Wall Street Analysts Offer Top Stock Picks Amid Market Declines

The stock market in the U.S. took a downturn on Friday, with significant losses across major indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by over 700 points during the trading day. The S&P 500 dropped 1.71%, settling at 6,013.13, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a decline of 2.20%, concluding at 19,524.01.

Despite the challenging market conditions, analysts on Wall Street continue to make daily stock picks. However, it is important to note that the reliability of these analysts can vary significantly. Investors may find themselves overwhelmed by differing opinions and price targets for the same stock.

To assist traders in navigating this landscape, a tool known as Benzinga’s Analyst Ratings API compiles top stock ratings from direct partnerships with notable sell-side banks. Benzinga provides updates on rating changes ahead of U.S. equity market openings, helping investors stay informed about the latest insights. Analysts' insights have been shown to be usable as trading indicators that can potentially outperform the stock market.

Top Analyst Picks for the Week

Any individual interested in these insights can explore the latest ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page from Benzinga. Below is a summary of recent stock picks from five of the most accurate analysts:

Lloyd Walmsley - UBS

• Accuracy Rate: 86%
• Latest Rating: Maintained a Buy rating on Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) and increased the price target from $5,560 to $5,960 on February 21, indicating a potential upside of around 20%.
• Recent News: On February 20, Booking Holdings released its fourth-quarter financial results which surpassed expectations and announced an increase in its quarterly dividend.

Mark Kelley - Stifel

• Accuracy Rate: 86%
• Latest Rating: Sustained a Hold rating on Wayfair Inc. (W) with a revised price target reduced from $47 to $46, representing an anticipated growth of 9%.
• Recent News: On February 20, Wayfair reported a fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share loss of 25 cents.

Doug Anmuth - JP Morgan

• Accuracy Rate: 86%
• Latest Rating: Continued an Underweight rating on Tripadvisor, Inc. (TRIP) and lifted the price target from $14 to $15, forecasting a slight downside of 1%.
• Recent News: On February 20, Tripadvisor released a positive quarterly report.

Alexander Paris - Barrington Research

• Accuracy Rate: 86%
• Latest Rating: Maintained an Outperform rating on Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (LINC), with a price target of $20, suggesting a possible rise of about 22%.
• Recent News: Lincoln Educational Services announced a conference call to discuss its fourth-quarter and year-end results on February 24.

William Stein - Truist Securities

• Accuracy Rate: 85%
• Latest Rating: Held a Hold rating on Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) and updated the price target from $230 to $248, predicting a potential upside of 4%.
• Recent News: On February 19, Analog Devices reported a 4% year-on-year decline in first-quarter revenue to $2.42 billion, which still surpassed analyst expectations of $2.36 billion.

As the market continues to fluctuate, understanding analyst perspectives on various stocks can provide beneficial insights for investors navigating their financial decisions.

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