Market Updates: Major Upgrades and Downgrades Changing Sentiment
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Downgraded by Raymond James
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What Happened? Raymond James downgraded Amazon to Outperform with a $195 price target due to concerns over rising EBIT risks and macro uncertainties, particularly from its expansion in supply chain and logistics.
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Key Points:
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The firm believes Amazon’s AI ambitions may be underperforming in terms of monetization.
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The downgrade suggests a shift to companies with clearer returns like Meta (META), Uber (UBER), and MercadoLibre (MELI).
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Verra Mobility (NASDAQ: VRRM) Upgraded by Baird
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What Happened? Baird upgraded Verra Mobility to Outperform with a $27 price target due to its resilient business model in commercial, government, and parking segments.
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Key Points:
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Macro tailwinds, such as lower interest rates and favorable FX trends, support Verra’s growth.
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Despite concerns over leverage and headwinds in travel, the companyโs competitive position and stable growth outlook make it a solid pick.
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Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA) Upgraded by Bernstein SocGen
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What Happened? Cava received an Outperform upgrade with a $115 price target after its 30% YTD pullback was viewed as a mispricing.
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Key Points:
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Cava’s fundamentals remain solid, with impressive margins and significant potential for unit expansion.
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The firm believes Cava can thrive due to its strong consumer base and resilient growth trajectory amidst broader economic uncertainties.
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Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ) Upgraded by DA Davidson
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What Happened? DA Davidson upgraded Utz Brands to Buy with a $68 price target citing strong momentum and undervaluation.
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Key Points:
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The companyโs share in salty snacks indicates strong performance, and its supply chain transformation is yielding positive results.
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UTZโs valuation gap compared to competitors offers a unique opportunity for upside potential.
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Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) Upgraded by UBS
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What Happened? UBS upgraded Philip Morris to Neutral with a $170 price target, following strong 1Q25 performance and an increase in FY25 EPS guidance.
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Key Points:
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The upgrade reflects growing confidence in PMIโs market momentum, with robust margins from its Smoke-Free product lines and FX benefits.
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The companyโs capability to generate high single-digit EPS growth in a challenging environment supports the positive outlook.
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Investors can stay updated on analyst sentiment through the Price Target Summary API, reflecting changing expectations in real-time.