Insights from the most closely watched Wall Street analysts, whose reports are influential enough to sway market movements, have now been compiled. Below are the day's key research report updates, curated by The Fly, that investors should focus on.
Five Stocks with Upgraded Ratings
Medtronic (MDT): William Blair upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Outperform without setting a price target. In its 2026 MedTech outlook report, the firm noted that Medtronic has multiple new product launches scheduled for this year, which are expected to gradually ramp up volume. Saia (SAIA): Stephens upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised its price target from $308 to $414. The firm believes negative market sentiment regarding the company's new freight hubs has largely been digested and views the current performance targets as achievable. Allegiant Travel (ALGT): Bank of America upgraded the stock from Underperform to Neutral and increased its price target from $55 to $95. The firm suggested potential economic stimulus policies would benefit low-cost carriers; it also noted that Allegiant's plan to maintain stable capacity in 2026 should help drive fare increases, while the addition of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft could aid in managing unit costs. Stryker (SYK): Raymond James upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Strong Buy, setting a price target of $418. The firm stated that Stryker's current valuation presents an attractive investment opportunity. Brinker International (EAT): UBS upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $144 to $175. The firm believes the company's "leading" comparable store sales growth momentum is sustainable.
Five Stocks with Downgraded Ratings
Shopify (SHOP): Wolfe Research downgraded the stock from Outperform to Peer Perform and removed its previous $185 price target. The firm indicated that market expectations for the stock are already high, leaving limited upside potential; it also stated that after two years of valuation recovery, the current stock price appears "overvalued." Chevron (CVX), Exxon Mobil (XOM): Liberum Capital downgraded both stocks from Hold to Sell, setting price targets of $165 and $123, respectively. The firm argued that the "optimism" in the oil and gas sector triggered by US actions regarding Venezuela is unjustified, suggesting that the sector's recent gains amid falling oil prices represent a "dangerous gamble" for investors. Additionally, Liberum downgraded Halliburton (HAL) and Phillips 66 (PSX) from Hold to Sell, and downgraded Schlumberger (SLB) from Buy to Hold. Lennar (LEN): UBS downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and lowered its price target from $137 to $122. The firm's report suggested that if the industry recovery falls short of expectations during the forecast period, the timeline for the company's gross margin to return to above 20% could be delayed. D.R. Horton (DHI): Wells Fargo downgraded the stock from Overweight to Equal Weight and reduced its price target from $180 to $155. This rating adjustment was based on the firm's market data research findings from December of last year. Wells Fargo (WFC): Baird downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underperform, maintaining its price target of $90. The firm believes the overall upside potential for bank stocks in 2026 is limited.
Five Stocks Receiving Initial Coverage
Carvana (CRWV): Truist Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a Hold rating and an $84 price target. The firm stated that Carvana's partnership with NVIDIA (NVDA) is crucial, as it secures GPU supply and provides long-term revenue support. Lam Research (LRCX): Alesia Investments initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $260 price target. The firm pointed to Lam Research's "industry-leading" process equipment, increasing product value-add, and expanding market share as factors likely to sustain its strong growth trajectory. Accenture (ACN): Truist Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $317 price target. The firm's report stated that Accenture offers investors an attractive (though not risk-free) pathway to exposure in the generative AI-driven enterprise digital transformation space; the company is expected to achieve mid-single-digit growth, maintain stable margins, and currently trades at a discount to historical valuation levels. Intuit (INTU): Truist Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $739 price target. The firm noted that Intuit holds a dominant market position in consumer and small-to-midsize business fintech products through brands like its TurboTax tax software, Credit Karma credit platform, QuickBooks financial software, and Mailchimp email marketing platform. Palantir (PLTR): Truist Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $223 price target. The firm's report indicated that Palantir has a unique market position and has gained a first-mover advantage amid the accelerating trend of AI adoption by governments and enterprises.
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