Analyst activity on Friday was dominated by upgrades in specialty chemicals and semiconductors. IFF — International Flavors & Fragrances — received a consensus upgrade. The average target price now stands at $91.21. That follows a broader shift in sell-side sentiment, with the hold count rising to 15 and buy coverage ticking up to five analysts.
Applied Materials saw its average target price lifted to $606.20. 31 analysts now back the chip equipment giant with a buy rating. The stock carries just 2.8% short interest as a percentage of free float.
Pharma faced headwinds. Pfizer had its average target trimmed to $28.94, with two sell ratings now on the books. Merck bucked that trend slightly. Its average target edged up to $132.33.
Honeywell attracted a new recommendation. Six analysts now rate the industrial giant a buy. The consensus shift is notable — hold ratings jumped from three to seven.
In energy, Targa Resources and both received upward target revisions, with consensus remaining firmly bullish on both names.
ORTEX Market Intelligence content is generated by AI from a snapshot of ORTEX's proprietary data. Content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.
