’s stock. Guggenheim’s target price would suggest a potential downside of 6.37% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on ED. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $65.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, March 28th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Consolidated Edison from an “equal weight” rating to a “sell” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $85.00 to $94.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 3rd. KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $71.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group began coverage on shares of Consolidated Edison in a research report on Monday, April 25th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $100.00 price target on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $84.58. Read more …

 

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) was upgraded by analysts at Credit Suisse Group from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued on Monday, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $140.00 target price on the utilities provider’s stock, down from their previous target price of $142.00. Credit Suisse Group’s target price points to a potential upside of 4.37% from the stock’s current price.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $130.00 to $132.00 in a report on Thursday, March 10th. Bank of America upgraded shares of DTE Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $127.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 15th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $134.00 to $146.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of DTE Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $133.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 20th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $130.91. Read more …

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) was upgraded by Societe Generale from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Tuesday, Briefing.com reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on JPM. Argus lowered their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $151.00 price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 14th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $147.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 21st. Royal Bank of Canada set a $175.00 price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 14th. Finally, Barclays set a $200.00 price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $161.67. Read more …

 

 

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) was upgraded by investment analysts at Atlantic Securities from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a $290.00 price target on the basic materials company's stock, up from their previous price target of $280.00. Atlantic Securities' target price would indicate a potential upside of 22.46% from the stock's current price.

APD has been the subject of several other research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $300.00 to $272.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 10th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $383.00 to $280.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 8th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $302.00 to $290.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $275.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $275.00 to $255.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 11th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Air Products and Chemicals presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $303.00. Read more …

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.

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of September 13, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) was upgraded by stock analysts at Odeon Capital Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued on Monday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a $46.50 price target on the financial services provider's stock. Odeon Capital Group's price target indicates a potential upside of 15.47% from the stock's previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. Evercore ISI restated a "buy" rating and issued a $43.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Friday, July 2nd. Truist Securities started coverage on Bank of America in a research note on Wednesday, June 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada set a $37.69 price objective on Bank of America and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 21st. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on Bank of America from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Bank of America from $38.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $40.42. Read more …

 

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) was upgraded by research analysts at Cowen from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report issued on Monday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a $98.00 price objective on the medical instruments supplier’s stock. Cowen’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 21.11% from the company’s previous close.

BAX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. SVB Leerink reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Baxter International in a report on Sunday, September 5th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Baxter International from $85.00 to $82.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 29th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 29th. Barclays upgraded Baxter International from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $93.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Friday, September 3rd. Finally, KeyCorp lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $94.00 to $92.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Baxter International currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $91.08. Read more …

 

Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Raymond James from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued on Monday, Price Targets.com reports. The firm currently has a C$41.00 price objective on the stock, up from their previous price objective of C$39.25. Raymond James' price target indicates a potential upside of 13.04% from the company's previous close.

CWB has been the subject of a number of other research reports. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$40.00 to C$41.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 30th. Barclays upgraded shares of Canadian Western Bank from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a C$37.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, May 28th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$37.00 to C$41.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 31st. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank to C$45.00 and gave the company a "sector peform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 1st. Finally, CIBC increased their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$42.00 to C$44.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Western Bank presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of C$41.17. Read more …

 

 

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) was upgraded by analysts at Oppenheimer to an “outperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a $165.00 price target on the iPhone maker’s stock. Oppenheimer’s target price would indicate a potential upside of 11.40% from the stock’s current price.

AAPL has been the subject of a number of other reports. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Apple in a research note on Monday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price objective for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Apple from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $132.00 price objective on shares of Apple in a report on Tuesday, August 10th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Apple from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 28th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Apple from $166.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twenty-six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $160.88. Read more …

Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of August 23, 2021

 

Disposals:

 

Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN) insider Nandakumar Cheruvatath sold 7,529 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.00, for a total transaction of $1,264,872.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Nandakumar Cheruvatath also recently made the following trade(s):

On Wednesday, June 2nd, Nandakumar Cheruvatath sold 6,400 shares of Eaton stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.56, for a total transaction of $937,984.00.

ETN stock traded up $1.38 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $168.84. 1,398,200 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,971,036. Eaton Co. plc has a 52-week low of $96.24 and a 52-week high of $169.64. The company has a market cap of $67.30 billion, a PE ratio of 36.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $154.87. Read more …

 

eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) Director Robert Holmes Swan sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.15, for a total transaction of $2,926,000.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

EBAY stock traded down $0.16 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $73.20. The company had a trading volume of 5,036,311 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,620,209. The stock has a market cap of $47.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.91, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 3.96 and a current ratio of 3.96. eBay Inc. has a 12 month low of $45.36 and a 12 month high of $76.55. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $69.12. Read more …

 

The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) Director Matthew H. Peltz sold 161,922 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.49, for a total transaction of $3,803,547.78.  He also sold 382,403 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.38, for a total value of $8,940,582.14. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Shares of The Wendy’s stock traded up $0.16 on Friday, reaching $23.34. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,998,691 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,691,044. The company has a market cap of $5.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.94. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $23.02. The Wendy’s Company has a 52 week low of $18.86 and a 52 week high of $29.46. The company has a quick ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 2.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.08. Read more …

 

 

NVIDIA Co. (NASDAQ:NVDA) Director Persis Drell sold 10,000 shares of NVIDIA stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.41, for a total value of $2,034,100.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Persis Drell also recently made the following trade(s):

On Monday, June 14th, Persis Drell sold 800 shares of NVIDIA stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $716.47, for a total value of $573,176.00.

NASDAQ:NVDA traded down $1.65 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $217.93. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 29,542,888 shares, compared to its average volume of 35,407,160. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $196.49. The stock has a market cap of $543.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 77.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a quick ratio of 5.33, a current ratio of 5.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. NVIDIA Co. has a 12 month low of $115.67 and a 12 month high of $219.97. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of March 8, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) (TSE:BMO) (NYSE:BMO) was upgraded by equities researchers at National Bank Financial from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a C$121.00 price objective on the bank's stock, up from their prior price objective of C$113.00. National Bank Financial's target price points to a potential upside of 11.18% from the company's current price.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on BMO. CSFB increased their price objective on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) from C$108.00 to C$113.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 3rd. CIBC upped their target price on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) from C$120.00 to C$122.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 2nd. Scotiabank upped their target price on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) from C$111.00 to C$126.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) from C$110.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 24th. Finally, Cormark upped their target price on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) from C$104.00 to C$110.00 and gave the stock a "na" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of C$110.51. Read more …

 

V.F. (NYSE:VFC) was upgraded by investment analysts at Pivotal Research from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The firm currently has a $94.00 price objective on the textile maker’s stock, up from their prior price objective of $86.00. Pivotal Research’s price target indicates a potential upside of 19.33% from the company’s previous close.

VFC has been the subject of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on V.F. from $88.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 7th. Piper Sandler upgraded V.F. from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $73.00 to $106.00 in a report on Monday, January 4th. Cowen boosted their price target on V.F. from $91.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 25th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on V.F. from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 10th. Finally, OTR Global upgraded V.F. to a “positive” rating in a report on Monday, January 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $88.65. Read more …

 

The Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The firm currently has a $60.00 price objective on the stock, up from their prior price objective of $55.00. Royal Bank of Canada's price target points to a potential upside of 18.13% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on KO. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of The Coca-Cola from $59.00 to $55.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of The Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, January 19th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $58.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of The Coca-Cola in a research report on Monday, December 7th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Guggenheim downgraded shares of The Coca-Cola from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of The Coca-Cola from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $55.00 target price for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $54.06. Read more …

 

 

Eaton (NYSE:ETN) was upgraded by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report issued on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a $155.00 target price on the industrial products company’s stock, up from their prior target price of $130.00. Morgan Stanley’s target price indicates a potential upside of 11.16% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on ETN. HSBC upgraded shares of Eaton from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $103.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 16th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Eaton from $130.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 15th. Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of Eaton from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $110.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Monday. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Eaton from $133.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 2nd. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Eaton from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $135.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.17. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of March 1, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Daiwa Capital Markets from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report released on Tuesday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $86.00 price target on the financial services provider's stock. Daiwa Capital Markets' target price points to a potential upside of 8.64% from the stock's current price.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on MS. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 21st. Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $74.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, January 25th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $54.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, January 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $53.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 6th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $66.73. Read more …

 

Nestlé (OTCMKTS:NSRGY) was upgraded by analysts at AlphaValue to a “buy” rating in a research note issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

A number of other analysts have also commented on NSRGY. Royal Bank of Canada raised Nestlé from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 13th. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Nestlé in a research note on Wednesday, December 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Nestlé in a research note on Friday, February 19th. Zacks Investment Research raised Nestlé from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $127.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Nestlé in a research note on Thursday, December 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $127.00. Read more …

 

Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) (TSE:BMO) was upgraded by stock analysts at Bank of America from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Tuesday, Briefing.com reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on BMO. Canaccord Genuity reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $112.50 target price (up from $106.50) on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research report on Wednesday, February 24th. Barclays increased their target price on Bank of Montreal from $88.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 16th. CIBC upgraded Bank of Montreal to an “outperformer” rating and increased their target price for the company from $95.00 to $108.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 19th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Bank of Montreal from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the company from $97.00 to $108.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 24th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded Bank of Montreal from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $87.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $93.39. Read more …

 

 

The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) (TSE:BNS) was upgraded by analysts at CIBC from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report issued on Tuesday, Analyst Price Targets reports. The brokerage currently has a $86.00 price target on the bank's stock, up from their previous price target of $83.00. CIBC's price objective indicates a potential upside of 41.49% from the company's current price.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on BNS. Barclays raised their price target on shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia from $60.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 16th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 24th. TD Securities lifted their target price on shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia from $79.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia from $77.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 24th. Finally, Desjardins lifted their target price on shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $72.75. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of February 15, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) was upgraded by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Albemarle from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, November 6th. Citigroup Inc. 3% Minimum Coupon Principal Protected Based Upon Russell lowered Albemarle from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their target price for the company from $132.00 to $175.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 6th. HSBC upgraded Albemarle from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $121.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 21st. Argus raised their target price on Albemarle from $98.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Albemarle from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, November 6th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Albemarle presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $110.75. Read more …

 

Eaton (NYSE:ETN) was upgraded by equities research analysts at HSBC from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Argus upped their price objective on shares of Eaton from $120.00 to $130.00 in a report on Thursday, December 10th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Eaton from $119.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Eaton from $112.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 3rd. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Eaton from $95.00 to $105.00 in a report on Thursday, November 5th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Eaton from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $135.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 11th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Eaton has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $118.00. Read more …

 

Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO) was upgraded by equities researchers at Citigroup from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report issued on Tuesday, Price Targets.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $70.00 price objective on the basic materials company's stock. Citigroup's price target points to a potential downside of 3.39% from the company's current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Barclays started coverage on shares of Southern Copper in a report on Wednesday, January 6th. They set an "underweight" rating and a $54.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Southern Copper from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $49.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 9th. Finally, HSBC lowered shares of Southern Copper from a "hold" rating to a "reduce" rating and set a $48.50 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 1st. Fife investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company's stock. The stock has a consensus rating of "Sell" and a consensus target price of $46.39. Read more …

 

 

Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) (TSE:BMO) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Scotiabank from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Briefing.com reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from $93.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, January 11th. Canaccord Genuity reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research report on Wednesday, December 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Bank of Montreal in a report on Wednesday, December 2nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from $88.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Bank of Montreal presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $86.11. Read more …

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of November 23, 2020

 

Disposals:

 

Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) COO Dhiaa M. Jamil sold 3,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.63, for a total value of $324,205.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Duke Energy stock traded up $0.75 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $93.33. The stock had a trading volume of 3,815,948 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,787,323. The company has a 50-day moving average of $93.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $85.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The company has a market cap of $68.14 billion, a PE ratio of 33.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.20 and a beta of 0.24. Duke Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $62.13 and a fifty-two week high of $103.79

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.79 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $6.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.34 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.68%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.79 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Read more ...

 

The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) Chairman Carol Meyrowitz sold 77,892 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.22, for a total value of $4,768,548.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

NYSE TJX traded up $1.12 on Monday, reaching $61.80. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,248,813 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,232,387. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $32.72 and a 52 week high of $65.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firm has a market cap of $74.10 billion, a PE ratio of 108.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 29.72 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $56.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.14.

The TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 17th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.31. The TJX Companies had a return on equity of 13.62% and a net margin of 2.11%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.68 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Read more ...

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) EVP Marianne Lake sold 15,808 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.01, for a total transaction of $1,897,118.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

JPM stock traded up $5.45 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $123.32. The stock had a trading volume of 18,847,579 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,997,709. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $105.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $99.51. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $76.91 and a 52-week high of $141.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market cap of $375.90 billion, a PE ratio of 16.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.15.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 19th. The financial services provider reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.69. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 10.85% and a net margin of 19.16%. The business had revenue of $29.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.68 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 7.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Read more …

 

 

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) EVP Rupert Vessey sold 13,421 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Monday, November 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.34, for a total transaction of $823,244.14. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 37,922 shares in the company, valued at $2,326,135.48. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

BMY stock traded down $0.38 on Wednesday, hitting $62.84. 9,403,982 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,536,446. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $45.76 and a twelve month high of $68.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.58. The business’s fifty day moving average is $69.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $80.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -574.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.67. Read more …

 

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of June 1, 2020

Disposals:

Medtronic PLC (NYSE:MDT) SVP Carol A. Surface sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.72, for a total value of $195,440.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Shares of NYSE:MDT opened at $97.10 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $130.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 2.13. Medtronic PLC has a one year low of $72.13 and a one year high of $122.15. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $97.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $105.15. Read more …

Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) EVP Andrew M. Watterson sold 8,275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.85, for a total value of $263,558.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 52,911 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,685,215.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Shares of NYSE:LUV opened at $34.48 on Wednesday. Southwest Airlines Co has a 1 year low of $22.47 and a 1 year high of $58.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The business’s 50-day moving average is $29.38 and its 200-day moving average is $45.34. The company has a market capitalization of $17.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.14 and a beta of 1.26. Read more …

Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW) Director Susan J. Kropf sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $592.80, for a total value of $592,800.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

SHW stock traded down $2.95 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $594.16. 515,328 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 685,450. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $540.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $546.98. Sherwin-Williams Co has a 52 week low of $325.43 and a 52 week high of $603.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.22 billion, a PE ratio of 34.32, a P/E/G ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Read more …

Xcel Energy Inc (NYSE:XEL) CEO Benjamin G. S. Fowke III sold 104,796 shares of Xcel Energy stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.84, for a total transaction of $6,899,768.64. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 461,531 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $30,387,201.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

NYSE:XEL opened at $65.03 on Friday. Xcel Energy Inc has a 52-week low of $46.58 and a 52-week high of $72.14. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.62. Read more …