United Airlines was upgraded from a Neutral to a Buy by equity analyst Redburn with an $80 price target. Redburn cited its preference for international airlines at this time as a reason for the move, along with the decline in narrow-bodied aeroplane deliveries.
In contrast, Redburn decided to downgrade American Airlines from a Buy to a Neutral. Most of American Airlines’ exposure is in the domestic market, which has proven to become fiercely competitive. Near-term sensitivity to rising fuel prices was also listed as a concern.
Southwest Airlines was similarly downgraded from a Neutral to a Sell. With a $27 price target, Southwest is set to continue facing downward pressure from tough economic conditions.
Other stocks that were assessed included DraftKings, which was upgraded from Equal Weight to Overweight by Wells Fargo, and Monster Beverage, upgraded from Neutral to Overweight by Piper Sandler.