Here’s a summary of the latest influential analyst rating changes from Wall Street that could impact market movements. Below are the key analyst rating updates investors should watch today.
**Top Five Upgrades:**
1. **Jefferies**: Upgraded Apple (AAPL) from "Underperform" to "Hold," raising the price target from $203.07 to $246.99. The upgrade reflects Apple's Q3 revenue growth of ~8% and a gross margin of 47.2%—0.5% above expectations, even after accounting for $110M in tariff impacts.
2. **Goldman Sachs**: Upgraded Roblox (RBLX) from "Neutral" to "Buy," lifting the price target from $155 to $180. Goldman cited strong Q3 results, including growth in bookings, revenue, and daily active users, alongside management’s optimism about long-term platform scalability.
3. **BTIG**: Upgraded Unity (U) from "Sell" to "Neutral," removing the prior $27 price target. The adjustment follows BTIG’s surveys of gaming and non-advertising professionals using AppLovin (APP) and Unity, revealing healthy spending trends despite mixed platform performance.
4. **Piper Sandler**: Upgraded Hershey (HSY) from "Underweight" to "Neutral," maintaining a $167 price target. The firm noted Hershey’s 2026 "algorithm-driven operations" plan enhances predictability.
5. **Stifel**: Upgraded IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) from "Hold" to "Buy," raising the price target from $640 to $700. Stifel expects accelerated recurring revenue growth in IDEXX’s companion animal segment, driven by higher pet visits and demand for premium services.
**Top Five Downgrades:**
1. **Erste Group**: Downgraded Netflix (NFLX) from "Buy" to "Hold," citing elevated valuation limiting upside potential.
2. **Benchmark**: Downgraded Roblox (RBLX) from "Buy" to "Hold," withdrawing its price target. Despite strong Q3 execution, Benchmark flagged slowing bookings growth and rising costs pressuring 2026 margins.
3. **Seaport Research**: Downgraded Comcast (CMCSA) from "Buy" to "Neutral," citing slight broadband ARPU declines and cost plans for user growth. Goldman and KeyBanc also downgraded Comcast to "Neutral."
4. **Barclays**: Downgraded FMC (FMC) from "Overweight" to "Equal Weight," slashing the price target from $48 to $22 due to weak earnings, low visibility, and a dividend cut. KeyBanc and Wells Fargo similarly downgraded FMC.
5. **Raymond James**: Downgraded Lumentum (LITE) from "Strong Buy" to "Outperform," raising the price target from $145 to $220. While bullish long-term, the firm sees near-term performance aligning with consensus.
**Top Five Initiations:**
1. **Erste Group**: Initiated Ross Stores (ROST) with a "Buy," citing superior sales growth potential and expanding operating margins.
2. **Jefferies’ Joseph Gallo**: Initiated Cloudflare (NET) with a "Hold" and raised the price target to $250, citing premium valuation.
3. **Bernstein**: Initiated SharpLink Gaming (SBET) with an "Outperform" and $24 target, positioning it as a compliant ETH-focused investment tool.
4. **Leerink**: Initiated Immuneering (IMRX) with an "Outperform" and $15 target, highlighting promising Phase II results for its MEK inhibitor in pancreatic cancer.
5. **Wells Fargo**: Initiated Immunocore (IMCR) with an "Overweight" and $60 target, citing Kimmtrak’s valuation floor and label expansion potential.