Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo downgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $58, down from $65, after the company announced a deal to acquire E-Trade (ETFC), which he sees bringing strategic, financial, and execution risks. The ability to combine the digital brokerage and banking platform with the legacy Morgan Stanley business is uncertain and the the move was made at a time when retail brokerage client engagement and sentiment, as well as the stock market, are at all-time highs, contends Mayo, who estimates $1.5B or more of "value destruction" related to the all-stock transaction. He prefers Goldman Sachs' (GS) "invest and build approach" over spending $13B for "such an uncertain transaction," Mayo added.
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
Notable gainers among liquid option names this morning include UnitedHealth (UNH) $475.73 +30.10, Super Micro (SMCI) $914.90 +32.15, Humana (HUM) $324.54 +9.90, Morgan Stanley (MS) $89.42 +2.43, and Cencora Inc (COR) $238.39 +4.18.
BMO Capital raised the firm's price target on Goldman Sachs to $360 from $349 and keeps a Market Perform rating on the shares. The analyst cites the company's Q1 earnings beat driven by its Global Banking & Markets segment, with higher-than-previously modeled revenues and lower tax expenses more than offsetting higher expected compensation costs. BMO Capital is also raising its FY24 EPS view by $37.17 from $32.49 and its FY25 view to $38.62 from $37.53 for Goldman Sachs. The firm adds however that the stock's valuation already incorporates the benefits of an anticipated capital markets recovery.
Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly. HIGHER - Macatawa... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here
HSBC analyst Saul Martinez raised the firm's price target on Goldman Sachs to $470 from $460 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst increased estimates following Goldman's "broad-based beat" in Q1. Though macro uncertainty remains, higher investment banking fees and "self-help" should contribute to ongoing return on tangible common equity improvements, the analyst tells investors in a research note. HSBC calls Goldman its preferred vehicle to invest in improved capital markets activity.
As previously reported, Argus upgraded Goldman Sachs to Buy from Hold with a $465 price target. The company's Q1 results demonstrated the considerable strengths of the Goldman franchise during an investment banking upturn, the analyst tells investors in a research note, stating that while the investment banking environment offered a few false rebounds in 2023, the current surge appears to have staying power as equity and debt underwriting showing sequential improvement. Goldman's recent exit from several consumer businesses, which produced significant losses for the firm, also removes a headline risk and allows its management to refocus on core strengths in capital markets, Argus added.