Wall Street delivered a mixed bag of ratings this week. The headline move was a downgrade of EPAM Systems, the IT services group with a $5.3 billion market cap. Analysts cut it to a lower tier, with the consensus target slipping to $146.71 from $147.88. Short interest is elevated at 19.2% of free float, signalling continued bearish pressure.
NetApp grabbed attention for the opposite reason. Its average analyst target jumped to $137.53 from $121.27 — a 13% leap. The storage networking firm reported strong quarterly results this week, and analysts responded in kind. Short interest sits at 11.4% of free float, but shares remain well-owned.
Block also saw its consensus target edge higher to $90.52. The payments group carries low short interest of just 3.9% of free float, and analysts broadly remain positive.
Palo Alto Networks attracted another target upgrade. The cybersecurity giant's average target rose to $230.82. It holds 44 buy ratings versus just one sell, cementing its status as a Wall Street favourite.
Dollar General bucked the trend. Its target dipped to $137.93, with the discount retailer facing ongoing consumer spending headwinds.
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