Buy/Sell: Wall Street’s top 10 stock calls this week

What has Wall Street been buzzing about this week? Here are the top 5 Buy calls and the top 5 Sell calls made by Wall Street’s best analysts during the week of July 28-August 1.

Find all top-rated stocks by the best-rated analysts on TipRanks.

Top 5 Buy Calls:

1. HSBC upgrades Meta to Buy on AI-driven growth 

HSBC upgraded Meta Platforms (META) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $900, up from $610. The company reported strong Q2 results as its artificial intelligence tools and network effect supported double-digit revenue growth, the firm tells investors in a research note. HSBC believes Meta is well positioned to outpace digital advertising market growth. The company’s AI capabilities improve targeting and the quality of content, creating new growth opportunities, contends HSBC. The firm cites higher operational forecasts and a higher valuation multiple for the upgrade.

2. Microsoft upgraded to Overweight at KeyBanc

KeyBanc analyst Jackson Ader upgraded Microsoft (MSFT) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $630 price target following the fiscal Q4 report. The firm says the fears of its downgrade in April have not played out. Azure growth accelerated eight percentage points over the second half of Microsoft’s fiscal year and there was no mention of macro headwinds on the earnings call, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

3. Nike upgraded to Overweight at JPMorgan

JPMorgan upgraded Nike (NKE) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $93, up from $64. The firm increased Nike’s estimates for the first time in 13 months following its fieldwork and talks with management. It sees a multi-year recovery for the company, driving high-teens to 20% annual earnings growth through fiscal 2030.

4. Peloton upgraded to Buy at UBS

UBS upgraded Peloton (PTON) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $11, up from $7.50, which implies a near doubling of the stock from current levels. The firm sees upside to Peloton’s fiscal 2026 EBITDA expectations from sales growth and further cost cutting. The shares are trading at a favorable risk/reward and “undemanding” valuation, UBS tells investors in a research note. The firm adds that the data it tracks for Peloton has been improving.

5. Sarepta upgraded to Outperform at Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer analyst Andreas Argyrides upgraded Sarepta (SRPT) to Outperform from Perform with a price target of $37, up from $30, after the FDA recommended to remove the voluntary hold of Elevidys for ambulatory patients. The firm believes the news is the desired outcome for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy community and provides additional comfort that the gene therapy’s risk-benefit profile remains favorable in ambulatory patients. Opco cites the removal of the regulatory overhang and Elevidys being back on the market for the upgrade.

Top 5 Sell Calls:

1. UnitedHealth downgraded to Underperform at Baird 

Baird downgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to Underperform from Neutral with a price target of $198, down from $312. The firm sees a more challenging road ahead for UnitedHealth following the Q2 report. It has low conviction on the company’s ability to maintain 1% OptumHealth value-based care margins in 2026 and believes UnitedHealth’s other segments now appear more challenged than anticipated. Even in an optimistic scenario for earnings growth, the stock’s current price “does not appear overly inexpensive,” Baird tells investors in a research note.

2. Paramount downgraded to Sell at Seaport on strategy questions post deal close

Seaport Research downgraded Paramount (PARA, PARAA, PSKY) to Sell from Neutral with an $11 price target on B shares, which the firm notes will trade under the ticker symbol “PSKY” after August 7 following the closing of the Skydance merger. Ahead of the merger closing, the firm is reducing its “too-robust” advertising and filmed entertainment estimates for Q3 and beyond, noting that it still sees upside in the short-term, but sees risk that shares could give back some of the deal-related upside post-tender. The firm also sees questions surrounding the go-forward strategy post-close and tender, adds Seaport, which has a $17 price target on Paramount A shares, whose holders will receive cash or 1.533 PSKY shares upon deal closing.

3. Accenture initiated with a Reduce at HSBC

HSBC initiated coverage of Accenture (ACN) with a Reduce rating and $240 price target. The firm believes the market is underestimating the artificial intelligence disruption risk facing Accenture. Early successful generative artificial intelligence use cases are likely to significantly boost employee productivity in Accenture’s core offerings, which will likely translate into pricing pressure over time, HSBC tells investors in a research note.

4. KeyBanc downgrades Albemarle on recent rally in shares

KeyBanc downgraded Albemarle (ALB) to Sector Weight from Overweight without a price target. The firm cites the recent share outperformance for the downgrade. In addition, current lithium prices are below reinvestment levels, which is unsustainable over the long term, KeyBanc tells investors in a research note. The firm views the stock’s 24% rally since June 23 as an “opportunity to reduce risk.” It does not see the momentum driving a new lithium price cycle over the next 6-12 months.

5. Goldman downgrades Avis Budget to Sell on “stretched” valuation

Goldman Sachs downgraded Avis Budget (CAR) to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $105, up from $87. The firm views the stock’s valuation as “stretched” following doubling over the past three months. Goldman says that with no big inflection in revenue per day during Q2 as well as higher cost investments and supply issues, it continues to estimate $1.1B of normalized EBITDA for Avis. It sees a lack of catalysts for the company’s EBITDA inflecting higher and downside risk to consensus estimates.