The downgrades keep poring in this month. After a quick look over what analysts have been saying in May it looks like investment firms have maintained the trend of downgrading stocks to hold over valuation. Here are a few new ratings for stocks that I follow.
Upgrades
Intel Corp – INTC was downgraded by RBC Capital Markets from Sector Perform to Outperform on May 6th with a price target of $29. The firm believes that the PC market has bottomed and that Intel has a lot of upside potential from here. Currently INTC has a dividend yield of 3.7% and 9 years of consecutive dividend increases.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust – PEI was upgraded by Stifel from a Hold to a Buy on May 6th. They set a price target of $25 while the stock is currently trading at $21.44. I did not find a reason for the upgrade. This is a REIT with a couple of years of consecutive dividend increases and a 3.2% yield.
Northwest Natural Gas – NWN was upgreaded by Brean Capital on May 3rd from Sell to Hold. This is a utility company with 57 years of consecutive dividend increases. You can find more details on this stock on the safe list. The HPR rating is in the 90s.
Seagate Technology – STX was upgraded by Needham from Hold to Buy on May 2nd with a price target of $45. The stock is currently trading at $40 with a yield of 3.8%. This stock is heavily tied to the PC and server market.
Downgrades
Exelon Corp – EXC was downgraded on May 2nd by Wunderlich from Buy to Hold. The reason for the downgrade was due to the company’s poor Q1 results (after adjusted expenses). EXC is trading around $35 per share with a 3.5% yield.
Sysco Corp – SYY was downgraded by Cantor Fitzgerald from Hold to Sell on May 3rd with a price target of $28. The downgrade was related to valuation and upcoming expenses related to new business strategies. SYY has a yield of 3.6% and over 35 years of consecutive dividend increases. This is just a value call by the analyst.
Integrys Energy – TEG was downgraded by DA Davidson from Buy to Neutral on May 6th. TEG has a yield of 4.5% and has not increased its dividend since 2009.
CA Inc – CA was downgraded by Oppenheimer on May 8th from Outperform to Perform. The reason for the downgrade wasn’t available. CA has a yield of 3.7%.
Atlas Energy – ATLS was downgraded by Robert W. Baird on May 10th from Outperform to Neutral with a price target of $56. The downgrade followed the company’s recent earnings report and the announcement that distributions would increase to $.31 per quarter.
