Analysts' Actions -- GE, Nordstrom, Coca-Cola, Eli Lilly and More

Here are Friday's top research calls, including upgrades for Eli Lilly, Regeneron and GE, and downgrades for Nordstrom, Coca-Cola, Apache and Duke Energy.

Author:: TheStreet Staff
Publish date:: Dec 16, 2016 8:14 AM EST

RATINGS CHANGES

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) - Get Report was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs. The company was also placed on the Conviction List. $114 price target. The industry has multiple growth tailwinds, Goldman said.

Apache (APA) - Get Report was downgraded to market perform from outperform at Wells Fargo. The industry is facing higher service costs and slower efficiency gains, Wells said.

Costco (COST) - Get Report was downgraded to hold at TheStreet Ratings. You can view the full analysis from the report here: COST.

Charles River (CRL) - Get Report was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman Sachs. The valuation is attractive, based on a $77 price target.

Diamond Offshore (DO) - Get Report was downgraded to underperform from sector perform at RBC Capital. $22 price target. Drilling sector should continue to lag through 2017, RBC said.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) - Get Report was downgraded to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank. $76 price target. Fundamentals have yet to catch up with the valuation, Deutsche said.

Duke Energy (DUK) - Get Report was downgraded to underweight from neutral at J.P. Morgan. $77 price target. The company is facing multiple growth headwinds, J.P. Morgan said.

General Electric (GE) - Get Report was upgraded to outperform at Bernstein. $40 price target. Expect more powerful growth with a simpler portfolio, Bernstein said.

Nordstrom (JWN) - Get Report was downgraded to underweight from neutral at J.P. Morgan. $48 price target. Sales trends remain flattish and the company lacks near-term catalysts, J.P. Morgan said.

Coca-Cola (KO) - Get Report was downgraded to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley. $45 price target. The company is facing sales growth headwinds both at home and abroad, Morgan said.

Eli Lilly (LLY) - Get Report was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley. $82 price target. The stock is not factoring in the company's margin potential, Morgan said.

MSG Networks (MSG) - Get Report was downgraded to sell from hold at Loop Capital. $18 price target. The valuation is less attractive, following recent takeover speculation, Loop said.

Regeneron (REGN) - Get Report was upgraded to buy from neutral at BTIG. $460 price target. Expect favorable outcomes for Wet AMD and DME, BTIG said.

Saia (SAIA) - Get Report was upgraded to overweight at Keybanc. $55 price target. Northeast expansion could had $0.75 to $1 per share in earnings, Keybanc said.

SodaStream (SODA) - Get Report was upgraded to buy at TheStreet Ratings. You can view the full analysis from the report here: SODA.

Veeva (VEEV) - Get Report was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities. $51 price target. The stock has pulled back 11% and the Vault business can drive growth, JMP said.

This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.