Core Insights - The article discusses the economic updates, geopolitical tensions, and earnings reports that characterized January, highlighting the political situation in Venezuela and U.S. President Trump's actions regarding Greenland [2] - It emphasizes the importance of identifying safe investment stocks for February, with a focus on historical performance data [3] Stock Performance Summary - The analysis presents a list of 25 stocks deemed safe for investment, showcasing their average returns, median returns, and the percentage of positive returns over the past decade [4] - Fortinet (FTNT) leads the list with an average return of 8.5% and a 90% positive return rate, despite recent underperformance [4][7] - Other notable stocks include Axon (AXON) with a 7.45% average return and 90% positive return rate, and LID in the media sector with a 13.98% average return and 89% positive return rate [4] Fortinet (FTNT) Analysis - Fortinet's stock experienced a 5.2% increase following an upgrade from TD Cowen, which cited stable AI spending as a factor [5] - The stock is currently positioned at $81.02, with potential to rise to $87.90, marking a significant recovery from a previous 20% year-over-year deficit [7] - There is a prevailing bearish sentiment among short-term traders, indicated by a put/call open interest ratio of 1.19, which could shift positively if sentiment changes [8] Market Overview - The major indexes closed in the red at the end of January, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average experiencing its longest monthly win streak since January 2018 [9] - Despite the negative close, the indexes managed to achieve modest gains for January, setting the stage for potential volatility in February [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article summarizes key analyst rating adjustments that are closely watched by Wall Street and can influence market trends, highlighting significant upgrades, downgrades, and new coverage ratings for various companies [1][5]. Upgraded Ratings - Aritet Investment upgraded Shopify (SHOP) from Neutral to Buy, raising the target price from $166 to $175, citing attractive valuation after recent weakness [6]. - William Blair upgraded Palantir (PLTR) from Market Perform to Outperform ahead of its earnings report, emphasizing valuation advantages as the core reason for the upgrade [6]. - BTIG raised McDonald's (MCD) rating from Neutral to Buy with a target price of $360, noting that research on franchisees indicates effective promotional strategies are driving customer traffic growth [6]. - JPMorgan upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) from Neutral to Overweight, maintaining a target price of $319, due to differentiated fundamentals in the vertical software as a service sector [6]. - JPMorgan raised Church & Dwight (CHD) from Underweight to Neutral, increasing the target price from $92 to $100, believing that business adjustments will lead to better sales growth [6]. Downgraded Ratings - JPMorgan downgraded Best Buy (BBY) from Overweight to Neutral, significantly lowering the target price from $99 to $76, anticipating an "unfavorable" earnings report for Q4 [6]. - Leith Wheeler downgraded BioNTech (BNTX) from Outperform to Market Perform, slightly raising the target price from $112 to $113, while expressing long-term optimism about the company's differentiated R&D potential [6]. - Canadian Imperial Bank downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) from Outperform to Sector Perform, maintaining a target price of $85, expressing caution about the stock's performance in 2026 [6]. - HSBC downgraded Chevron (CVX) from Buy to Hold, raising the target price from $169 to $180, citing valuation factors as the main reason for the downgrade [6]. - Morgan Stanley downgraded Humana (HUM) from Equal Weight to Underweight, significantly lowering the target price from $262 to $174, citing risks related to bidding strategies and policies affecting profit margin recovery [6]. New Coverage Ratings - Jefferies initiated coverage on Micron Technology (MU) with a Buy rating and a target price of $500, believing that the company's fourth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) will capture market share post Q2 [6]. - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Circle Network (CRCL) with an Equal Weight rating and a target price of $66, indicating that higher valuations are unlikely until stablecoin technology becomes more widely adopted [6]. - Citizens Bank initiated coverage on Stewart Information (STC) with an Outperform rating and a target price of $80, citing significant attractiveness at current valuation levels [6]. - Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Praxis Precision Medicines (PRAX) with an Equal Weight rating and a target price of $282, noting uncertainty regarding the approval prospects of the drug ulixacaltamide [6]. - Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on Simon Group (THR) with a Buy rating and a target price of $60, highlighting the company's improved business conditions and diversification benefiting from data center cooling technology trends [6].

Core Viewpoint - Top Wall Street analysts have revised their outlook on several prominent companies, indicating potential shifts in investment sentiment and opportunities in the market [1] Company Analysis - Analysts have provided insights on BBY stock, suggesting it may be a consideration for potential investors [1]

Wall Street analysts forecast that Fortinet (FTNT) will report quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to no change from the year-ago quarter. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $1.86 billion, exhibiting an increase of 11.9% compared to the year-ago quarter.The current level reflects an upward revision of 0.8% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised the ...

Upgrades - JPMorgan upgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to Neutral from Underweight with a price target of $100, up from $92, citing better sales growth from the reshaped portfolio [2] - JPMorgan upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) to Overweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $319, due to a shift in conviction driven by diverging fundamentals in the software-as-service landscape [2] - BTIG upgraded McDonald's (MCD) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $360, indicating that franchise checks suggest a successful value/promotions strategy driving consistent traffic growth [3] - William Blair upgraded Palantir (PLTR) to Outperform from Market Perform without a price target, citing valuation after a 30% selloff [3] - Arete upgraded Shopify (SHOP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $175, up from $166, noting an attractive valuation following recent share weakness [4] Downgrades - JPMorgan downgraded Best Buy (BBY) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $76, down from $99, anticipating a tough Q4 report [5] - Leerink downgraded BioNTech (BNTX) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $113, up from $112, citing a lack of meaningful data readouts until 2027 or later [5] - Scotiabank downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Sector Perform from Outperform with an unchanged price target of $85, expressing reduced optimism based on quantitative analysis and recent checks [5] - HSBC downgraded Chevron (CVX) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $180, up from $169, citing valuation concerns following the stock's year-to-date rally [5] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Humana (HUM) to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $174, down from $262, indicating that the company's 2026 bid strategy and policy risk may hinder margin turnaround [5]

We recently compiled a list of 10 High Growth Technology Stocks That Are Profitable. Fortinet, Inc. stands tenth on our list of high growth stocks. TheFly reported on January 29 that Rosenblatt upgraded FTNT from Neutral to Buy and lifted the price target to $100 from $85 ahead of the company’s Q4 earnings on February 5. The upgrade reflects stronger demand observed through reseller checks, which is driven by a widespread hardware refresh replacing older Cisco firewalls, solid sales execution, and support ...

Upgrades Summary - Barclays upgraded Zillow Group (ZG) to Equal Weight from Underweight with a price target of $72, increased from $66, citing that significant downside risks are already reflected in the stock price [2] - Rosenblatt upgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $100, up from $85, based on positive channel checks indicating a "meaningful inflection" in demand ahead of the Q4 report on February 5 [2] - Benchmark upgraded Littelfuse (LFUS) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $360, following a strong Q4 report and an optimistic outlook as demand improves across the business [2] - Morgan Stanley upgraded Cencora (COR) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $400, up from $361, highlighting the company's leadership in specialty markets, which will be enhanced by the acquisition of a majority stake in OneOncology [2] - Chardan upgraded Korro Bio (KRRO) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $15 after the analyst day, indicating that the company has "turned the page" [2] - Piper Sandler also upgraded Korro Bio to Overweight from Neutral [2]

We recently compiled a list of the 20 Most Profitable Stocks of the Last 20 Years. The next stock on our list is Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT). TheFly reported on January 23 that TD Cowen analyst Shaul Eyal upgraded FTNT to Buy from Hold with an unchanged price target of $100. The firm’s channel checks indicate stability throughout fiscal 2026, with upside potential for Q4 billings and revenue, and the possibility that the company’s 11.6% billings estimate for 2026 could be revised higher. Eyal noted that ...

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.Considering buying FTNT stock? Here’s what analysts think: Photo via Shutterstock ...

Core Insights - The article discusses investment opportunities in the context of the "AI Endgame," emphasizing the potential for significant economic disruption due to advancements in artificial intelligence and the importance of investing in AI-related companies to avoid being left behind [3][4]. Group 1: AI Cybersecurity - The first recommended stock is a cybersecurity company that has developed an AI-powered platform with a 99.8% effectiveness score in detecting cyber threats, positioning it as a leader in the cybersecurity space [6][7]. - This company has established contracts with over 890,000 clients, including 63% of Fortune 500 companies and government agencies like NASA and the Department of Defense [7]. - The company has shown strong financial performance, with an average revenue growth of 22% and earnings growth of 35% over the past five years, and is expected to continue growing earnings at approximately 14% per year [9]. Group 2: Identity Verification - The second stock focuses on identity verification, leveraging AI to confirm individual identities in real-time, which is increasingly critical due to the rise of AI-generated deepfakes leading to significant financial theft [14][15]. - This company has 19,000 organizations relying on its technology, including the U.S. Department of Defense, indicating its strong market position [16]. - The company has recently become profitable and is experiencing revenue growth, trading at about 24 times forward earnings, which reflects a recovery from previous performance issues [16][17]. Group 3: Rare Earth Materials - A third stock mentioned is a rare-earth permanent magnet producer that has secured a $500 million supply deal with Apple and is expected to significantly increase production by 2028 [20]. - The company is positioned as a critical alternative to Chinese suppliers, which could lead to substantial growth as demand for rare-earth materials increases in the AI sector [20]. - Analysts expect this company to report a profit this year, although it currently has a high forward PE ratio of about 120, indicating potential volatility in its financial performance [21]. Group 4: Semiconductor Manufacturing - The fourth stock is a semiconductor manufacturer that produces advanced chips essential for AI systems, with major clients including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft [23][24]. - This company is recognized for its significant market share and is growing earnings at over 20% annually, trading at about 20 times forward earnings estimates [25]. - The company faces political risks due to its operations in Taiwan, but it is also expanding capacity in the U.S. to mitigate these concerns [25]. Group 5: Data Center Communication - The final stock discussed is involved in high-speed data communication technology crucial for AI operations, having secured deals with major tech players like Microsoft and Amazon [28][29]. - This company plays a vital role in ensuring efficient data processing within data centers, which is essential for the performance of AI applications [27][28]. - The competitive landscape in this sector is diverse, with several companies providing similar technologies, indicating a robust market opportunity [30].