Thursday's Notable Analyst Calls: Biogen, Rivian, DataDog, Amazon, Apple, Nvidia, and More
Here are the key analyst calls making waves on Wall Street:
Biogen - Upgraded by Raymond James
Raymond James upgraded Biogen from market perform to outperform, citing optimism for the company's Alzheimer's drug, Leqembi. The upgrade reflects confidence in Biogen's prospects for 2024, with expectations that bottlenecks in drug usage will improve and a majority of treatment candidates will be treated in the next 12 months.
Rivian - Initiated as Buy by Stifel
Stifel initiated coverage on Rivian with a buy rating, highlighting the company as a long-term competitive differentiator. Stifel believes Rivian's focus on scaling its service network, including mobile service vans and physical service centers, will significantly enhance the customer experience of owning electric vehicles.
DataDog - Upgraded by Stifel
Stifel upgraded DataDog from hold to buy, recognizing the software company's attractive setup heading into 2024. With current consumption trends and a stable macro backdrop, Stifel expects DataDog to achieve approximately 25% revenue growth in CY24, initiating the upgrade with a target price of $140.
Amazon - Named a Top Pick by Bank of America
Bank of America named Amazon as a top pick for 2024, emphasizing the e-commerce giant's potential for margin expansion. Bank of America highlights Amazon's continued optimization of its regional logistics network, advertising opportunities through Prime Video and 3P partnerships, and the reacceleration of Amazon Web Services revenues.
Apple - Reiterated as Market Perform by Bernstein
Bernstein reiterated Apple as market perform, noting several risks for the company in China. These risks include regulatory challenges, incremental competition, and supply chain uncertainties. While significant geopolitical escalations between the US and China pose ongoing risks, Bernstein believes that near-term conditions have not undergone substantial changes.
Nvidia - Reiterated as Buy by Bank of America
Bank of America reaffirmed Nvidia as a buy, citing the company's consistent execution and compelling valuation. With 55-60% year-over-year sales and EPS growth, Bank of America views Nvidia as a top pick, especially considering its attractive price-to-earnings ratio of 22x CY24 PE.
Other Notable Calls
Citi opened a positive catalyst watch on Rio Tinto, expecting robust iron ore prices. TD Cowen named Constellation Brands as a top pick, highlighting its best-in-class status. UBS upgraded J.B. Hunt to neutral from sell, anticipating improved outlook for intermodal volume growth. Bank of America upgraded Equinor to buy from neutral, recognizing its strong financial framework. Bank of America downgraded Take-Two to neutral from buy, citing uncertainties around the next generation of Grand Theft Auto.
In summary, these analyst calls provide valuable insights into the market outlook for various companies. Investors should consider these recommendations while evaluating their investment strategies.
Analyst Calls Impact on New Business Ventures: Biogen, Rivian, DataDog, Amazon, Apple, Nvidia, and More
Thursday's analyst calls on Wall Street have significant implications for new business formations.
Biogen's Potential Impact on Healthcare Startups
Raymond James' upgrade of Biogen highlights the potential for Alzheimer's treatment advancements. This could inspire new healthcare startups to invest in Alzheimer's research, expecting a similar positive market response.
Rivian's Influence on Electric Vehicle Market
Stifel's buy initiation on Rivian underscores the value of customer experience in the electric vehicle market. New businesses in this sector might consider a similar focus on service network scaling to differentiate themselves competitively.
DataDog's Growth Prospects and Tech Startups
Stifel's upgrade of DataDog signals robust growth prospects in the software industry. New tech startups could leverage this trend, focusing on consumption trends and macro stability to drive revenue growth.
Amazon's Continued Dominance and E-commerce Ventures
Bank of America's top pick designation for Amazon emphasizes the company's potential for continued dominance. This could impact new e-commerce ventures, pushing them to innovate and optimize to compete effectively.
Apple's China Risks and Global Expansion
Bernstein's market perform reiteration for Apple highlights potential risks in China. This could influence new businesses planning global expansion, prompting them to consider geopolitical and supply chain risks.
Nvidia's Consistent Execution and Tech Innovation
Bank of America's buy reiteration for Nvidia underscores the importance of consistent execution in the tech industry. This could inspire new tech businesses to focus on consistent growth and compelling valuations.
In essence, these analyst calls offer valuable insights for new business formations, providing a glimpse into market trends, industry growth prospects, and potential risks. New ventures should consider these insights while planning their business strategies.