Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan raised his 2020 and 2021 sales and EPS forecasts to reflect accelerating sales and volume trends in scanner data in the U.S. His analysis of the data shows improving trends, most notably volumes, in the 7-weeks ending December 15 and he anticipates sales trends will accelerate in the first half of 2020 given more favorable comparisons. Astrachan thinks three new Reign product launches have added to Monster's overall market share, while likely hurting Bang's share, and believes the likely launch of two Ultra products will drive incremental sales in 2020. He keeps a Buy rating and $71 price target on the energy drink maker's stock.

What has Wall Street been buzzing about this week? Here are the top 5 Bu-y calls and the top 5 Sell calls made by Wall Street’s best analysts during the week of April 22-26. Find all top-rated... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.  1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.  1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Truist downgraded Monster Beverage to Sell from Buy with a price target of $46, down from $65.

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.