The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.Top 5 Upgrades: Barclays upgraded Wayfair (W) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $123, up from $104. The company's market share accelerated in 2025 and should continue in 2026, the firm tells investors in a research note. Oppenheimer upgraded McDonald's (MCD) to Outperform from Perform with a $355 price ta ...

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]

24/7 Wall St. Quick Read Even after the VIK stock rallied from about $57.50 to $68.75, Jefferies sees more upside ahead. After plummeting from about $67.50 to $43.85 on healthcare policy uncertainty, Morgan Stanley upgraded the DOCS stock to an overweight rating with a $65 price target. Goldman Sachs just upgraded Las Vegas Sands to a buy rating with a price target of $80 from $64 a share. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americ ...

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]

Telecommunications stock EchoStar Corp (NASDAQ:SATS) was last seen up 6.4% to trade at $99.54, after an upgrade from Morgan Stanley to "overweight" from "equal weight," with a price-target hike to $110 from $82.The firm stated that  “as a seller of Spectrum, SATS shares are either immune or stand to benefit from rising competition among US wireless carriers, creating a unique risk/reward relative to the broader industry,” Prior to today, SATS was already rallying due buzz over a potential SpaceX initial pub ...

UBS upgrades the semiconductor equipment stock to Buy from Neutral. ...