** D.A. Davidson downgrades rating for specialty vehicle manufacturer Shyft Group SHYF.O to "neutral" from "buy"

** Cuts stock PT to $15 from $18, which is a 7% upside from the stock's last close

** "We view some elevated execution risks such as multi-continent merger of equals currently without a CFO and combined company having profit margins below many peers" - brokerage

** SHYF and Switzerland-based Aebi Schmidt would merge in an all-stock deal

** One of four brokerages rates stock "buy" and three as "hold"; their median PT is $15, according to data compiled by LSEG

** Up to the last close, stock up 14.73% YTD

(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy)

((Anshuman.Tripathy@thomsonreuters.com))