Upgrades Summary - Susquehanna upgraded Arm (ARM) to Positive from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $150, citing recent downgrades from competitors and significant underperformance as an "excellent setup" for investors [2] - BNP Paribas upgraded Seagate (STX) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $380, expressing greater conviction that "robust" data center storage demand could lead to a longer upcycle than initially expected [2] - Raymond James upgraded Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to Strong Buy from Outperform with a price target increase to $790 from $605, anticipating "outsized growth" in fiscal 2026 following heavy investments [2] - Northcoast upgraded Advance Auto Parts (AAP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $55, highlighting "healthy" demand trends and performance improvements into 2026, along with a strategic decision to sell Worldpac and focus on core retail [2] - BofA upgraded Oklo (OKLO) to Buy from Neutral with a price target raised to $127 from $111, following a binding agreement with Meta (META) to develop a phased 1.2 GW advanced nuclear campus [2]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley upgraded Brinker International's stock rating to "Overweight" from "Underweight," indicating a more favorable outlook on the company's future performance [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - At the time of the upgrade, EAT's stock price was $157.68, reflecting a decrease of 5.42% or $9.03 [2]. - EAT's stock has shown significant fluctuations, with a daily range between $157.34 and $167, and over the past year, it reached a high of $192.22 and a low of $100.30 [4]. - The trading volume for EAT is 1,374,875 shares on the NYSE, indicating active investor interest [5]. Group 2: Market Position and Ratings - Brinker International is recognized as a significant player in the casual dining industry, with a market capitalization of approximately $7 billion [4][6]. - Zacks Investment Research highlights Brinker as a top-ranked value stock, suggesting it could be a promising addition to investment portfolios [3]. - The recent upgrade by Morgan Stanley and recognition by Zacks may bolster investor confidence in Brinker's future prospects [5][6].

Core Insights - The article compiles significant research calls from Wall Street that are influencing market movements [1] Upgrades - Barclays upgraded Wayfair (W) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $123, increased from $104, citing accelerated market share in 2025 and expected continuation into 2026 [2] - Oppenheimer upgraded McDonald's (MCD) to Outperform from Perform with a price target of $355, reflecting a more optimistic outlook for the restaurant sector into 2026 after 2025's underperformance [2] - Barclays upgraded Lowe's (LOW) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $285, up from $259, based on a positive outlook for discretionary goods demand, particularly among mid- and high-income consumers due to upcoming tax changes [2] - Piper Sandler upgraded Hershey (HSY) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $213, increased from $193, noting the easing of cocoa costs and removal of cocoa tariffs, which provide Hershey with flexibility for growth and earnings enhancement [2] - BofA double upgraded Regeneron (REGN) to Buy from Underperform with a price target of $860, up from $627, driven by a more favorable view following the realization of prior underperformance concerns regarding Eylea SD and adjustments in consensus estimates [2]

Core Viewpoint - Ali's Bargain Outlet has seen a rise in stock price following an upgrade from Loop Capital, which has increased its price target from $130 to $135 and upgraded the stock rating from hold to buy, anticipating improved comparable sales through 2026 [5][19]. Company Overview - Ali's Bargain Outlet operates as a wholesale membership retailer similar to Costco, focusing on discounted or overstocked general merchandise, including name-brand items [3][4]. - The company has expanded significantly, now operating over 630 stores across 34 states, and is often compared to TJ Maxx in the general merchandise sector [4]. Market Position and Competition - The upgrade from Loop Capital comes at a time when one of Ali's main competitors, Big Lots, is liquidating, which could benefit Ali's by reducing competition in the broadline retail space [5][6]. - Ali's is making strides into consumables, positioning itself alongside companies like Dollar General and Five Below, which could drive more traffic and improve sales [6][10]. Financial Performance - Year-to-date, Ali's stock has been trending down, similar to Costco, despite consistent topline sales growth of approximately 12.5% year-over-year and an EBITDA growth of 11.4% last year, with an estimated growth of 15% next year [11][12]. - The current earnings multiple for Ali's is 28 times for this year and 24 times for next year, trading at a discount to its five-year average, indicating potential for a trend reversal [10][12]. Strategic Outlook - The shift towards consumables may initially impact margins but could lead to increased customer traffic and repeat purchases, enhancing overall sales volume [18]. - Ali's net income margins were around 8.9% of sales last year, indicating a more profitable operation compared to Costco, although it lacks the same scale [15][16].

Upgrades - Keefe Bruyette upgraded Bain Capital Specialty Finance (BCSF) to Outperform from Market Perform with an unchanged price target of $16, citing attractive entry point for shares [2] - JPMorgan upgraded Paccar (PCAR) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $133, increased from $108, due to offsetting tariff-related headwinds following the latest Section 232 proclamation [3] - Wells Fargo upgraded Generac (GNRC) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $195, up from $186, highlighting a "near-free call option" on data center growth after recent share pullback [4] - Barclays upgraded Cummins (CMI) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $546, increased from $515, reflecting new emissions rules and reduced R&D expenses [5] - Citizens upgraded Stryker (SYK) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target of $440, citing reasonable valuation at current share levels [5] Downgrades - Wedbush downgraded Lyft (LYFT) to Underperform from Neutral with a price target of $16, down from $20, due to risks from autonomous vehicle disruption in the U.S. ridesharing market [6] - JPMorgan downgraded Lockheed Martin (LMT) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $515, up from $465, based on out-year cash flow estimates being below consensus [6] - Raymond James downgraded Allegiant Travel (ALGT) to Outperform from Strong Buy with a price target of $98, up from $78, citing valuation concerns after recent share strength [6] - Deutsche Bank downgraded Elevance Health (ELV) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $320, down from $332, due to reduced estimates and challenging macro environment [6] - Williams Trading downgraded Birkenstock (BIRK) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $51, down from $75, following earnings report and lack of clarity from management [6]

Core Viewpoint - Baird analyst Ben Kallo upgrades Rivian shares to Buy from Hold [1] Group 1 - The upgrade indicates a positive outlook for Rivian's stock performance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE) is a significant entity in the entertainment sector, recognized for its renowned venues and live events, competing with other major players in a dynamic market [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Ratings - On December 16, 2025, Seaport Global upgraded MSGE to a "Buy" rating, increasing the price target from $51 to $62, indicating optimism about the company's future performance [2][6] - Currently, MSGE is priced at $52.07, showing a slight decrease of approximately 1.20%, with a trading range today between $51.97 and $53.22 [5] Group 2: Institutional Investor Activity - AWH Capital L.P. increased its stake in MSGE by 15.8%, now holding 110,000 shares valued at approximately $4.4 million, reflecting confidence in MSGE's growth potential [3][6] - Other institutional investors have also shown interest, with BI Asset Management initiating a new position valued at around $40,000, and CWM LLC significantly increasing its stake by 623.8% [4][6]

Group 1: Viking Holdings (VIK) - Analysts at Jefferies upgraded Viking Holdings to a buy rating with a price target of $80, citing strong growth visibility in revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EPS, along with over 100% free cash flow conversion [3] - Recent earnings showed an EPS of $1.20, beating expectations by a penny, and revenue reached $2 billion, up 19% year over year, exceeding estimates by $10 million [4] - Demand for cruises is expected to remain strong through 2026, with forward-booking demand reported at 70%, which is 14% higher than the 2025 season [6] Group 2: Doximity (DOCS) - Morgan Stanley upgraded Doximity to an overweight rating with a price target of $65 after the stock fell from about $67.50 to $43.85 due to healthcare policy uncertainty [7] - Analysts noted that Doximity's stock trades at over a 25% discount to its median post-COVID EV/EBITDA multiple, indicating potential undervaluation [8] - Raymond James also upgraded Doximity to a strong buy, highlighting its attractive 25x free cash flow and the stock's recent support level at $45, with a target to retest $52.50 [9]

Core Insights - APA Corporation is a significant player in the oil and natural gas sector, with operations in the United States, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and offshore Suriname [1] - The company has announced a regular cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on February 23, 2026, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [1][5] - Johnson Rice upgraded APA's stock to "Accumulate" on December 4, 2025, indicating a positive outlook on the company's financial performance [2][5] Financial Metrics - APA's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 6.19, suggesting favorable market valuation of its earnings compared to peers [2] - The price-to-sales ratio of 0.95 indicates the stock is valued at less than one times its sales, appealing to value investors [3] - The enterprise value to sales ratio of 1.38 provides a comprehensive view of the company's market position relative to its sales [3] - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio of 2.78 highlights the efficient relationship between APA's valuation and its cash flow from operations [3] - The earnings yield of 16.16% suggests a potential return on investment for shareholders, making it attractive for income-focused investors [4] Leverage and Liquidity - APA's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77 indicates a moderate level of leverage, suggesting a balanced approach to financing operations [4] - The current ratio of 0.78 points to a need for careful management of short-term liabilities, as it measures the company's ability to cover these with its short-term assets [4]

Core Insights - SLB Limited has been upgraded to "Outperform" by Bernstein, with a new price target of $52.30 from $47.60, reflecting increased confidence in its market performance [1][6] - Ariel Investments LLC has increased its holdings in SLB by 6.5%, now owning over 1 million shares valued at $35.8 million, indicating strong institutional confidence [2][6] - SLB has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from twenty-one ratings firms, with an average 12-month target price of approximately $51.28 [4][6] Institutional Interest - Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in SLB by 21.4%, now holding shares valued at $253,000, while Bison Wealth LLC and Zions Bancorporation National Association UT have made new investments valued at $238,000 and $63,000, respectively [3] - Cary Street Partners Financial LLC has increased its investment in SLB by 22.2%, now owning 108,315 shares valued at $3.66 million, with other firms like Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC and Atticus Wealth Management LLC also investing [5] Market Performance - SLB's current market capitalization is approximately $59.66 billion, with a trading volume of 14.1 million shares [5]