Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, CoreWeave, Tesla, Amazon, Carnival, Marvell, Intel, McDonald's & more

Wall Street analysts delivered a mixed bag of ratings and price target adjustments Thursday, reflecting diverse views on company fundamentals and strategic trajectories. Key upgrades included UBS raising Nvidia's price target ahead of anticipated strong earnings, and UBS also upgrading China's Kanzhun post-solid results, alongside Goldman Sachs upgrading Broadstone Net Lease on strategic shifts. Conversely, Wells Fargo downgraded regional bank Truist over concerns about its new strategy, and Citigroup cut Coty to neutral following weaker-than-expected earnings, underscoring a focus on execution and growth prospects.

Analysis

Wall Street analyst sentiment reveals a distinct divergence, with strong conviction in specific sectors contrasted by considerable caution elsewhere. The artificial intelligence and semiconductor space continues to garner significant bullishness, exemplified by UBS raising Nvidia's (NVDA) price target to $205 on expectations of a Q2 revenue beat to approximately $46 billion and strong forward guidance. This optimism extends to Marvell (MRVL) and Analog Devices (ADI), both praised for robust AI-related demand and cyclical tailwinds. Conversely, the outlook on consumer-facing companies is fractured. Coty (COTY) was downgraded by Citigroup following significant topline deterioration, with its Consumer Beauty and Prestige segments declining 12% and 7% respectively. Similarly, Wedbush downgraded Instacart (CART) to underperform due to rising competition. In contrast, value-oriented retailers like TJX Companies (TJX) and Target (TGT) received continued support, with Morgan Stanley highlighting Target's real estate value as a downside buffer. In financials, specific corporate actions are driving ratings, as seen in Goldman Sachs' upgrade of Broadstone Net Lease (BNL) from Sell to Buy following the successful disposition of its healthcare portfolio. This contrasts with Wells Fargo's downgrade of Truist (TFC) due to skepticism over a new strategic plan that lacks fresh metrics. Finally, while turnarounds like Intel (INTC) are viewed with caution, specific catalysts such as solid earnings at Kanzhun (BZ) and a promising drug pipeline at Trevi Therapeutics (TRVI) prompted decisive analyst upgrades.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors should assess exposure to AI-centric semiconductor names like Nvidia and Marvell, as analyst expectations point to continued strong momentum and potential earnings beats.
• Exercise caution in the consumer sector, favoring companies with clear value propositions and strong execution like TJX Companies over those facing specific headwinds such as Coty's revenue pressure or Instacart's competitive challenges.
• Consider positions in companies demonstrating successful strategic execution, such as Broadstone Net Lease's portfolio repositioning, which has earned a rare double-upgrade from Sell to Buy.
• Monitor companies like Truist Financial, where analyst skepticism about a new long-term strategy could signal potential for future underperformance against peers.
• For portfolios with higher risk tolerance, newly initiated Buy ratings on biotech firm Trevi Therapeutics, based on its de-risked drug candidate, or auto-supplier Adient may warrant further diligence as potential sources of alpha.