Benzinga | Oct 13, 2020 09:38AM EDT

Benzinga's Top Upgrades, Downgrades For October 13, 2020

Upgrades

* Benchmark upgraded the previous rating for Owens-Corning Inc (NYSE:OC) from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Owens-Corning showed an EPS of $0.88, compared to $1.31 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Owens-Corning shows a 52-week-high of 76.08 and a 52-week-low of 28.56. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $74.99.

* According to Evercore ISI Group, the prior rating for Lear Corp (NYSE:LEA) was changed from Underperform to In-Line. Lear earned $4.14 in the second quarter, compared to $3.78 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 143.5 and a 52-week-low of 63.2. At the end of the last trading period, Lear closed at $129.26.

* According to Seaport Global, the prior rating for Gol Intelligent Airlines Inc (NYSE:GOL) was changed from Neutral to Buy. For the second quarter, Gol Intelligent Airlines had an EPS of $2.08, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.13. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 19.36 and a 52-week-low of 1.85. Gol Intelligent Airlines closed at $7.13 at the end of the last trading period.

* UBS upgraded the previous rating for Gates Industrial Corp PLC (NYSE:GTES) from Neutral to Buy. Gates Industrial Corp earned $0.03 in the second quarter, compared to $0.26 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 14.3 and a 52-week-low of 5.42. Gates Industrial Corp closed at $11.95 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to B of A Securities, the prior rating for Foot Locker Inc (NYSE:FL) was changed from Underperform to Buy. For the second quarter, Foot Locker had an EPS of $0.71, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.66. The current stock performance of Foot Locker shows a 52-week-high of 47.86 and a 52-week-low of 17.46. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $37.60.

* According to Susquehanna, the prior rating for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp (NASDAQ:CTSH) was changed from Neutral to Positive. Cognizant Tech Solns earned $0.82 in the second quarter, compared to $0.94 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 74.92 and a 52-week-low of 40.01. At the end of the last trading period, Cognizant Tech Solns closed at $74.63.

* According to Citigroup, the prior rating for The Carlyle Group Inc (NASDAQ:CG) was changed from Neutral to Buy. Carlyle Group earned $0.41 in the second quarter, compared to $1.23 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 34.98 and a 52-week-low of 15.21. Carlyle Group closed at $26.89 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to BMO Capital, the prior rating for Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) was changed from Underperform to Market Perform. Marriott Intl earned $0.64 in the second quarter, compared to $1.56 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Marriott Intl shows a 52-week-high of 153.39 and a 52-week-low of 46.5622. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $100.71.

* BMO Capital upgraded the previous rating for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (NYSE:HLT) from Underperform to Market Perform. In the second quarter, Hilton Worldwide Holdings showed an EPS of $0.61, compared to $1.06 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 115.48 and a 52-week-low of 44.3. At the end of the last trading period, Hilton Worldwide Holdings closed at $91.40.

* For Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO), Rosenblatt upgraded the previous rating of Neutral to the current rating Buy. In the second quarter, Twilio showed an EPS of $0.09, compared to $0.03 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 332.0 and a 52-week-low of 68.0555. At the end of the last trading period, Twilio closed at $329.75.

* According to Morgan Stanley, the prior rating for NetApp Inc (NASDAQ:NTAP) was changed from Underweight to Equal-Weight. For the first quarter, NetApp had an EPS of $0.73, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.65. The stock has a 52-week-high of 65.38 and a 52-week-low of 34.66. At the end of the last trading period, NetApp closed at $46.65.

* According to Susquehanna, the prior rating for Alaska Air Group Inc (NYSE:ALK) was changed from Neutral to Positive. In the second quarter, Alaska Air Group showed an EPS of $3.54, compared to $2.17 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 72.22 and a 52-week-low of 20.02. At the end of the last trading period, Alaska Air Group closed at $38.40.

* For CSX Corp (NASDAQ:CSX), Bernstein upgraded the previous rating of Market Perform to the current rating Outperform. In the second quarter, CSX showed an EPS of $0.65, compared to $1.08 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 81.4 and a 52-week-low of 46.81. At the end of the last trading period, CSX closed at $79.56.

* For Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU), Deutsche Bank upgraded the previous rating of Hold to the current rating Buy. Micron Technology earned $1.08 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.56 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 61.19 and a 52-week-low of 31.13. Micron Technology closed at $50.68 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Goldman Sachs, the prior rating for Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) was changed from Sell to Neutral. For the second quarter, Exxon Mobil had an EPS of $0.70, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.73. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 73.12 and a 52-week-low of 30.11. Exxon Mobil closed at $34.63 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Jefferies, the prior rating for Extra Space Storage Inc (NYSE:EXR) was changed from Hold to Buy. In the second quarter, Extra Space Storage showed an EPS of $1.23, compared to $1.22 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 116.52 and a 52-week-low of 72.7. Extra Space Storage closed at $113.82 at the end of the last trading period.



Downgrades

* Guggenheim downgraded the previous rating for Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN) from Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, Illumina had an EPS of $0.62, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $1.35. The current stock performance of Illumina shows a 52-week-high of 404.2 and a 52-week-low of 196.78. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $352.32.

* Janney Capital downgraded the previous rating for American Water Works Co Inc (NYSE:AWK) from Buy to Neutral. For the second quarter, American Water Works Co had an EPS of $0.97, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.94. The stock has a 52-week-high of 160.0 and a 52-week-low of 92.0. At the end of the last trading period, American Water Works Co closed at $158.25.

* According to UBS, the prior rating for A.O. Smith Corp (NYSE:AOS) was changed from Buy to Neutral. In the second quarter, A.O. Smith showed an EPS of $0.45, compared to $0.61 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 58.05 and a 52-week-low of 33.805. A.O. Smith closed at $56.47 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:ATVI), BMO Capital downgraded the previous rating of Outperform to the current rating Market Perform. For the second quarter, Activision Blizzard had an EPS of $0.97, compared to year-ago quarter EPS of $0.38. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 87.7265 and a 52-week-low of 50.51. Activision Blizzard closed at $81.06 at the end of the last trading period.

* According to Susquehanna, the prior rating for American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) was changed from Neutral to Negative. In the second quarter, American Airlines Group showed an EPS of $7.82, compared to $1.82 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of American Airlines Group shows a 52-week-high of 31.67 and a 52-week-low of 8.25. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $12.92.

* According to Bernstein, the prior rating for Beyond Meat Inc (NASDAQ:BYND) was changed from Market Perform to Underperform. Beyond Meat earned $0.02 in the second quarter, compared to $0.06 in the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Beyond Meat shows a 52-week-high of 197.5 and a 52-week-low of 48.18. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $192.30.

* For AvalonBay Communities Inc (NYSE:AVB), Jefferies downgraded the previous rating of Buy to the current rating Hold. In the second quarter, AvalonBay Communities showed an EPS of $2.23, compared to $2.27 from the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 229.4 and a 52-week-low of 118.17. At the end of the last trading period, AvalonBay Communities closed at $159.08.



Initiations

* With a current rating of Overweight, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Alliance Data Systems Corp (NYSE:ADS). The price target seems to have been set at $67.00 for Alliance Data Systems. Alliance Data Systems earned $1.86 in the second quarter, compared to $3.83 in the year-ago quarter. The stock has a 52-week-high of 125.78 and a 52-week-low of 20.51. At the end of the last trading period, Alliance Data Systems closed at $48.46.

* With a current rating of Buy, Jefferies initiated coverage on Athira Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATHA). The price target seems to have been set at $30.00 for Athira Pharma. The stock has a 52-week-high of 20.4194 and a 52-week-low of 15.79. At the end of the last trading period, Athira Pharma closed at $17.09.

* With a current rating of Hold, Jefferies initiated coverage on Lennox International Inc (NYSE:LII). The price target seems to have been set at $295.00 for Lennox International. In the second quarter, Lennox International showed an EPS of $2.97, compared to $3.74 from the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 289.96 and a 52-week-low of 163.395. Lennox International closed at $289.33 at the end of the last trading period.

* For Republic Services Inc (NYSE:RSG), Morgan Stanley initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Equal-Weight. In the second quarter, Republic Services showed an EPS of $0.81, compared to $0.79 from the year-ago quarter. The current stock performance of Republic Services shows a 52-week-high of 100.91 and a 52-week-low of 65.37. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $94.54.

* With a current rating of Hold, Stifel initiated coverage on Unity Software Inc (NYSE:U). The price target seems to have been set at $80.00 for Unity Software. The stock has a 52-week-high of 102.63 and a 52-week-low of 65.11. At the end of the last trading period, Unity Software closed at $89.98.

* For Unity Software Inc (NYSE:U), William Blair initiated coverage, by setting the current rating at Outperform. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 102.63 and a 52-week-low of 65.11. Unity Software closed at $89.98 at the end of the last trading period.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Vitru Ltd (NASDAQ:VTRU) with a Buy rating. The current stock performance of Vitru shows a 52-week-high of 17.0 and a 52-week-low of 11.84. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $13.61.

* BTIG initiated coverage on DiamondPeak Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:DPHC) with a Buy rating. The price target for DiamondPeak Hldgs is set to $50.00. DiamondPeak Hldgs earned $0.00 in the second quarter, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 31.8 and a 52-week-low of 9.5. DiamondPeak Hldgs closed at $25.19 at the end of the last trading period.

* With a current rating of Buy, Jefferies initiated coverage on Carrier Global Corp (NYSE:CARR). The price target seems to have been set at $43.00 for Carrier Global. In the second quarter, Carrier Global earned $0.33. The current stock performance of Carrier Global shows a 52-week-high of 33.16 and a 52-week-low of 12.26. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $33.00.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Athira Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATHA) with a Buy rating. The price target for Athira Pharma is set to $53.00. At the moment, the stock has a 52-week-high of 20.4194 and a 52-week-low of 15.79. Athira Pharma closed at $17.09 at the end of the last trading period.

* Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Unity Software Inc (NYSE:U) with a Buy rating. The price target for Unity Software is set to $100.00. The current stock performance of Unity Software shows a 52-week-high of 102.63 and a 52-week-low of 65.11. Moreover, at the end of the last trading period, the closing price was at $89.98.