Wall Street analysts delivered a mixed set of ratings changes this week, with growth prospects and legal clarity driving upgrades for select stocks.
Crocs Inc. (CROX) gained 8.5% this week after Barclays upgraded the footwear company to ‘Overweight’ from ‘Equal Weight’ and lifted its price target to $139 from $118.
Barclays cited a clearer path to expansion for Crocs, pointing to international sales growth and ongoing investments in new products, additional categories, and brand development.
Last month, Crocs CFO Patraic Reagan noted that footwear demand naturally rises and falls every few years, but the company is reducing its reliance on classic clogs by expanding into sandals, ballet flats, and recovery shoes.
The company’s sandal business alone generates nearly $500 million annually, while its HEYDUDE brand is being extended into products for activities like boating, fishing, and work.
Liquidia Corp. (LQDA) surged 27% this week, its strongest performance since May, after the company settled six lawsuits with United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR), prompting upgrades from LifeSci Capital and BTIG.
LifeSci Capital analyst Gaurav Maini raised Liquidia to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Market Perform’ and established a $59 price target, arguing the settlement removes a major source of uncertainty around its pulmonary hypertension drug Yutrepia.
BTIG moved to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ and set a $70 price target, stating the settlement terms were more favorable than the firm had anticipated before the announcement.
Array Technologies (ARRY) received an upgrade to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Neutral’ at Mizuho, even as the firm lowered its price target to $5 from $7 following a 61% decline in the stock this year.
Mizuho expects Array Technologies’ business to improve in 2027, supported by existing orders and acquisitions that could help cut costs and improve operating efficiency.
Albertsons Companies (ACI) faced downgrades from three separate firms this week after its fiscal second-quarter results raised concerns about the company’s business plan and financial outlook.
JPMorgan lowered its rating to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Overweight’ while keeping its $14 price target unchanged, noting that ongoing business challenges and weaker-than-expected cost-cutting efforts may explain the stock’s lower valuation.
Goldman Sachs and Bank of America also downgraded Albertsons and cut their respective price targets, citing uncertainty around growth plans and a suspended 2026 forecast from management.
Both firms expect the stock to trade in a narrow range until management provides further details on its strategic direction following a business review expected to conclude by spring 2027.
AT&T (T) was downgraded to ‘Market Perform’ from ‘Outperform’ by Bernstein, which trimmed its price target to $24 from $25, pointing to rising competition from SpaceX in broadband and wireless services.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) was downgraded to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Overweight’ at Piper Sandler, which cut its price target sharply to $54 from $98 amid concerns over the company’s satellite deployment timeline.
SpaceX’s $8 billion purchase of mobile spectrum last week has intensified competition fears, with Piper warning that SpaceX could limit rocket launch access for partners like AST SpaceMobile and delay its deployment plans through 2026 and 2027.
So far this year, CROX and LQDA have gained 0.8% and 45% respectively, while ARRY, ACI, T, and ASTS have each declined somewhere between 5% and 61%.
