Thursday's Biggest Analyst Calls: Tesla, Microsoft, IBM, Netflix, Booking Holdings & More

Here are Thursday’s biggest calls on Wall Street:

Here’s a roundup of the biggest analyst calls on Wall Street this Thursday featuring fresh initiations, upgrades, and reiterated buys across fintech, tech, energy, and more.

‍

Citi launches coverage on fintech leaders with bullish outlook
Citi kicked off coverage on several prominent fintech and payments companies, expressing optimism for the sector’s growth prospects. The firm initiated Buy ratings on Visa, Mastercard, Block, Toast, Affirm, Global Payments, and Bill Holdings, citing strong fundamentals and long-term digital payment tailwinds.

‍

JPMorgan upgrades Lending Club to Overweight
JPMorgan boosted Lending Club from Neutral to Overweight, suggesting the company is at a turning point. The analysts noted that stronger loan buyer demand and improving profitability make the stock increasingly attractive in the current lending environment.

‍

Rosenblatt stays bullish on Galaxy Digital
Rosenblatt reaffirmed its Buy rating on Galaxy Digital, praising the crypto firm’s record-breaking quarter. “Despite high expectations, Galaxy delivered stellar results, posting significantly higher net revenue fueled by robust market gains,” the firm said.

‍

Deutsche Bank upgrades U.S. Bancorp to Buy
Deutsche Bank raised U.S. Bancorp from Hold to Buy, pointing to multiple catalysts supporting the bank’s next leg higher. The upgrade reflects the stock’s favorable valuation, stronger credibility in meeting guidance, an improved capital base, and minimal merger-and-acquisition risk.

‍

KeyBanc initiates Booking Holdings with Overweight rating
Booking Holdings earned an Overweight rating from KeyBanc, which praised the company’s strong positioning within the global travel industry.
The firm highlighted Booking’s operational excellence, global scale, marketing efficiency, shareholder returns, and growing loyalty program as key advantages.

‍

JPMorgan upgrades Avery Dennison to Overweight
JPMorgan lifted its rating on Avery Dennison following news of a new partnership with Walmart. The collaboration will use RFID technology in Walmart’s fresh food categories including bakery, meat, and deli a move analysts say could accelerate Avery’s digital ID initiatives.

‍

Deutsche Bank turns positive on CME Group
Following third-quarter earnings, Deutsche Bank upgraded CME Group to Buy from Hold. The analysts expect the exchange operator’s strategic growth plans especially in prediction markets to drive high single-digit earnings growth in the coming year after a solid 9–10% expansion this year.

‍

Bernstein reaffirms Netflix as Outperform
Bernstein maintained its Outperform rating on Netflix, encouraging investors to buy the dip. While engagement growth has lagged subscriber expansion, analysts said the platform continues to dominate long-form streaming and that short-form competition, though a near-term concern, shouldn’t derail its long-term story.

‍

Bank of America reiterates IBM as Buy
IBM earned a reaffirmed Buy from Bank of America, which lifted its price target to $315 per share from $310 after an earnings beat. The firm described IBM’s quarter as “clean,” with strength across both revenue and earnings per share.

‍

UBS initiates UP Fintech with Buy rating
UBS launched coverage of UP Fintech (also known as TIGR) with a Buy rating, noting growth potential in Asia’s wealth management space. The firm said the online brokerage stands to benefit from rising investor demand in Hong Kong and Singapore for efficient, tech-driven investment platforms.

‍

Bernstein initiates BellRing Brands as Outperform
BellRing Brands was started at Outperform by Bernstein, which urged investors to take advantage of recent price weakness. The firm noted that after sliding from a high of around $79 in May to the low $30s, the stock’s pullback presents opportunity. Recent retail inventory shifts and promotional pressures have weighed on results, but Bernstein sees a rebound ahead.

‍

Jefferies initiates Gulfport Energy as Buy
Jefferies began coverage on Gulfport Energy with a Buy rating, arguing that the market undervalues the company’s asset base and operational execution. Analysts believe Gulfport’s inventory strength is underappreciated and that its cost discipline could drive sustained value creation.

‍

Deutsche Bank reiterates Tesla as Buy
Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its Buy rating on Tesla and nudged its price target to $440 from $435 after earnings. Analysts said CEO Elon Musk remains deeply engaged and that his compensation package is key to maintaining momentum. They also expect Tesla’s progress in full self-driving (FSD) and humanoid robotics to strengthen its competitive edge over time.

‍

Roth upgrades Core Scientific to Buy
Roth raised Core Scientific to Buy from Neutral, now assuming no deal with CoreWeave will occur. “With shareholders signaling opposition and CoreWeave calling its bid ‘best and final,’ we no longer expect a renegotiation,” the firm said, adding that the current setup could favor Core Scientific’s valuation.

‍

Deutsche Bank reiterates Microsoft as Buy
Deutsche Bank once again backed Microsoft with a Buy rating, expressing increased confidence ahead of the company’s upcoming earnings.
After meeting with executives and investor relations during the firm’s tech conference and site visits, Deutsche said it’s even more optimistic about Microsoft’s positioning in cloud and AI particularly its hybrid Azure solutions and enterprise applications.

‍