Major Analyst Upgrades Shake Multiple Sectors
Wall Street analysts issued significant rating changes across technology, energy, banking and industrial sectors Friday, with several major firms receiving upgrades based on emerging catalysts and improved outlooks, according to analyst reports.
Space and Industrial Companies Gain Attention
Deutsche Bank reportedly upgraded Intuitive Machines from hold to buy, suggesting the space exploration company presents an attractive risk-reward setup for the next three to six months. Analysts suggest the company represents a “secular winner” in the space exploration market as it helps prepare the Moon for human return.
In industrial sectors, UBS upgraded Deere to buy from neutral, anticipating 2027 will mark a recovery year for the agricultural equipment manufacturer following an earnings downturn. Meanwhile, Stifel upgraded International Paper to buy from hold, indicating the company is approaching a pivot point for performance improvement despite challenges from its DS Smith acquisition.
Energy Sector Sees Multiple Initiations
Wells Fargo initiated coverage on two major energy companies with overweight ratings, citing Chevron’s diversified portfolio and stable dividend growth prospects. The bank also initiated Exxon Mobil at overweight, characterizing the company not by pure defensiveness but by optionality amid evolving fossil fuel markets.
HSBC upgraded Freeport McMoRan to buy from hold, suggesting the copper and gold miner should benefit from stronger commodity prices and noting significant recent underperformance in the stock.
Technology and AI Remain Central Focus
Jefferies reiterated its buy rating on Nvidia, noting that following a global semiconductor conference, the entire ecosystem appears to be chasing Nvidia’s established position. According to the analysis, competitors face a multiyear disadvantage compared to Nvidia’s scale.
Bank of America maintained its buy rating on Advanced Micro Devices while raising its price target to $300 from $250, citing AMD’s position in a multi-hundred billion dollar addressable market across PC, server, and deep-learning segments. Recent industry developments in artificial intelligence have highlighted the competitive landscape.
JPMorgan initiated coverage on Credo Technology with an overweight rating and $165 price target, citing the company’s leverage to rising AI interconnect investments. UBS reiterated Oracle as buy and raised its price target to $380 from $360, calling the stock “too cheap” after the company raised its fiscal year 2030 cloud infrastructure revenue guide by another $22 billion.
E-Commerce and Consumer Stocks in Focus
Bank of America identified both Amazon and Chewy as top ideas in e-commerce, maintaining buy ratings on both stocks. Analysts suggest Amazon remains their top large-cap pick due to projected share gains, margin expansion from robotics, and potential AWS acceleration in 2026.
UBS initiated coverage on Planet Fitness at buy, with analysis suggesting EBITDA upside of $208-$245 million by 2027 estimates while current valuation multiples imply roughly half that potential. Baird initiated Kontoor Brands at outperform, calling the clothing company “underappreciated” following its Helly Hansen acquisition.
Banking Sector Sees Divergent Calls
Baird upgraded Zions Bancorp to outperform from neutral, suggesting investors buy the dip after the regional bank’s stock declined approximately 13% following an 8-K filing regarding potential fraud on a $60 million syndicated loan. This comes amid broader US banking sector concerns that have triggered global market reactions.
Oppenheimer upgraded Jefferies to outperform from perform, recommending buying the dip in the financial services company despite earlier concerns about delayed M&A rebound timing. JPMorgan upgraded BXP to overweight from neutral, expressing bullishness on the real estate investment trust’s coastal market portfolio and leasing activity.
Additional Sector Coverage
Morgan Stanley maintained an equal-weight rating on CoreWeave ahead of November earnings, suggesting a strong beat versus guidance is likely but expressing caution about outperforming lofty investor expectations. Barclays reiterated Tesla as equal weight, noting the electric vehicle manufacturer stands to benefit from tariff relief on U.S. production since all vehicles sold domestically are made domestically.
Morgan Stanley also initiated Option Care Health at overweight, positioning the healthcare company as well-positioned to capitalize on infusion care shifting into home and alternative sites with approximately 26% market share in a fragmented industry. These related innovations in healthcare delivery continue to evolve alongside recent technology advancements and market trends affecting multiple sectors.
The breadth of analyst activity across multiple sectors reflects ongoing assessment of fundamental business shifts and macroeconomic conditions. Firms including UBS and Wells Fargo were among the most active in issuing new ratings and adjustments Friday, continuing the work of financial institutions that trace their history back to figures like H. G. Wells in establishing modern financial analysis practices.
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