Visa, Inc. (NYSE: V): Goldman Sachs added Visa to its Conviction Buy list with a price target of $96. The firm stated that they view the company as a secular growth model with a defensive EPS growth profile. The firm expects double-digit EPS growth, due to the continued secular shift to electronic payments, strong global consumer volume/transaction growth and ongoing traction in emerging payments. They also said Visa remains the best ways to invest in emerging payments (mobile, prepaid, e-commerce and P2P).
VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW): Credit Suisse upgraded its rating on the company to Outperform from Neutral. The firm lifted its price target on the stock to $115 fom $100.
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM): Goldman Sachs upgraded IBM to Buy from Neutral and raised their 12-month price target on th stock to $195 from $170.
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRCD): Goldman Sachs downgraded its rating on the company to Sell from Neural. The firm slashed its price target on the stock to $3.30 from $3.80. The firm said they see downside to consensus estimates even after its negative preannouncement.
F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV): Goldman Sachs upgraded F5 Networks t Neutral Sell to Neutral. However, the firm cut its price target to $94 from $98. The firm cited significant underperformance, which now prices in their below consensus estimates. "We view F5 Networks as a secular winner at a strategic point in the data center that can sustainably grow EPS in the high teens," the firm said.
Full Disclosure: None.
