Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of May 16 2022

 

Upgrades:

 

Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB) was upgraded by research analysts at National Bank Financial from a “sector perform market weight” rating to an “outperform market weight” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on CWB. National Bankshares upgraded Canadian Western Bank from a “sector perform” rating to a “buy” rating and set a C$44.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday. TD Securities boosted their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$43.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 15th. Raymond James boosted their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$41.00 to C$43.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 28th. CIBC lowered Canadian Western Bank from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from C$45.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Monday, April 11th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$44.00 to C$38.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of C$42.86. Read more …

 

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS) was upgraded by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a $338.00 target price on the real estate investment trust's stock, down from their previous target price of $352.00. The Goldman Sachs Group's price objective would indicate a potential upside of 15.80% from the company's current price.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on ESS. TheStreet cut shares of Essex Property Trust from a "b-" rating to a "c+" rating in a report on Friday. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $378.00 to $370.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 21st. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $420.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $335.00 to $365.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 8th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a "hold" rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $359.00. Read more …

 

Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) was upgraded by analysts at Evercore ISI from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $68.00 price target on the stock, up from their prior price target of $55.00. Evercore ISI's target price would suggest a potential upside of 19.93% from the company's current price.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on shares of Cardinal Health from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 4th. StockNews.com cut shares of Cardinal Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 6th. TheStreet cut shares of Cardinal Health from a "c+" rating to a "d+" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 5th. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Cardinal Health from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $55.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, March 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Cardinal Health from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $74.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cardinal Health has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $59.90. Read more …

 

 

Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) was upgraded by research analysts at BMO Capital Markets from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on CNI. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Canadian National Railway in a research report on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a "hold" rating for the company. Argus raised Canadian National Railway from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $145.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 17th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Desjardins reduced their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$173.00 to C$172.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 28th. Scotiabank cut their price target on Canadian National Railway from C$174.00 to C$172.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Canadian National Railway from $137.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 27th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian National Railway currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $147.76. Read more …

Dividend Increases Week 4 (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, 41 companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period. This is the first part of the weeks 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)

Franklin Electric Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes water and fuel pumping systems worldwide. It operates in three segments: Water Systems, Fueling Systems, and Distribution. Franklin Electric Co., Inc. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On January 24, FELE declared a quarterly dividend of $0.195 per share.

This is an 11.4% increase from prior dividend of $0.175. 

Payable February 11 for shareholders of record February 3, ex-div February 2.

 

Independent Bank Corporation (IBCP)

Independent Bank Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Independent Bank that provides various banking services to individuals and businesses. The company offers checking and savings accounts, commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing, mortgage lending, and safe deposit box services, as well as automatic teller machine, and Internet and mobile banking services. It also provides title insurance, insurance brokerage, and investment services. Independent Bank Corporation was founded in 1864 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

On January 24, IBCP declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share.

This is a 4.8% increase from prior dividend of $0.21. 

Payable February 15 for shareholders of record February 4, ex-div February 3.

 

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. It procures, stores, cleans, and transports agricultural raw materials, such as oilseeds, corn, wheat, milo, oats, and barley. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

On January 25, ADM declared a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share.

This is an 8.1% increase from prior dividend of $0.37. 

Payable March 1 for shareholders of record February 8, ex-div February 7.

 

Cambridge Bancorp (CATC)

Cambridge Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Cambridge Trust Company that provides commercial and consumer banking, and investment management and trust services. The company accepts various deposits, such as checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, trust accounts, individual retirement accounts, and time and demand deposits. Cambridge Bancorp was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On January 25, CATC declared a quarterly dividend of $0.64 per share.

This is a 4.9% increase from prior dividend of $0.61. 

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

 

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports industrial products, including agriculture, forest and consumer products, chemicals, and metals and construction materials; and coal, automobiles, and automotive parts. It also transports overseas freight through various Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports; and provides commuter passenger services. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated approximately 19,300 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Norfolk Southern Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

On January 25, NSC declared a quarterly dividend of $1.24 per share.

This is a 13.8% increase from prior dividend of $1.09. 

Payable February 21 for shareholders of record February 4, ex-div February 3.

 

 

Canadian National Railway Company (TSE:CNR)

Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail and related transportation business. Its portfolio of goods includes petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, forest products, intermodal, and automotive products serving exporters, importers, retailers, farmers, and manufacturers. The company operates a network of 19,500 route miles of track spanning Canada and the United States. It also provides vessels and docks, transloading and distribution, automotive logistics, and freight forwarding and transportation management services. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

On January 25, CNR declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.7325 per share.

This is a 19.1% increase from prior dividend of C$0.615. 

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

 

Premier Financial Corp. (PFC)

Premier Financial Corp., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking services. It offers various demand, checking, money market, certificates of deposits, certificates of deposit account registry service, and savings accounts; and investment products. The company also provides residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, home improvement and home equity loans, and consumer loans. Premier Financial Corp. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Defiance, Ohio.

On January 25, PFC declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share.

This is a 7.1% increase from prior dividend of $0.28. 

Payable February 18 for shareholders of record February 11, ex-div February 10.

 

Cadence Bank (CADE)

Cadence Bank provides various banking and financial solutions for consumers, businesses, and corporations. The company's products and services include consumer banking, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, credit cards, commercial and business banking, treasury management, specialized and asset-based lending, commercial real estate, equipment financing, correspondent banking, SBA lending, foreign exchange, wealth management, investment and trust, financial planning, retirement plan management, and personal and business insurance services. It operates approximately 400 branch locations across the South, Midwest, and Texas. The company was founded in 1876 and is based in Tupelo, Mississippi.

On January 25, CADE declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share.

This is a 10.0% increase from prior dividend of $0.20. 

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

 

Washington Federal, Inc. (WAFD)

Washington Federal, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank, National Association that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, and term certificates of deposit, as well as money market accounts and passbook savings accounts. It also provides single-family residential, construction, land acquisition and development, consumer lot, multi-family residential, commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, home equity, business and consumer loans. Washington Federal, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

On January 25, WAFD declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share.

This is a 4.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.23. 

Payable February 17 for shareholders of record February 4, ex-div February 3.

 

Anthem, Inc. (ANTM)

Anthem, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. It operates through four segments: Commercial & Specialty Business, Government Business, IngenioRx, and Other. Anthem, Inc. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On January 26, ANTM declared a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share.

This is a 13.3% increase from prior dividend of $1.13. 

Payable March 25 for shareholders of record March 10, ex-div March 9.

 

 

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX)

MarketAxess Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates an electronic trading platform for institutional investor and broker-dealer firms worldwide. It offers the access to global liquidity in U.S. investment-grade bonds, U.S. high-yield bonds, U.S. Treasuries, municipal bonds, emerging market debt, Eurobonds, and other fixed income securities. MarketAxess Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

On January 26, MKTX declared a quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share.

This is a 6.1% increase from prior dividend of $0.66. 

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

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. Kimberly-Clark Corporation was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

On January 26, MKTX declared a quarterly dividend of $1.16 per share.

This is a 1.8% increase from prior dividend of $1.14. 

Payable April 4 for shareholders of record March 4, ex-div March 3.

 

Home BancShares, Inc. (HOMB)

Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) operates as the bank holding company for Centennial Bank that provides commercial and retail banking, and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals, and municipalities. Its deposit products include checking, savings, NOW, demand, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Conway, Arkansas.

On January 26, HOMB declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share.

This is a 17.9% increase from prior dividend of $0.14. 

Payable March 9 for shareholders of record February 16, ex-div February 15.

 

Independent Bank Group, Inc. (IBTX)

Independent Bank Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Independent Bank that provides various commercial banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and individuals in the United States. It accepts various deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, demand deposits, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. Independent Bank Group, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in McKinney, Texas.

On January 26, IBTX declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share.

This is a 5.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.36. 

Payable February 17 for shareholders of record February 10, ex-div February 9.

 

Republic Bancorp, Inc. (RBCAA)

Republic Bancorp, Inc., a financial holding company, provides various banking products and services in the United States. It operates in five segments: Traditional Banking, Warehouse, Mortgage Banking, Tax Refund Solutions, and Republic Credit Solutions. The company accepts demand, money market accounts, savings, individual retirement accounts, time, brokered, and other certificates of deposit. Republic Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 1974 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

On January 26, RBCAA declared a quarterly dividend of $0.341 per share.

This is a 10.7% increase from prior dividend of $0.308. 

Payable April 15 for shareholders of record March 18, ex-div March 17.

 

 

Intel Corporation (INTC)

Intel Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells essential technologies for the cloud, smart, and connected devices for retail, industrial, and consumer uses worldwide. The company operates through DCG, IOTG, Mobileye, NSG, PSG, CCG, and All Other segments. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

On January 26, INTC declared a quarterly dividend of $0.365 per share.

This is a 5.2% increase from prior dividend of $0.347. 

Payable March 1 for shareholders of record February 7, ex-div February 4.

 

Chevron Corporation (CVX)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in integrated energy, chemicals, and petroleum operations worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corporation and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is headquartered in San Ramon, California.

On January 26, CVX declared a quarterly dividend of $1.42 per share.

This is a 6.0% increase from prior dividend of $1.34. 

Payable March 10 for shareholders of record February 16, ex-div February 15.

 

Unitil Corporation (UTL)

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through three segments: Utility Gas Operations, Utility Electric Operations, and Non-Regulated. Unitil Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire.

On January 26, UTL declared a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share.

This is a 2.6% increase from prior dividend of $0.38. 

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

 

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance brokerage, consulting, and third party claims settlement and administration services in the United States, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand, India, and the United Kingdom. Its Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

On January 26, AJG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share.

This is a 6.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.48. 

Payable March 25 for shareholders of record March 4, ex-div March 3.

 

California Water Service Group (CWT)

California Water Service Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. It is involved in the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution, and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public, and irrigation uses, as well as for fire protection.  California Water Service Group was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

On January 26, AJG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share.

This is an 8.7% increase from prior dividend of $0.23. 

Payable February 18 for shareholders of record February 7, ex-div February 4.

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of October 25 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) was upgraded by equities researchers at Piper Sandler to a "buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Telsey Advisory Group increased their price target on Best Buy from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Best Buy from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Best Buy to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. DA Davidson upgraded Best Buy to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Best Buy to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $145.00 to $157.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $127.53. Read more …

 

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) was upgraded by stock analysts at Atlantic Securities from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a $144.00 target price on the healthcare product maker's stock. Atlantic Securities' price target points to a potential upside of 12.39% from the company's current price.

Several other analysts have also commented on ABT. Redburn Partners initiated coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, October 14th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $132.28 price objective for the company. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Friday, October 8th. Zacks Investment Research raised Abbott Laboratories from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $127.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 3rd. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $128.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, October 21st. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $134.94. Read more …

 

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) was upgraded by research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, PriceTargets.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $230.00 price target on the aerospace company’s stock, up from their prior price target of $220.00. Wells Fargo & Company‘s price target points to a potential upside of 12.82% from the company’s current price.

GD has been the subject of a number of other reports. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of General Dynamics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $208.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, August 5th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $182.00 to $198.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of General Dynamics from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $176.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, September 23rd. Finally, Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of General Dynamics in a report on Monday, August 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, General Dynamics has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $213.91. Read more …

 

 

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) was upgraded by research analysts at Bank of America from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Thursday, Analyst Price Targets reports. The brokerage presently has a $325.00 price objective on the railroad operator’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $263.00. Bank of America‘s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 11.45% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on NSC. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 6th. Evercore ISI raised Norfolk Southern from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $301.00 to $303.00 in a research note on Friday, July 9th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $318.00 to $312.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 7th. Finally, Atlantic Securities began coverage on Norfolk Southern in a research note on Monday, July 12th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $276.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $287.57. Read more …

Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of September 13, 2021

 

Disposals:

 

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) SVP Scott T. Mikuen sold 10,753 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.77, for a total transaction of $2,481,469.81. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Shares of NYSE LHX traded down $3.11 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $228.52. 1,102,007 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,110,280. The company has a market cap of $45.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.40, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.89. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $228.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $215.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.70. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $158.09 and a twelve month high of $235.10. Read more …

 

Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) EVP Kathleen T. Hogan sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.68, for a total value of $5,973,600.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Read more …

Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT) CMO Christopher C. Capossela sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.82, for a total transaction of $2,988,200.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

MSFT stock traded up $1.28 during trading on Monday, reaching $296.99. 23,643,837 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 25,975,563. The company has a 50-day moving average of $290.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $263.41. The company has a market capitalization of $2.23 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.89, a P/E/G ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.78. Microsoft Co. has a twelve month low of $196.25 and a twelve month high of $305.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.08 and a quick ratio of 2.05. Read more …

 

 

American Express (NYSE:AXP) insider Marc D. Gordon sold 13,424 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.24, for a total value of $2,137,637.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

AXP stock traded down $2.31 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $159.14. 342,642 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,341,412. American Express has a twelve month low of $89.11 and a twelve month high of $179.67. The company has a market capitalization of $126.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.28. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $166.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $158.12. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46. Read more …

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of July 5, 2021

 

Upgrades:

 

American Express (NYSE:AXP) was upgraded by investment analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, Price Targets.com reports.

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on AXP. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on American Express from $131.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 26th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on American Express from $128.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on American Express from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, June 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on American Express from $166.00 to $171.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on American Express from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. American Express currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $142.47. Read more …

 

Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) was upgraded by Scotiabank from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating in a research note issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a $92.00 price objective on the utilities provider's stock, up from their previous price objective of $88.00. Scotiabank's target price points to a potential upside of 23.97% from the company's previous close. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. KeyCorp raised their target price on Dominion Energy from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 21st. TheStreet raised Dominion Energy from a "c+" rating to a "b-" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 22nd. Zacks Investment Research cut Dominion Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $80.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, April 7th. Mizuho raised their price objective on Dominion Energy from $76.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Dominion Energy from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. The company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $83.75. Read more …

 

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) was upgraded by equities researchers at UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a $127.00 target price on the utilities provider’s stock, down from their previous target price of $144.00. UBS Group’s price target points to a potential upside of 13.66% from the stock’s previous close. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $148.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 28th. Wolfe Research reaffirmed a “peer perform” rating and set a $139.00 price target (up from $128.00) on shares of DTE Energy in a research report on Monday, April 26th. Bank of America reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and set a $131.00 price target on shares of DTE Energy in a research report on Monday, May 10th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $134.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $148.00 to $142.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $134.14. Read more …

 

 

ABB (NYSE:ABB) was upgraded by stock analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a “buy” rating to a “conviction-buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating on shares of ABB in a report on Thursday, July 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of ABB in a report on Tuesday, June 29th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of ABB in a report on Wednesday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of ABB in a report on Wednesday, April 28th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of ABB from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $33.33. Read more …

This “Forever Asset” Keeps Beating the Market

 

Norfolk Southern Corp. Is One Stock for the Next 100 Years

 

While tech names have stampeded ahead in the past few years, the best-performing stocks have been some of America’s oldest: “Forever Assets.”

 

Longtime readers have heard me use the term before. I coined it to describe an elite group of dividend stocks that have rewarded their shareholders not just for years or decades, but for generations.

 

You’ve probably heard of many of these companies: Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG), to name a few. All these companies boast durable brand names and wide economic moats. As a result of their outsized competitive advantages, they’ve managed to consistently beat the broader market averages for years.

 

Their competitive advantages have also allowed these businesses to survive some of the worst economic downturns in living memory.  Thousands of businesses have shuttered since the turn of the century, but my collection of Forever Assets have managed to prosper through wars, depressions, crashes, inflation, and political turmoil.

 

And even during the current COVID-19 pandemic, most of these companies have carried on with business without so much as a hiccup in dividend payments to shareholders.

 

 

Case in point: Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:NSC). Sure, railroads might seem like a 19th-century investment, but this industrial giant has a number of things going for it: a nearly irreplaceable asset, thick profit margins, and near-monopoly control over customers. Those inherent advantages have quietly made NSC stock one of the market’s best performers over the past decade. And investors have good reason to expect this Forever Asset to keep chugging along in the 21st century and beyond.

 

Let me explain. Continue reading …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of October 12, 2020

 

Upgrades:

 

Westrock (NYSE:WRK) was upgraded by equities researchers at BMO Capital Markets from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a $57.00 price target on the basic materials company’s stock, up from their prior price target of $35.00. BMO Capital Markets’ target price would suggest a potential upside of 43.98% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on WRK. Bank of America upped their target price on Westrock from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 15th. Wells Fargo & Company restated a “buy” rating and issued a $44.00 price objective (up from $40.00) on shares of Westrock in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Westrock in a report on Monday, June 15th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $28.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Westrock from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Westrock in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Westrock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $39.27. Read more …

 

International Paper (NYSE:IP) was upgraded by investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $53.00 price target on the basic materials company's stock, up from their prior price target of $40.00. BMO Capital Markets' target price suggests a potential upside of 24.21% from the company's previous close.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Zacks Investment Research upgraded International Paper from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $48.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th. ValuEngine raised International Paper from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. BofA Securities raised shares of International Paper from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of International Paper in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of International Paper from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $38.00 to $52.00 in a report on Friday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $44.14. Read more …

 

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) was upgraded by equities researchers at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a $169.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $148.00. Citigroup‘s price objective indicates a potential upside of 20.01% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on PEP. SunTrust Banks lifted their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on PepsiCo from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on PepsiCo from $155.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Zacks Investment Research downgraded PepsiCo from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $140.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Truist boosted their price target on PepsiCo from $130.00 to $135.00 in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. PepsiCo has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $144.13. Read more …

 

 

Chubb (NYSE:CB) was upgraded by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Briefing.com reports. The firm currently has a $152.00 price target on the financial services provider's stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s price target would indicate a potential upside of 26.19% from the stock's current price.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on CB. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Chubb from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating and set a $97.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Chubb from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Chubb from $138.00 to $135.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. ValuEngine raised shares of Chubb from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Chubb from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $157.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Chubb currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $143.19. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of February 18, 2019

Upgrades:

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Several other equities analysts have also commented on FCX. Raymond James set a $16.00 price target on Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 24th. ValuEngine lowered Freeport-McMoRan from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 24th. BMO Capital Markets set a $13.00 price target on Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 25th. B. Riley cut their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered Freeport-McMoRan from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $12.20 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, November 6th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $16.15. Read more …

Macquarie upgraded shares of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report published on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has $126.00 price target on the stock. PEP has been the subject of a number of other reports. BidaskClub raised shares of PepsiCo from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 26th. Zacks Investment Research reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of PepsiCo in a research note on Wednesday, November 14th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of PepsiCo to $119.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of PepsiCo in a research note on Thursday, December 13th. They set a neutral rating and a $123.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $119.83. Read more …

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) was upgraded by research analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued on Friday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a $64.00 price objective on the chip maker’s stock, up from their prior price objective of $55.00. Morgan Stanley’s target price indicates a potential upside of 21.77% from the stock’s previous close. Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on INTC. BidaskClub cut shares of Intel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Intel in a research note on Wednesday, January 23rd. Nomura reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Intel in a research note on Wednesday, November 7th. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $54.00 price target (up previously from $50.00) on shares of Intel in a research note on Friday, January 11th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “sell” rating and set a $44.00 price target on shares of Intel in a research note on Tuesday, January 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $53.65. Read more …

Downgrades:

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) was downgraded by investment analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a $178.00 price target on the railroad operator’s stock, down from their prior price target of $180.00. Royal Bank of Canada’s price objective would suggest a potential downside of 2.13% from the stock’s previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on NSC. ValuEngine upgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 12th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $191.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 21st. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $181.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 12th. Loop Capital boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern to $210.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern to $185.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $183.62. Read more …

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of January 21, 2019

Upgrades:

Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Anheuser Busch Inbev (NYSE:BUD) from an outperform rating to a top pick rating in a report released on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat reports. Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Anheuser Busch Inbev from a hold rating to an underperform rating and set a $62.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, January 16th. Argus lowered Anheuser Busch Inbev from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 12th. Macquarie set a $92.00 price objective on Anheuser Busch Inbev and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 16th. Goldman Sachs Group lowered Anheuser Busch Inbev from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 4th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research lowered Anheuser Busch Inbev from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $106.06. Read more …

Cowen upgraded shares of Nike (NYSE:NKE) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report published on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has $90.00 price objective on the footwear maker’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $80.00. A number of other research firms have also weighed in on NKE. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Nike from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 24th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Nike from $88.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 26th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Nike from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 26th. Piper Jaffray Companies set a $93.00 target price on shares of Nike and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank cut their target price on shares of Nike from $92.00 to $91.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and twenty-four have given a buy rating to the company. The company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $83.43. Read more …

D. R. Horton (NYSE:DHI) was upgraded by equities researchers at Mizuho from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $45.00 target price on the construction company’s stock, up from their previous target price of $40.00. Mizuho’s price target points to a potential upside of 17.49% from the company’s previous close. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wedbush set a $43.00 price target on D. R. Horton and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 9th. BTIG Research reduced their price target on D. R. Horton to $52.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 9th. Barclays reissued a “buy” rating and set a $41.00 price target on shares of D. R. Horton in a research report on Friday, November 9th. Credit Suisse Group set a $45.00 price target on D. R. Horton and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 17th. Finally, Bank of America set a $65.00 price target on D. R. Horton and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. D. R. Horton presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $46.43. Read more …

Stephens upgraded shares of International Paper (NYSE:IP) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note released on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has $60.00 target price on the basic materials company’s stock, up from their prior target price of $50.00. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on IP. Wells Fargo & Co cut shares of International Paper from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 9th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of International Paper from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of International Paper from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their target price for the company from $66.00 to $51.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 9th. Deutsche Bank dropped their target price on shares of International Paper from $55.00 to $46.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 17th. Finally, ValuEngine cut shares of International Paper from a sell rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Wednesday, October 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. International Paper presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.57. Read more …