Monday's Biggest Analyst Calls: Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Marvell, Microsoft, Meta, Take-two, Amazon, Twilio & More

Here are Monday’s biggest calls on Wall Street:

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UBS Upgrades Take-Two Interactive to Buy
UBS upgraded Take-Two Interactive from neutral to buy, citing a robust pipeline of upcoming games, including Grand Theft Auto VI. The firm raised its price target to $230 and expressed confidence in the company's ability to grow bookings, profits, and free cash flow over the next two years, which should also reduce leverage and free up capital for future investments.

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Stifel Upgrades Portillo’s to Buy
Stifel upgraded Portillo’s, the hot dog restaurant chain, from hold to buy. The firm is optimistic about management’s efforts to tackle weak traffic trends, including plans to emphasize value more aggressively. Stifel also highlighted the increased involvement of the company’s board and the recent appointment of Jack Hartung.

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‍KBW Downgrades Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
KBW downgraded Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to underperform from market perform due to valuation concerns. The firm noted that the shares of these government-sponsored enterprises have surged significantly, with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae up over 500% since the start of 2024, surpassing levels seen during previous periods of heightened interest.

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Goldman Sachs Upgrades Twilio to Buy
Goldman Sachs upgraded Twilio from neutral to buy, raising the price target to $185 from $77. The firm is optimistic following Twilio’s 2025 Analyst Day and ahead of its upcoming earnings report, seeing potential for growth driven by operational improvements.

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Goldman Sachs Maintains Tesla as Neutral
Goldman Sachs reiterated its neutral rating on Tesla. The firm commended the refreshed Model Y, citing enhancements that align with investor expectations, though it did not see enough catalysts to upgrade its rating.

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Baird Upgrades Titan Machinery to Outperform
Baird upgraded Titan Machinery to outperform from neutral, citing declining inventory levels as a positive driver for the stock. After underperforming the S&P 500 by 70% in 2024 due to guidance cuts and margin compression, the firm expects the company to destock inventory in 2025, which could serve as a catalyst for recovery.

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Morgan Stanley Upgrades Exelixis to Overweight
Morgan Stanley upgraded biotech firm Exelixis to overweight from equal weight, setting a $40 price target. The firm described the company’s valuation as “undemanding,” pointing to growth potential under new analyst coverage.

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‍Piper Sandler Upgrades Qorvo to Overweight
Piper Sandler upgraded semiconductor company Qorvo to overweight from neutral. The firm cited potential for improved fundamentals, thanks to the involvement of activist investor Starboard Value.

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Rosenblatt Reiterates Apple as a Buy
Rosenblatt reiterated its buy rating on Apple ahead of the company’s earnings report. While third-party data hinted at disappointing iPhone sales, the firm highlighted other factors, such as strong performance in services and other devices, which could help offset any weakness.

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Telsey Initiates Vital Farms as Outperform
Telsey initiated coverage of Vital Farms with an outperform rating. The firm described the food company as a disruptor in the traditional food ecosystem, emphasizing its high-quality products and strong ethical standards.

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Bernstein Reiterates Microsoft as Outperform
Bernstein maintained its outperform rating on Microsoft ahead of its earnings report. The firm noted heightened investor interest in the company’s upcoming quarterly results, scheduled for Wednesday, January 29.

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Jefferies Reiterates Meta as a Top Pick
Jefferies reaffirmed Meta as a top pick, citing the company’s strong positioning in generative AI with tools like META.AI and Llama. The firm is confident in Meta’s ability to monetize these advancements and deliver strong returns.

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Jefferies Reiterates Amazon as a Buy
Jefferies maintained its buy rating on Amazon, expecting a slight beat in its fourth-quarter earnings due to solid holiday sales, accelerating AWS growth, improved advertising revenue, and operational efficiency. The firm set a price target of $275, highlighting Amazon’s leadership in enterprise AI.

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Bank of America Downgrades D.R. Horton to Neutral
Bank of America downgraded homebuilder D.R. Horton from buy to neutral, citing challenges in the housing market due to higher interest rates and rising input costs. The firm expects margin pressures to persist through fiscal 2025, despite the company’s prudent adjustments.

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Bank of America Upgrades Travel + Leisure to Buy
Bank of America upgraded Travel + Leisure from underperform to buy, citing accelerating travel demand, relatively de-risked earnings, and benefits from a lower interest rate environment.

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Melius Initiates Marvell Technology as a Buy
Melius initiated coverage of Marvell Technology with a buy rating, calling it the “next multi-hundred-billion-dollar AI semiconductor company.” The firm noted that despite a 108% rise in the stock in 2024, there is significant growth potential driven by AI-related opportunities.

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Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Nvidia as Overweight
Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its overweight rating on Nvidia, arguing that concerns over competition from Chinese AI startups like DeepSeek are overblown. The firm views any weakness in Nvidia’s stock as a buying opportunity.

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Raymond James Downgrades Ralph Lauren to Market Perform
Raymond James downgraded Ralph Lauren from outperform to market perform, citing valuation concerns. The firm acknowledged the company’s strong leadership and strategy but noted that adverse foreign exchange rates could limit upside in fiscal 2025 and 2026.

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Bank of America Downgrades Bloomin’ Brands to Underperform
Bank of America downgraded Bloomin’ Brands, the owner of Outback Steakhouse, from neutral to underperform. The firm cited limited near-term upside, with the casual dining industry’s slow growth and the company’s struggles allowing competitors to expand market share.

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