Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Inflation Rose Less Than Expected. The Labor Department reported this morning that inflation rose less than expected in August.  The CPI rose only +0.1% in August versus the +0.2% increase in July. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy rose +0.1%. Wall Street economist had expected a +0.2% for both the CPI and Core CPI numbers.

Upgrades:

American States Water (AWR): Brean Capital raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $28.00 on the company.

Broadcom (BRCM): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $33.00 to $35.00. Pre-market: 27.33 +0.42 (1.56%)

Delta Airlines (DAL): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $22.00 to $26.00. Pre-market: 23.64 +0.49 (2.12%)

FreightCar America (RAIL): Stephens raised their rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and raised their target price from $18.00 to $24.00. Pre-market: 19.96 +0.66 (3.42%)

Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $78.00 to $88.00. Pre-market: 76.11 0.00 (0.00%)

US Airways (LCC): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $18.00 to $26.00. Pre-market: 18.58 +0.51 (2.82%)

Verizon Communications (VZ): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $54.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

Comstock Resources (CRK): Howard Weil lowered their rating from Sector Outperform to Sector Perform. Pre-market: 15.89 -0.12 (-0.75%)

ConAgra Foods (CAG): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $36.00 to $33.00.

Kellogg (K): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Neutral to Underweight and lowered their target price from $65.00 to $60.00.

Steven Madden (SHOO): Wedbush lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and maintained their target price of $55.00.

Coverage Initiated:

Angie’s List (ANGI): Telsey Advisory Group placed a target price of $29.00 on the company. Pre-market: 20.83 +0.59 (2.92%)

Perrigo (PRGO): CRT Capital initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $145.00.

Earning Reports:

Coty (COTY): Reported EPS of $0.03 beating estimates by +$0.01.

FactSet Research (FDS): Reported EPS of $1.20 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 111.00 -1.25 (-1.11%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:20: Dow +0.05%. S&P +0.01%. Nasdaq +0.11%. Crude -0.43% to $106.12. Gold +0.10% to $1319.00. U.S. 10 Year +7/32 2.841%.

Europe: London -0.49%. Paris -0.23%. Frankfurt -0.21%. 

Asia: Japan -0.65% to 14312. Hong Kong -0.31% to 23181. China -2.05% to 2186. India +0.31% to 19804.