Ahead of the publication of the firm's new Best Ideas list for 2020, Stephens announced the stocks that it will be dropping, which includes Fiserv (FISV), SurveyMonkey (SVMK), Tyson Foods (TSN), Air Transport Services (ATSG), Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB), FMC Corporation (FMC), Helmerich & Payne (HP), Noble Energy (NBL), OneMain Holdings (OMF), O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY), Origin Bancorp (OBNK), Penske Automotive (PAG), Union Pacific (UNP) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC). Stocks that are being held over for the 2020 Best Ideas list include Ametek (AME), Carrols Restaurant (TAST), Nexstar (NXST), Quanta Services (PWR), RealPage (RP), Vonage (VG), Vulcan Materials (VMC) and Zynga (ZNGA).

Notable companies reporting after the market close, with earnings consensus, include Meta Plataforms (META), consensus $4.32... IBM (IBM), consensus $1.60... ServiceNow (NOW), consensus $3.14... Lam Research (LRCX), consensus $7.30... Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), consensus $11.68... O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY), consensus $9.26... Ford Motor (F), consensus 42c... United Rentals (URI), consensus $8.32... Align Technology (ALGN), consensus $1.97... Molina Healthcare (MOH), consensus $5.59... Teradyne (TER), consensus 33c... Universa Health Services (UHS), consensus $3.16... Western Union (WU), consensus 41c.

Deutsche Bank placed a "Catalyst Call: Buy" on shares of Union Pacific (UNP) as a short-term investment idea. With all the attention Norfolk Southern (NSC) is getting in recent months, it is easy to overlook developments at other railroads, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Union Pacific is now the worst performing pail stock year-to-date. However, operating metrics "clearly show that UNP's renewed efforts on operations are gaining traction," contends Deutsche Bank. It keeps a Buy rating on the shares with a $266 price target.