Today's noteworthy initiations include: ADTRAN (ADTN) initiated with an Outperform at Northland... Alliance Data (ADS) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... Bonanza Creek (BCEI) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill... CalAtlantic (CAA) initiated with a Buy at Evercore ISI... Calix (CALX) initiated with an Outperform at Northland... Clearfield (CLFD) initiated with an Outperform at Northland... Coca-Cola HBC (CCHGY) initiated with a Sell at UBS... CommScope (COMM) initiated with a Market Perform at Northland... Communications Systems (JCS) initiated with an Outperform at Northland... DS Healthcare (DSKX) initiated with a Buy at Rodman & Renshaw... EVERTEC (EVTC) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... Evoke Pharma (EVOK) initiated with a Buy at Rodman & Renshaw... Exact Sciences (EXAS) initiated with a Buy at Craig-Hallum... Fidelity National Information (FIS) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... First Niagara (FNFG) initiated with a Buy at Compass Point... First Solar (FSLR) initiated with a Market Perform at Avondale... Fiserv (FISV) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen... Global Payments (GPN) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... Green Dot (GDOT) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen... Heartland Payment (HPY) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen... Kindred Healthcare (KND) initiated with a Neutral at Mizuho... MSG Networks (MSGN) initiated with a Hold at Jefferies... Madison Square Garden (MSG) initiated with an Overweight at JPMorgan... MasterCard (MA) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... Oramed (ORMP) initiated with a Buy at Rodman & Renshaw... PayPal (PYPL) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen... Performance Food Group (PFGC) initiated with a Hold at Pivotal Research... Phototronics (PLAB) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust... Qorvo (QRVO) initiated with a Neutral at Citi... Remy Cointreau (REMYF) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... SPX FLOW (FLOW) initiated with an Outperform at Baird... Skyworks (SWKS) initiated with a Buy at Citi... Synergy Pharmaceuticals (SGYP) initiated with a Buy at Rodman & Renshaw... Total System (TSS) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen... Vantiv (VNTV) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... Visa (V) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen.

Baird analyst David Koning raised the firm's price target on MasterCard to $545 from $525 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm thinks Q1 revenue/EPS beat mildly and guidance will be mildly raised. They like the stock over the course of 2024 as a steady grinder.

After Reuters reported that a request to remove the bifacial panel exemption in the Section 201 tariff is expected to be granted by the Biden Administration, RBC Capital said that, if granted, the removal of the bifacial panel exemption would be a positive development for First Solar and solar OEMs with domestic manufacturing. The firm, which believes the removal of the exemption would be supportive of demand for domestic manufactured products and supportive of pricing, has an Outperform rating and $195 price target on First Solar shares.

Baird raised the firm's price target on Visa to $320 from $314 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm thinks FQ2 revenue/EPS likely both beat mildly; and they like a lot as long-term compounder.

BofA raised the firm's price target on FIS to $84 from $79 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Ahead of the company's upcoming Q1 earnings report and investor day, the firm says it is "comfortable" with Q1 estimates it says are "quite achievable, as the newer management team has generally provided conservative guidance." Given its view regarding the achievability of near-term estimates and anticipation of positive messages at the upcoming investor day, the firm raised its target FY25 P/E multiple, the analyst tells investors.