Three Stocks with Upgraded Ratings as Markets Reach New Highs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 17 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Biotech Outlook: Biogen, a leading biotech firm, anticipates a 3.3% year-over-year earnings increase in 2026, supported by a 2.9% upgrade in broker ratings over the past month, reflecting ongoing innovation in neurological disease treatments and market confidence.
- Connectivity Growth: TE Connectivity expects a 26.5% rise in earnings for fiscal 2026, with a 5.3% increase in broker ratings in the last four weeks, indicating strong market demand and competitive advantages in emerging technologies like 5G and electric vehicles.
- Express Delivery Performance: ZTO Express forecasts a 14.6% earnings growth in 2026, bolstered by a 10% upgrade in broker ratings recently, showcasing its leadership in domestic and international express delivery services and ongoing expansion potential.
- Improved Market Sentiment: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs due to improved peace prospects between the U.S. and Iran and robust macroeconomic data, enhancing investor confidence in these stocks.
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Analyst Views on BIIB
Wall Street analysts forecast BIIB stock price to rise
26 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
14 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 192.620
Low
143.00
Averages
204.45
High
246.00
Current: 192.620
Low
143.00
Averages
204.45
High
246.00
About BIIB
Biogen Inc. is a biotechnology company. The Company is focused on discovering, developing and delivering therapies. It has a portfolio of medicines to treat Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has introduced an approved treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), co-developed treatments to address a defining pathology of Alzheimer's disease and launched an approved treatment to target a genetic cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It markets a drug approved in United States, European Union and certain international markets for the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia (FA) in adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older. It is focused on advancing its pipeline in neurology, specialized immunology and rare diseases. Its marketed products include VUMERITY, TYSABRI, TECFIDERA, AVONEX and PLEGRIDY for the treatment of MS; SPINRAZA for the treatment of SMA; SKYCLARYS for the treatment of FA, and QALSODY for the treatment of ALS. Its commercialized products also include EMPAVELI and SYFOVRE.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Investigation Launched: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Biogen Inc. has engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, aiming to protect investor rights and potentially initiate a class action lawsuit.
- Clinical Trial Results: On May 14, 2026, Biogen announced topline results from the Phase 2 CELIA study evaluating diranersen (BIIB080) for early Alzheimer's disease, which, despite being described as 'compelling,' failed to meet its primary dose-response endpoint.
- Stock Price Reaction: Following the disappointing clinical trial results, Biogen's stock price fell by $13.16, or 6.43%, closing at $191.37 per share, indicating market concerns regarding the company's future prospects.
- Legal Context: Pomerantz LLP, a prominent firm in securities class action litigation with over 85 years of experience, focuses on fighting for the rights of victims of securities fraud and corporate misconduct, which could significantly impact Biogen's future legal liabilities.
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- BofA Upgrades Brown-Forman: Bank of America upgraded Brown-Forman from underperform to neutral, citing better-than-expected Q4/FY26 results and consistent sales delivery, indicating a more constructive outlook that could enhance market performance.
- Goldman Sachs Upgrades W.R. Berkley: Goldman Sachs upgraded W.R. Berkley from neutral to buy, believing that sustainable underwriting activity will yield long-term benefits for investors, reflecting stability and growth potential in the insurance sector.
- Morgan Stanley Initiates Cerebras: Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Cerebras with an overweight rating, highlighting unique demand for low-latency inference solutions that is driving growth, with projected revenues of $6 billion by 2028 indicating a strong market outlook.
- UBS Upgrades Cummins: UBS upgraded Cummins from neutral to buy and raised the price target to $850, anticipating double-digit growth in its power division and the rollout of new engines to drive earnings growth over the next two years.
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- Clinical Trial Success: Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib achieved an overall survival of 13.2 months in a phase 3 trial for metastatic pancreatic cancer, significantly outperforming the chemotherapy group's 6.7 months, indicating its potential to become the new standard of care and enhancing the company's market position in oncology.
- Massive Market Potential: Analysts predict that daraxonrasib could generate $8.5 billion annually in the metastatic pancreatic cancer market alone, and if approved for additional indications, peak sales could be even higher, highlighting Revolution Medicines' strategic value in addressing high-unmet-need cancer treatments.
- Valuation Risks: With a market cap of $33.6 billion, Revolution Medicines is valued higher than Biogen's $29.3 billion despite lacking market products, suggesting that while the market is optimistic about its future, any clinical or regulatory setbacks could lead to significant stock price declines, increasing investment risks.
- Cautious Investment Advice: Despite Revolution Medicines' impressive clinical progress, analysts recommend that investors wait for a pullback before initiating positions to mitigate risks and gradually build their holdings as the company continues to achieve clinical milestones.
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- Significant Clinical Progress: Revolution Medicines has seen its stock price surge nearly 285% over the past year and close to 100% this year alone, reflecting the market's high expectations for its advancements in cancer treatment.
- Drug Development Outlook: The company's leading candidate, daraxonrasib, demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a phase 3 trial, with an overall survival of 13.2 months for pancreatic cancer patients compared to 6.7 months for chemotherapy, potentially establishing a new standard of care.
- Massive Market Potential: Analysts predict that daraxonrasib could generate $8.5 billion annually in the pancreatic cancer market alone, and if approved for other indications, peak sales could be even higher, showcasing Revolution Medicines' vast market opportunities.
- Risks and Challenges: Despite the optimistic outlook, Revolution Medicines faces clinical and regulatory risks, operates without revenue, and boasts a market cap of $33.6 billion, exceeding many established biotech firms, meaning any negative news could lead to significant stock price declines.
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- Accelerated Acquisition Activity: In 2026, global biopharma M&A deal value reached $106 billion across 201 transactions, reflecting a strong acquisition appetite among pharmaceutical companies facing patent expirations, with projections suggesting total deal value could exceed $250 billion for the year, marking the sector's best performance since the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.
- Increasing Deal Sizes: The average deal size has climbed to $527.3 million in 2026, up from $365 million in 2025, indicating that pharmaceutical firms are focusing on acquiring high-value assets to enhance their product portfolios and competitive positioning in the market.
- Strategic Acquisition Preferences: Companies are shifting towards strategic “bolt-on” acquisitions in the $1 billion to $5 billion range rather than large leveraged buyouts or mega-mergers, enabling them to quickly supplement near-commercial products while also investing in early-stage assets to access innovative technologies.
- Major Deal Examples: The five largest M&A transactions in 2026 include Sun Pharmaceutical's $11.75 billion acquisition of Organon, Gilead's $7.8 billion purchase of Arcellx, Merck's $6.7 billion acquisition of Terns, Eli Lilly's $7.8 billion deal for Centessa, and Biogen's $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis, highlighting the industry's consolidation trend and demand for new technologies.
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- FDA Breakthrough Designation: Biogen's salanersen has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and is expected to enhance the company's competitive position in the rare disease market.
- Clinical Trial Insights: In a phase 1b study involving 24 participants aged 0.5 to 12 years, salanersen demonstrated potential in improving motor function and slowing neurodegeneration in children who had previously undergone gene therapy, bolstering its clinical application prospects.
- Neurodegeneration Biomarker Improvement: Participants treated with salanersen showed a 75% reduction in neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels at six months, indicating not only treatment efficacy but also providing robust data support for future market promotion.
- Good Safety Profile: The ongoing phase 1 study indicated that both dose groups of salanersen were well-tolerated, with common adverse events being mild to moderate, demonstrating the drug's safety and feasibility in clinical applications.
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