(This is CNBC Pro’s live coverage of Thursday’s analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) An auto giant and a toymaker were among the biggest names being talked about by analysts on Thursday. Bernstein initiated Ford Motor with a buy rating, calling for more than 30% upside. Meanwhile, JPMorgan upgraded Hasbro to overweight from neutral and said the stock was poised to rise more than 20%. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 5:55 a.m.: Bernstein initiates Ford at an outperform rating Investors who don’t own Ford are missing out, according to Bernstein. The firm initiated the automobile manufacturer at an outperform rating. Analyst Daniel Roeska also set a price target of $16, implying a 33% upside from Wednesday’s close. Shares of Ford have slipped 1% this year, but Roeska didn’t let the stock’s underwhelming performance this year deter him from his long-term optimism. The company’s forays into the electric vehicle market could further bolster its stock, on top of its already strong pickup truck and large SUV business. “The iconic automaker continues to enjoy strong profits from its core markets and a policy driven investment cycle in the U.S,” he wrote. “While electric execution looms large, we see a clear path to significant operating leverage and ultimately profits for the company’s EV unit.” In the medium term, Roeska believes that operating leverage and a strong industrials cycle could offset pricing headwinds in various markets. With that in mind, he says that the upper range of Ford’s 2024 guidance could be in reach. Ultimately, the analyst expects Ford to narrow its 2024 guidance, which could meaningful propel the stock higher. — Lisa Kailai Han 5:55 a.m.: JPMorgan upgrades Hasbro Don’t expect Hasbro’s momentum to slow in the near future, according to JPMorgan. The bank upgraded shares of the toymaker to overweight from neutral. It also raised its price target on shares to $74 from $61, implying upside of 22%. Analyst Christopher Horvers cited several reasons for the upgrade, including: “At a high level, our estimates remain ahead of the Street as we believe consensus cost efficiency and digital gaming forecasts remain too low while both should ramp into 2H24/1H25;” “Despite our view of some moderation in [point of sale] trends since the toy names reported, we believe the industry is positioned for better growth this year despite a shortened holiday season as green shoots in low ticket/short replacement cycle categories continue to sprout while these retailers … pivot towards driving traffic around events.” Hasbro shares have soared 18% in 2024 after losing 16% in last year. HAS YTD mountain HAS year to date — Fred Imbert
All the market-moving Wall Street chatter from Thursday
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