Investing.com -- Here is your Pro Recap of the biggest analyst picks you may have missed today.
Comcast upgraded to Buy following Q1 beat
BofA Securities upgraded Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) to Buy from Neutral and raised its price target to $49.00 from $44.00 after a "super" quarter.
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Shares gained around 10% on Thursday after the company reported its Q1 results, with both EPS and revenues coming in better than the consensus estimates.
According to BofA Securities, stronger-than-anticipated results in Content & Experiences (C&E), a net increase in broadband subscribers, and solid cost control/reductions at Connectivity & Platforms (C&P) drove the beat. The firm sees Comcast at a turning point, with promising prospects for a robust media operations turnaround, and its connectivity business enjoying low churn, substantial ARPU growth, and solid growth in Business Services.
Zillow upgraded to Market Perform ahead of the Q1 earnings announcement
Bernstein upgraded Zillow (NASDAQ:ZG) to Market Perform from Underperform and raised its price target to $45.00 from $35.00. This follows the firm’s May 2022 coverage initiation which expressed concerns about negative revision risks in revenues and profits. Since then, revenue and adjusted EBITDA forecasts have dropped significantly.
According to the firm, the easing of comps and signs of a bottomed core business have increased its optimism about Zillow's prospects. However, to warrant an Outperform rating, the firm seeks more visibility on the recovery curve and acknowledges that the revenue outlook is still uncertain and the stock isn't particularly cheap.
The company is set to report its Q1/23 earnings on Wednesday after the market close.
General Motors upgraded to Overweight
Morgan Stanley upgraded General Motors (NYSE:GM) to Overweight from Equalweight and raised its price target to $38.00 from $35.00, noting it believes the stock is “oversold” and offers an attractive risk-reward.
The firm emphasized last week’s Q1 beat-and-raise results and the internal combustion franchise that has shown more strength and resilience than originally anticipated. The firm anticipates a slower decline in the use of internal combustion engines in the U.S. market than previously predicted, as well as a significant increase in the conversion of free cash flow over the course of the internal combustion runoff vs. history. This is due to a reduced investment burden and a more targeted/premium approach.
2 more upgrades
Northland Capital Markets upgraded Power Integrations (NASDAQ:POWI) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target of $82.00, noting it estimates strong quarter-over-quarter growth in Q2 and Q3, up 15% and 25%, respectively. “These numbers could prove to be low relative to a potential Q1 beat and Q2 raise,” added the firm.
Shares gained 3% today.
The company will report its Q1/23 earnings on Thursday after the market close.
Stifel upgraded Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG) to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $80.00 from $65.00, outlining an attractive near-term set-up for the shares with a margin recovery enabling outsized EPS growth alongside advantaged long-term growth prospects it believes are undervalued at current levels.
The stock has experienced fluctuations in price, and there has been a lot of attention paid to the negative impact of weather conditions in March. While a headwind, Stifel believes the outsized attention is misplaced with April weather of greater consequence and favorable. More importantly, the firm believes the recent update on the company's leverage suggests a more robust margin outlook, providing added flexibility to achieve 2023 profit guidance.
Shares rose more than 5% today.
The company is set to report its Q2/23 earnings on Wednesday before the market opens.
