Sometimes analysts change their minds, and when they do, it's worth paying attention. Three companies caught the eye of Wall Street analysts on Friday, earning upgrades that shifted their investment outlooks.
The most notable move came from Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta, who upgraded Helmerich and Payne Inc (HP) from Sell to Neutral and raised the price target from $20 to $28. That's a significant shift in sentiment for the drilling company, which closed at $26.10 on Thursday. Going from bearish to neutral isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but it signals the analyst sees less downside risk than before.
BTIG analyst Vincent Caintic also had a change of heart, upgrading PROG Holdings Inc (PRG) from Sell to Neutral. PROG Holdings, which operates in the lease-to-own retail space, closed at $26.53 on Thursday. Like the Helmerich upgrade, this is more about removing the negative flag than waving a bullish banner.
The most optimistic call came from Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann, who upgraded Willscot Holdings Corp (WSC) from Neutral to Outperform and boosted the price target from $20 to $22. WillScot, which provides modular space and portable storage solutions, closed at $15.85 on Thursday. That puts the stock well below Baird's new price target, suggesting potential upside if Wittmann's thesis plays out.
These upgrades reflect shifting analyst views on companies across different sectors, from energy services to consumer finance to industrial equipment. Whether these calls prove prescient remains to be seen, but they represent fresh takes from analysts who previously had more cautious stances.
