Top Analyst Calls on Wednesday: Match, Apple, Ford, Criteo, Tesla, Tapestry, Oracle, TKO Group, Hershey, Microsoft, Redwire, Domino's, FedEx, Amazon, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Lennar, and Alphabet
Several major analyst calls made waves on Wall Street today, impacting a range of companies across various industries.
Match
JPMorgan named Match a top pick, expressing optimism about the online dating market and the potential for a Tinder turnaround. The firm believes investors have been overly pessimistic and sees positive catalysts on the horizon.
Apple
Morgan Stanley reiterated its overweight rating on Apple following the recent iPhone event. The firm's estimates for future earnings remain largely unchanged, with a focus on strong iPhone pricing and a de-risked China iPhone forecast.
Ford
UBS initiated coverage on Ford and General Motors, highlighting profit sustainability and the potential for better-than-expected performance in electric vehicle scaling. The firm sees resilience in Ford's commercial segment.
Criteo
Citi opened a positive catalyst watch on Criteo, urging investors to buy the dip in shares. The launch of Commerce Max and expected acceleration in the second half of 2023, along with an unwarranted pullback in shares, make Criteo a top pick.
Tesla
Morgan Stanley stood by its recent upgrade of Tesla, despite investor pushback. While acknowledging push-back, the firm believes that if Tesla's scope is limited to making and selling cars, the stock is significantly overvalued.
Tapestry
Redburn Atlantic Equities downgraded Tapestry to neutral from buy, citing elevated risk associated with the acquisition of Capri. Concerns include the ongoing turnaround of the acquired brand, Michael Kors, and potential disruption to the performance of the Coach brand.
Oracle
JPMorgan downgraded Oracle to neutral from overweight, citing concerns about the company's valuation. The firm struggled to justify a valuation that had exceeded expectations, raising questions about Oracle's positioning.
TKO Group
Guggenheim initiated coverage on TKO Group as a buy, highlighting the company's positioning in the WWE and UFC combined market. The firm believes TKO Group is well positioned for growth.
Hershey
TD Cowen initiated Hershey as outperform, considering the company a long-term value creator. The firm sees Hershey as a market leader in the advantaged chocolate category, with capacity expansion and innovation driving a rebound in 2024.
Microsoft
Bernstein reiterated Microsoft as outperform, emphasizing the positive catalyst of the shift of Windows desktop to the cloud. The firm believes this shift, driven by Azure, will provide significant additional growth opportunities for Microsoft.
Redwire
Roth MKM initiated Redwire as a buy, highlighting the company's program contract-based revenue model and strong visibility and predictability for investors in the space infrastructure sector.
Domino's
BTIG reiterated Domino's as a top pick, expressing bullishness on the company's new rewards program. The firm believes the program's new tiers and rewards will appeal to a greater portion of consumers and enhance point redemption options.
FedEx
TD Cowen reiterated FedEx as outperform, expressing cautious optimism ahead of the company's earnings. The firm believes FedEx benefited from labor issues at UPS and Yellow's bankruptcy, and expects shares to rise following the earnings release.
Amazon
Bernstein reiterated Amazon as outperform, citing the company's aggressive efforts to scale up its fulfillment offering beyond Amazon.com. The firm sees potential in Amazon's fulfillment and shipping strategy.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment
Bank of America reiterated Madison Square Garden Entertainment as a buy, highlighting the company's position as a growth-oriented, pure-play live entertainment company with strong venues in the top concert market worldwide.
Lennar
Citi reiterated Lennar as a buy, expressing bullishness ahead of the company's earnings. The firm sees buy-side expectations slightly above guidance, following positive performance by TOL in August.
Alphabet
Needham reiterated Alphabet as a buy, stating that YouTube, as a wholly-owned subsidiary, is undervalued. The firm believes YouTube is being discounted compared to the overall conglomerate.
These analyst calls provide valuable insights into the market sentiment and expectations for various companies. Investors should consider these recommendations alongside their own research and analysis when making investment decisions.
Conclusion: The Impact of Analyst Calls on New Businesses
The recent analyst calls on Wall Street provide valuable insights that can have significant implications for new businesses.
Market Sentiment and Business Strategy
Analyst calls reflect the market sentiment towards various companies and sectors. For new businesses, understanding this sentiment can help in shaping their business strategies. For instance, the optimism expressed towards Match and Apple suggests opportunities in the online dating and technology sectors.
Investor Perception and Business Valuation
Analyst ratings can influence investor perception and business valuation. The downgrade of Oracle due to valuation concerns, for example, underscores the importance of maintaining a balance between business growth and valuation.
Industry Trends and Business Opportunities
Analyst calls can also highlight emerging industry trends and potential business opportunities. The focus on electric vehicle scaling in the case of Ford and the shift of Windows desktop to the cloud for Microsoft are indicative of such trends.
In conclusion, new businesses can leverage the insights from analyst calls to inform their strategies, align with market sentiment, and capitalize on emerging trends. However, these calls should be considered alongside other forms of research and analysis to make informed business decisions.