Analysts are intrested in these 5 stocks: ( (VNOM) ), ( (DFS) ), ( (ACI) ), ( (AMD) ) and ( (HON) ). Here is a breakdown of their recent ratings and the rationale behind them.
Viper Energy is catching the attention of analysts with a strong recommendation to buy. Stephen Richardson from Evercore ISI has initiated coverage with a target price of $49. The company has completed a significant transaction, normalizing its asset base and acquiring additional mineral interests. Despite a reduction in activity, Viper Energy maintains its 2025 volume guide and looks to organic growth as the Permian activity retrenches. The market is watching closely, especially the XOM-operated activities, but the outlook remains positive with expectations for oil volume growth into 2026.
Discover Financial Services has been downgraded to hold by analyst John Hecht from Jefferies LLC, despite strong first-quarter results. The downgrade comes as the company is on the brink of a merger, which ties its stock performance to the specifics of the transaction. While DFS shows positive momentum as a standalone entity, the merger with COF is expected to bring substantial synergies and scale. The stock’s future performance is now largely dependent on the combined entity’s success, with significant upside potential noted by the analyst.
Albertsons Companies is seeing a positive shift in analyst sentiment, with Kelly Bania upgrading the stock to buy. The target price has been raised to $25, reflecting a belief in valuation expansion as investors seek defensive stocks. Albertsons is expected to benefit from low earnings expectations and reduced competitive pricing risks. The company’s progress in reducing its pension liability and its position as a cheap stock in the market are key factors in the upgrade. The analyst sees potential for Albertsons to close the valuation gap with peers like KR.
Advanced Micro Devices has received an upgrade to buy from analyst Vivek Arya, with a new target price of $120. The company’s strong first-quarter performance and optimistic sales outlook have addressed concerns about competition and market restrictions. AMD is expected to deliver significant topline growth, driven by share gains in the PC and server CPU markets and strong AI GPU sales. The company’s valuation is seen as compelling, with potential for further earnings growth despite competitive threats from NVDA and ARM.
Honeywell International is back in favor with analysts, as Andrew Obin upgrades the stock to buy. The company has shown stable earnings and a positive outlook, leading to a raised target price of $250. Honeywell’s defensive business mix and improved internal forecasting processes are seen as strengths in the current macroeconomic environment. The company’s exposure to longer-cycle end markets and its ability to maintain guidance in a recession scenario make it an attractive investment. The analyst expects Honeywell to close the valuation gap with its peers as earnings continue to stabilize.