Investors were assertively stepping on the gas pedal with Advance Auto Parts (AAP 5.41%) on Thursday. The stock closed more than 5% higher as of the 1 p.m. ET early market close for the Fourth of July holiday, a figure that was well higher than the S&P 500's (^GSPC 0.83%) 0.8% increase. An analyst price target raise had much to do with Advance's advance.A 16% price target hikeWell before market open that day, Mizuho prognosticator David Bellinger upped his fair-value assessment of Advance's stock. His new l ...

One of the most powerful catalysts for any stock is a substantial change in a researcher's price target. That was the dynamic behind the more than 2% gain of European Wax Center (EWCZ 1.94%) on Monday, as an analyst tracking the stock significantly upped her fair value assessment. The stock's rise far outpaced the less than 0.1% increase of the S&P 500 index that day. A 33% price target hikeWell before market open, Citigroup's Kelly Crago made the move. She upped her European Wax Center price target to $6 p ...

Core Viewpoint - JD.com's recent first-quarter results were generally well-received, but an analyst's price target cut led to a nearly 4% decline in stock price [1] Group 1: Analyst's Price Target Adjustment - Susquehanna International's Shyam Patil reduced JD.com's price target by over 10%, from $45 to $40 per share, while maintaining a neutral recommendation [2] - Despite the price target cut, Patil did not change his overall estimation of the stock [2] Group 2: Company Performance and Market Position - Patil praised JD.com's first-quarter performance, noting improvements in user experience that are driving user growth [4] - The company is well-positioned in the market and could benefit from expansion into new segments like food delivery [4] Group 3: Economic Concerns - The shaky state of the Chinese economy may limit JD.com's potential, according to Patil [5] - This economic uncertainty is expected to persist, influencing the analyst's price target reduction and neutral outlook [5] Group 4: Growth Potential - JD.com demonstrated encouraging year-over-year growth, particularly in its bottom line, and exceeded consensus analyst estimates [6] - There are indications that the Chinese macroeconomy might be in better shape than perceived, suggesting that JD.com should not be underestimated if it continues to improve its fundamentals [7]