Wall Street analysts rolled out fresh coverage on five companies Friday, with the most eye-catching call coming on Big Blue itself. Here's what the Street is saying about these newly-covered names.
Oppenheimer analyst Param Singh launched coverage on IBM (IBM) with an Outperform rating and a $360 price target. That represents substantial upside from Thursday's closing price of $290.40, suggesting Singh sees meaningful value in the tech stalwart's current positioning.
Freedom Capital Markets analyst David Silver started coverage on Minerals Technologies Inc (MTX) with a Buy rating and a $75 price target. The stock closed Thursday at $56.88, meaning Silver's target implies more than 30% upside if his thesis plays out.
On the animal health front, Keybanc analyst Steve Dechert initiated coverage on Elanco Animal Health Inc (ELAN) with an Overweight rating and a $27 price target. Elanco shares finished Thursday's session at $21.24, putting Dechert's target roughly 27% above current levels.
Not every initiation came with the same enthusiasm. Freedom Capital Markets analyst Gene Mannheimer took a more cautious approach on Waystar Holding Corp (WAY), launching coverage with a Hold rating and a $40 price target. Waystar closed Thursday at $34.79, suggesting Mannheimer sees limited near-term catalysts despite some upside potential.
Rounding out Friday's coverage initiations, Stifel analyst Paul Matteis began following MapLight Therapeutics Inc (MPLT) with a Buy rating and a $28 price target. MapLight shares closed at $13.29 on Thursday, making Matteis's target more than double the current price—the most aggressive call among Friday's initiations.
These coverage launches give investors fresh perspectives on companies ranging from enterprise technology to specialty materials and healthcare. Price targets represent where analysts believe stocks could trade over the next 12 months, though actual results can vary significantly based on company performance and market conditions.
