Moody's Corp Upgraded to Outperform with Price Target Raised to $590
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AMD?
Source: Benzinga
- Moody's Upgrade: Daiwa Capital analyst Kazuya Nishimura upgraded Moody's Corp (NYSE:MCO) from Neutral to Outperform and raised the price target from $500 to $590, indicating strong confidence in its growth prospects.
- AMD Rating Boost: Keybanc analyst John Vinh upgraded Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD) from Sector Weight to Overweight with a price target of $270, reflecting optimism about its market performance.
- CenterPoint Energy Upgrade: BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker upgraded CenterPoint Energy Inc (NYSE:CNP) from Market Perform to Outperform while maintaining a price target of $42, suggesting a positive outlook on its future performance.
- Intel Rating Increase: Keybanc analyst John Vinh upgraded Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC) from Sector Weight to Overweight with a price target of $60, demonstrating recognition of its market potential.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy AMD?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on AMD
Wall Street analysts forecast AMD stock price to rise
33 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 203.080
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
Current: 203.080
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is a global semiconductor company. The Company is focused on high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Its segments include Data Center, Client and Gaming, and Embedded. Data Center segment includes artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, microprocessors (CPUs) for servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), accelerated processing units (APUs), data processing units (DPUs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), smart network interface Cards (SmartNICs) and Adaptive system-on-Chip (SoC) products for data centers. Client and Gaming segment includes CPUs, APUs, chipsets for desktops and notebooks, discrete GPUs, and semi-custom SoC products and development services. Embedded segment includes embedded CPUs, GPUs, APUs, FPGAs, system on modules (SOMs), and Adaptive SoC products. It markets and sells its products under the AMD trademark. Its products include AMD EPYC, AMD Ryzen, AMD Ryzen PRO, Virtex UltraScale+, and others.
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.
AMD Stock Pullback Presents Buying Opportunity
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Despite a more than 17% drop in AMD's stock following its Q4 2025 earnings report, the company achieved impressive revenue and earnings growth, projecting a 32% year-over-year increase in Q2 2026 to $9.8 billion, indicating robust market demand and business resilience.
- Margin Improvement: AMD anticipates a non-GAAP gross margin of 55% in the current quarter, up 2 percentage points from last year, primarily driven by the launch of its latest AI data center processors, reflecting successful positioning in high-margin product lines.
- Market Reaction Analysis: Although AMD's earnings and outlook exceeded Wall Street expectations, the stock fell 4.8% as investors took profits, creating an opportunity for new investors to enter at a relatively attractive valuation with a current P/E ratio of 31, indicating potential investment value.
- Future Growth Potential: Analysts forecast a 60% increase in AMD's earnings for both 2026 and 2027, significantly above the S&P 500 average, and if AMD trades at 22 times earnings in three years, its stock price could reach $309, representing a 51% increase from current levels, showcasing strong long-term growth potential.
See More
AI Regulation Showdown in New York Congressional Race
- Ad Campaign Support: The Jobs and Democracy PAC, aligned with the Democratic Party, is launching a six-figure ad campaign to support Alex Bores in New York's 12th congressional district, where Bores is a key proponent of the RAISE Act, which mandates large AI developers to publish safety protocols and report serious misuse of their technologies.
- Competitive Primary: Bores faces a crowded field in the Democratic primary, and given the district's demographics, the winner of this primary is likely to secure the general election, making AI regulation a pivotal issue for voters.
- Bipartisan Backing: The Jobs and Democracy PAC is part of a larger bipartisan initiative led by former lawmakers Brad Carson and Chris Stewart to support candidates advocating for increased AI regulation, recently bolstered by a $20 million donation from Anthropic.
- Regulatory Debate Intensifies: Congressional discussions on AI regulation are centered around whether to temporarily ban states from implementing certain AI laws to prevent a patchwork of regulations, with proponents arguing it could slow AI development, although the proposal has failed to gain bipartisan support.
See More
Samsung HBM4 Memory Chip Price Surge
- Price Surge Trend: Samsung Electronics is negotiating a price of about $700 per unit for its next-generation High Bandwidth Memory HBM4, which is 20%-30% higher than the previous generation, indicating a regained pricing power in the scarce AI memory market that could enhance semiconductor profits.
- Production Milestone: Samsung has commenced mass production of HBM4 and shipped commercial products to customers, aiming to recover its market position after initially trailing SK Hynix in early AI memory momentum, signaling a resurgence in its competitive edge in the high-end AI memory sector.
- Smartphone Cost Impact: The rising memory prices are prompting Samsung to consider a price increase of 100,000 to 200,000 won for the Galaxy S26 series, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB potentially exceeding 2 million won, which will directly affect the bill of materials for its smartphones.
- Market Competition Dynamics: Analysts expect SK Hynix to supply about 70% of HBM4, while Samsung will provide roughly 30%, suggesting that Samsung may narrow the pricing gap with SK Hynix in the coming years, especially if it supplies more premium-priced HBM to Nvidia.
See More
OpenAI CEO Highlights Remarkable Progress of Chinese Tech in AI
- Remarkable Progress: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted in a CNBC interview that China's advancements in artificial intelligence are 'remarkable,' particularly in the race against the U.S. to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), showcasing strong technological capabilities.
- Competitive Frontier: Altman noted that while Chinese tech companies are nearing the frontier in some areas, they lag in others, indicating a potentially uneven development that could impact the global tech competition landscape.
- Societal Technology Rollout: As China accelerates the rollout of AI technologies across various societal sectors, Altman's comments underscore China's significance in the global tech ecosystem, which may attract more investment and collaboration opportunities.
- International Cooperation Potential: Altman's remarks not only reflect recognition of China's tech progress but may also lay the groundwork for future U.S.-China cooperation in AI, fostering technology sharing and innovation.
See More
Fed Meeting Minutes Reveal Policy Divisions Among Officials
- Fed Policy Divisions: The minutes released on Wednesday indicate that most Federal Reserve officials agreed to hold interest rates steady at the January meeting, yet there were disagreements on the future monetary policy path, with some prioritizing labor market support over inflation control, potentially impacting future rate decisions.
- Market Expectation Shifts: Traders estimate a roughly 50% chance of the Fed cutting rates in June, suggesting a shift in market expectations regarding future interest rate movements, which could influence investor decisions and market volatility.
- AI Summit Highlights: At the AI Impact Summit in India, business leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai attended, with Adani announcing a $100 billion investment in AI data centers in India, showcasing a strong commitment to the AI sector.
- ECB Leadership Change: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde plans to resign before her term ends in October 2027, allowing French President Emmanuel Macron to influence her successor, a move that has led to the Stoxx 600 index hitting a record high, reflecting market optimism about future policies.
See More
India's AI Industry Receives Major Investments
- Investment Commitment: Amazon and Microsoft have pledged to invest $50 billion in India's AI ecosystem, demonstrating confidence in the country's technological development while providing local businesses with the necessary funding to accelerate growth in the AI sector.
- Infrastructure Development: Blackstone's $600 million investment in Indian AI infrastructure startup Neysa highlights the importance of foreign capital in the Indian AI market, which is expected to drive innovation and application of related technologies.
- Policy Support: The Indian government has announced a 400 billion Indian rupee ($4.4 billion) push for electronics manufacturing and a tax holiday for foreign cloud service companies using Indian data centers, aiming to attract more international firms to participate in local AI development.
- Market Challenges: Despite significant investments and policy support, analysts point out that India still faces numerous challenges in the AI sector, including a lack of sufficient regulatory frameworks and capital infusion, which could hinder its competitiveness in the global market.
See More
AMD Stock Pullback Presents Buying Opportunity
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Despite a more than 17% drop in AMD's stock following its Q4 2025 earnings report, the company achieved impressive revenue and earnings growth, projecting a 32% year-over-year increase in Q2 2026 to $9.8 billion, indicating robust market demand and business resilience.
- Margin Improvement: AMD anticipates a non-GAAP gross margin of 55% in the current quarter, up 2 percentage points from last year, primarily driven by the launch of its latest AI data center processors, reflecting successful positioning in high-margin product lines.
- Market Reaction Analysis: Although AMD's earnings and outlook exceeded Wall Street expectations, the stock fell 4.8% as investors took profits, creating an opportunity for new investors to enter at a relatively attractive valuation with a current P/E ratio of 31, indicating potential investment value.
- Future Growth Potential: Analysts forecast a 60% increase in AMD's earnings for both 2026 and 2027, significantly above the S&P 500 average, and if AMD trades at 22 times earnings in three years, its stock price could reach $309, representing a 51% increase from current levels, showcasing strong long-term growth potential.
See More
AI Regulation Showdown in New York Congressional Race
- Ad Campaign Support: The Jobs and Democracy PAC, aligned with the Democratic Party, is launching a six-figure ad campaign to support Alex Bores in New York's 12th congressional district, where Bores is a key proponent of the RAISE Act, which mandates large AI developers to publish safety protocols and report serious misuse of their technologies.
- Competitive Primary: Bores faces a crowded field in the Democratic primary, and given the district's demographics, the winner of this primary is likely to secure the general election, making AI regulation a pivotal issue for voters.
- Bipartisan Backing: The Jobs and Democracy PAC is part of a larger bipartisan initiative led by former lawmakers Brad Carson and Chris Stewart to support candidates advocating for increased AI regulation, recently bolstered by a $20 million donation from Anthropic.
- Regulatory Debate Intensifies: Congressional discussions on AI regulation are centered around whether to temporarily ban states from implementing certain AI laws to prevent a patchwork of regulations, with proponents arguing it could slow AI development, although the proposal has failed to gain bipartisan support.
See More
Samsung HBM4 Memory Chip Price Surge
- Price Surge Trend: Samsung Electronics is negotiating a price of about $700 per unit for its next-generation High Bandwidth Memory HBM4, which is 20%-30% higher than the previous generation, indicating a regained pricing power in the scarce AI memory market that could enhance semiconductor profits.
- Production Milestone: Samsung has commenced mass production of HBM4 and shipped commercial products to customers, aiming to recover its market position after initially trailing SK Hynix in early AI memory momentum, signaling a resurgence in its competitive edge in the high-end AI memory sector.
- Smartphone Cost Impact: The rising memory prices are prompting Samsung to consider a price increase of 100,000 to 200,000 won for the Galaxy S26 series, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB potentially exceeding 2 million won, which will directly affect the bill of materials for its smartphones.
- Market Competition Dynamics: Analysts expect SK Hynix to supply about 70% of HBM4, while Samsung will provide roughly 30%, suggesting that Samsung may narrow the pricing gap with SK Hynix in the coming years, especially if it supplies more premium-priced HBM to Nvidia.
See More
OpenAI CEO Highlights Remarkable Progress of Chinese Tech in AI
- Remarkable Progress: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted in a CNBC interview that China's advancements in artificial intelligence are 'remarkable,' particularly in the race against the U.S. to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), showcasing strong technological capabilities.
- Competitive Frontier: Altman noted that while Chinese tech companies are nearing the frontier in some areas, they lag in others, indicating a potentially uneven development that could impact the global tech competition landscape.
- Societal Technology Rollout: As China accelerates the rollout of AI technologies across various societal sectors, Altman's comments underscore China's significance in the global tech ecosystem, which may attract more investment and collaboration opportunities.
- International Cooperation Potential: Altman's remarks not only reflect recognition of China's tech progress but may also lay the groundwork for future U.S.-China cooperation in AI, fostering technology sharing and innovation.
See More
Fed Meeting Minutes Reveal Policy Divisions Among Officials
- Fed Policy Divisions: The minutes released on Wednesday indicate that most Federal Reserve officials agreed to hold interest rates steady at the January meeting, yet there were disagreements on the future monetary policy path, with some prioritizing labor market support over inflation control, potentially impacting future rate decisions.
- Market Expectation Shifts: Traders estimate a roughly 50% chance of the Fed cutting rates in June, suggesting a shift in market expectations regarding future interest rate movements, which could influence investor decisions and market volatility.
- AI Summit Highlights: At the AI Impact Summit in India, business leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai attended, with Adani announcing a $100 billion investment in AI data centers in India, showcasing a strong commitment to the AI sector.
- ECB Leadership Change: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde plans to resign before her term ends in October 2027, allowing French President Emmanuel Macron to influence her successor, a move that has led to the Stoxx 600 index hitting a record high, reflecting market optimism about future policies.
See More
India's AI Industry Receives Major Investments
- Investment Commitment: Amazon and Microsoft have pledged to invest $50 billion in India's AI ecosystem, demonstrating confidence in the country's technological development while providing local businesses with the necessary funding to accelerate growth in the AI sector.
- Infrastructure Development: Blackstone's $600 million investment in Indian AI infrastructure startup Neysa highlights the importance of foreign capital in the Indian AI market, which is expected to drive innovation and application of related technologies.
- Policy Support: The Indian government has announced a 400 billion Indian rupee ($4.4 billion) push for electronics manufacturing and a tax holiday for foreign cloud service companies using Indian data centers, aiming to attract more international firms to participate in local AI development.
- Market Challenges: Despite significant investments and policy support, analysts point out that India still faces numerous challenges in the AI sector, including a lack of sufficient regulatory frameworks and capital infusion, which could hinder its competitiveness in the global market.
See More
