Friday's Biggest Analyst Calls: Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, Travelers, Netflix, Sherwin-williams & More

Here are Friday's most notable analyst calls on Wall Street:

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Cantor Fitzgerald initiates Planet Labs as overweight
Cantor Fitzgerald expressed optimism about satellite imaging company Planet Labs. Analysts noted the company's potential in leveraging AI-driven data to accelerate growth and expand margins amid rising defense and climate threats.

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Oppenheimer initiates Toast as outperform
Oppenheimer launched coverage of restaurant payment technology company Toast with an outperform rating and a $46 price target, indicating a 15% upside. The firm highlighted Toast's strong positioning in the market.

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RBC reiterates Tesla as outperform
RBC maintained its outperform rating on Tesla ahead of its earnings report next week. Analysts forecast 20.5% auto gross margins for 2025, above the consensus of 19%, citing strong regulatory credits and robust energy storage revenue expectations.

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‍Bank of America reiterates Apple as buy
Bank of America reaffirmed its buy rating on Apple but slightly reduced its price target to $253 from $256. The firm expects a strong quarterly report fueled by high demand for the iPhone 16.

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Berenberg upgrades Sherwin-Williams to buy from hold
Berenberg upgraded Sherwin-Williams, predicting an acceleration in earnings growth. Analysts believe the paint company is well-positioned to expand its market share rapidly.

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Piper Sandler upgrades Travelers to overweight from neutral
Piper Sandler upgraded Travelers following its stronger-than-expected Q4 2024 earnings. Analysts raised their EPS estimates, highlighting the insurance company's robust performance.

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Citi initiates Digital Ocean as buy
Citi started coverage of Digital Ocean, describing its offerings as "differentiated" in the fragmented cloud hosting market. The firm emphasized the company's focus on product depth and customer engagement under new leadership.

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Citi reinstates Albertsons as buy
Citi reinstated coverage of Albertsons with a buy rating and a $26 price target. Analysts see the grocery chain as a "self-help" story following the blocked merger with Kroger.

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Mizuho reiterates Nvidia as outperform
Mizuho reaffirmed its outperform rating on Nvidia, citing potential benefits from the Stargate initiative. The firm also highlighted the stock's tailwinds in the AI and semiconductor sectors.

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Baird upgrades Twilio to outperform from neutral
Baird upgraded Twilio after attending its investor day, which showcased strong Q4 pre-released results and broad-based growth. Analysts expressed confidence in Twilio's ability to sustain double-digit revenue growth.

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TD Cowen reiterates Microsoft as buy
TD Cowen maintained its buy rating on Microsoft, despite forecasting challenges in the upcoming earnings report. Analysts noted deceleration in the December quarter and potential foreign exchange headwinds but remained optimistic about the stock's long-term outlook.

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Bernstein upgrades Netflix to outperform from market perform
Bernstein upgraded Netflix following its recent earnings, despite uncertainties surrounding long-term growth drivers like sports, advertising, and gaming. The firm expressed delayed confidence in the stock at its current price.

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Jefferies upgrades Steel Dynamics to buy from hold
Jefferies upgraded Steel Dynamics after its earnings call, which highlighted management's focus on ramping up organic growth projects. The firm raised its price target to $145, reflecting expectations for rising earnings and free cash flow.

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Barclays upgrades Air Products to overweight from equal weight
Barclays upgraded Air Products, raising its price target to $365. Analysts described the industrial gas producer as a rejuvenated company with a solid, cash-generative base business and a refocused strategy.

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RBC upgrades Magna to outperform from sector perform
RBC upgraded auto supplier Magna, citing favorable comparisons and expectations for above-consensus guidance. Analysts said the company is well-positioned for growth.

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Bank of America initiates Quanta Services as buy
Bank of America initiated coverage of Quanta Services, a leading utility infrastructure services provider, with a buy rating and a $407 price objective. The firm described the company as a "consistent outperformer."

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JPMorgan initiates WeRide as overweight
JPMorgan launched coverage of autonomous driving company WeRide with an overweight rating. Analysts highlighted the company's leadership in developing autonomous technologies for applications like robotaxis and robovans.

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JPMorgan downgrades PVH to neutral from overweight
JPMorgan downgraded PVH, the owner of brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, citing rising competition. While recognizing the company's efforts to enhance brand desirability, the firm sees a longer path to achieving mid-teens operating margins.

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Guggenheim upgrades Restaurant Brands International to buy from neutral
Guggenheim upgraded Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, after a significant stock sell-off. Analysts reduced their 2025-2026 EPS estimates slightly but viewed the recent pressure on the stock as overdone.

These updates reflect a mix of analyst opinions, highlighting opportunities in industries ranging from technology to consumer goods and infrastructure.

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