Monday’s Biggest Analyst Calls: Nvidia, Nike, Block, Twilio, Alibaba, Apple, Dell, Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla & More

Here are some of the most significant Wall Street calls from Monday:

‍

UBS upgrades Janus Henderson to buy from neutral
UBS raised its rating on asset manager Janus Henderson, citing strong growth prospects. The firm believes the stock is attractively valued, especially given its potential for double-digit earnings per share (EPS) growth. UBS views this as an appealing opportunity as the company executes its expansion strategy.

‍

Bank of America initiates Smithfield Foods as buy
Bank of America began coverage of Smithfield Foods with a "buy" rating, highlighting its position as a major beneficiary of the most favorable pork market cycle in over five years. The firm set a price target of $28 per share.

‍

Morgan Stanley upgrades Alibaba to overweight from equal weight
Morgan Stanley upgraded Alibaba, naming the Chinese e-commerce giant its top choice in the sector. The firm believes the market’s shift from weak consumer spending to technological advancements in China presents Alibaba with significant upside, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and enablement.

‍

Guggenheim upgrades Wingstop to buy from neutral
Guggenheim raised its rating on Wingstop, recognizing the restaurant chain’s competitive edge. The firm upgraded the stock to "buy" and reinstated a price target of $280, reflecting confidence in the company’s ability to capitalize on market opportunities.

‍

Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight
Morgan Stanley maintained its "overweight" rating on Nvidia ahead of the company’s upcoming earnings report. The firm expressed increased confidence in Nvidia’s near-term fundamentals, noting improvements across various aspects of the business compared to two months ago.

‍

UBS upgrades RTX to buy from neutral
UBS upgraded aerospace and defense company RTX, citing unique growth drivers. The firm pointed to RTX’s strong position in both the commercial and defense sectors, with international growth opportunities and several company-specific catalysts supporting future performance.

‍

Barclays initiates Blue Owl as overweight
Barclays began coverage of alternative asset manager Blue Owl with an "overweight" rating. The firm sees the company as well-positioned for future growth, especially in credit and wealth management, and highlighted recent mergers and acquisitions as a positive factor.

‍

Jefferies upgrades Nike to buy from hold
Jefferies upgraded Nike, making it their top pick. The firm praised CEO John Donahoe’s efforts to address product and distribution challenges, which position the brand for renewed market growth. Despite recent struggles, Jefferies’ research indicates that Nike’s brand remains strong, with competitive risks being less severe than previously thought.

‍

Morgan Stanley upgrades Twilio to overweight from equal weight
Morgan Stanley raised its rating on Twilio, stating that the cloud communications company’s stock is attractive at current levels. The firm is increasingly confident in Twilio’s ability to deliver double-digit growth and surpass operating margin expectations, supported by improved cross-selling efforts.

‍

Wolfe upgrades Carrier to outperform from peer perform
Wolfe Research upgraded Carrier following an in-depth meeting with company leadership. With fiscal year 2025 guidance now available and an investor event on the horizon, Wolfe believes this is an ideal time to revisit the air conditioning and heating company’s growth potential.

‍

BMO upgrades Block to outperform from market perform
BMO raised its rating on fintech company Block, citing a compelling buying opportunity after the stock’s fourth-quarter decline. The firm believes investor sentiment has stabilized, and downside risks to consensus estimates have diminished, creating a more balanced outlook.

‍

Jefferies upgrades Freshpet to buy from hold
Jefferies upgraded Freshpet, viewing the pet food company’s stock as undervalued. The firm noted that the stock’s valuation is at a five-year low and believes it could rise by 50% from its current trading level.

‍

Stifel upgrades Old Dominion to buy from hold
Stifel raised its rating on freight shipping company Old Dominion, along with XPO and Saia, to "buy." The firm sees a renewed investment opportunity in the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector, describing it as a fundamentally strong industry with favorable long-term prospects.

‍

Goldman Sachs downgrades Conagra to neutral from buy
Goldman Sachs downgraded food products company Conagra, citing operational challenges and increased competition. The firm highlighted two operational setbacks within six months and noted that a competitor’s focus on frozen products could complicate Conagra’s recovery.

‍

Bank of America reiterates Dell and Apple as buy
Bank of America reaffirmed its "buy" ratings on Dell and Apple, warning that new tariffs could lead to higher prices. If tariffs between 10% and 25% are imposed, the firm expects PC makers like Dell, HP, and Apple to pass the additional costs onto consumers, either in the U.S. market or globally at a reduced rate.

‍

UBS reiterates Berkshire Hathaway as buy
UBS maintained its "buy" rating on Berkshire Hathaway and increased its price target to $557 per share from $536. The firm considers Berkshire a strong investment in an uncertain macroeconomic environment, with solid insurance fundamentals and clear margin visibility.

‍

Bank of America downgrades Rivian to underperform from neutral
Bank of America lowered its rating on electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian to "underperform," citing a challenging earnings outlook. While acknowledging Rivian’s progress toward positive gross margins, the firm remains concerned about the complexity and uncertainty surrounding its financial projections.

‍

Wedbush reiterates Tesla as outperform
Wedbush reaffirmed its "outperform" rating on Tesla, pointing to several upcoming catalysts. These include a new mass-market vehicle launch in the first half of 2025, advancements in autonomous driving, and the planned rollout of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in Austin by June, alongside other key developments in electric vehicle and battery technology.

‍