Today's noteworthy upgrades include: 8point3 Energy (CAFD) upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Avondale... AEGON (AEG) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman... AMC Networks (AMCX) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Evercore ISI... Citi ups Ralph Lauren (RL) to Buy on valuation, cost savings... Kate Spade (KATE) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens... L'Oreal (LRLCY) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Societe Generale... Marriott (MAR) upgraded on historical performance, growth outlook at SunTrust... Monster Beverage (MNST) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman... Nimble Storage (NMBL) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Longbow... Qualys (QLYS) upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Macquarie... Ralph Lauren (RL) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citi... Trex Company (TREX) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush... Valero Energy Partners (VLP) upgraded on better than expected transaction at SunTrust.

JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira downgraded Monster Beverage to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $59, down from $66, ahead of the company's Q1 earnings report on May 8. While the shares have already sold off, there are limited catalysts to the upside at this point as "long-hoped for potential price increases somehow lost their attractiveness" due to the latest run up in aluminum prices and an already-stretched lower income consumer, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Moreover, the firm says Monster's tracked and untracked channel trends are still challenged and it appears that household penetration and buy rates are pressured.

Mizuho lowered the firm's price target on Marriott to $260 from $263 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The analyst cites a more conservative view on RevPAR ahead of the Q1 report for the target drop. RevPAR trends have been slightly weaker than previously modeled, primarily in the United States, the analyst tells investors in a research note.