Recent Articles from StockStory

Shares of equipment rental company United Rentals (NYSE:URI) jumped 1.9% in the morning session after the company announced it acquired the Australian rental company Alfasi Hire. 

Shares of diversified healthcare company CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) jumped 3.2% in the morning session after the company raised its financial guidance for 2025 and provided a strong forecast for 2026 at its Investor Day event. 

Shares of plant-based protein company Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) jumped 4% in the morning session after a partial recovery followed a significant sell-off in previous trading sessions. 

Shares of footwear company Caleres (NYSE:CAL) fell 10.4% in the morning session after It reported disappointing third-quarter results and issued a full-year profit forecast that was significantly below expectations. 

Shares of auto parts and accessories retailer Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) fell 6.1% in the morning session after competitor AutoZone reported first-quarter results that signaled potential weakness across the auto parts retail sector. While AutoZone's net sales grew, its gross margin compressed to 51.0%, and its diluted earnings per share (EPS) declined to $31.04. The drop in profitability for a major industry player raised concerns among investors about sector-wide challenges. This kind of pressure on margins and earnings at a key competitor often suggests that other companies in the same market, like Advance Auto Parts, could face similar headwinds.

Shares of casual salad chain Sweetgreen (NYSE:SG) jumped 3.9% in the morning session after RBC Capital raised its price target on the stock, and the company launched a new value-focused promotional meal. The investment bank increased its price target to $8 from $7 while keeping an Outperform rating on the shares. This analyst action coincided with the company's introduction of the 'Tis the Seasoned Harvest Bowl with Blackened Chicken. The meal was offered nationwide for a limited time at a price of $10 for members of its loyalty program. This was seen as one of the chain's strongest value plays yet to attract customers.

Shares of voice AI technology company SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN) fell 0.9% in the morning session after the stock extended its year-to-date losses amid signs of growing investor skepticism. The move contributed to a difficult year for the voice AI company, with reports highlighting that shares had already dropped around 36% since the start of the year. This performance trailed its industry peers and the broader market. The decline occurred as the company, once popular with retail traders, faced increasing doubt from investors. SoundHound's drop was more significant than the slight dip seen in the wider tech sector during the session.

Shares of auto parts and accessories retailer AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) fell 6.3% in the morning session after it reported fourth-quarter earnings and sales that fell short of Wall Street expectations. The company's earnings per share came in at $31.04, missing analyst forecasts of $32.40. While net sales grew 8.2% year-over-year to $4.63 billion, the figure was slightly below estimates of $4.65 billion. Furthermore, same-store sales, a key performance indicator for retailers, rose 4.7% year-on-year. The company's profitability also weakened, with its gross margin declining by 2 percentage points and its operating margin falling to 16.9% from 19.7% in the same quarter last year, contributing to lower-than-expected profits.

Shares of life sciences cloud software provider Veeva Systems (NYSE:VEEV) fell 3% in the morning session after a lack of positive news catalysts allowed technical trading patterns to dominate, continuing its recent underperformance. According to technical analysis, the stock's recent price behavior had been difficult. Its technical rating was poor, with negative trends observed in both the short and long term. The stock also underperformed the wider S&P 500 index over recent months. This downward move was followed by a consolidation period, a pattern that some traders viewed as a potential signal for further declines.

Shares of dental products company Envista Holdings (NYSE:NVST) jumped 3.2% in the morning session after Barclays initiated coverage on the stock with an 'Overweight' rating and a $24 price target. The new rating from the financial firm suggested a positive outlook on the company's future performance. An 'Overweight' rating typically means the analyst believes the stock will do better than the average return of other stocks in its sector. The assigned $24 price target also indicated potential for the stock to rise from its previous trading level. This type of new coverage from a major firm can boost investor confidence and often leads to increased interest in a stock.

Shares of homebuilding company Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) fell 1.1% in the morning session after the company reported third-quarter results that missed profit expectations and signaled weakening demand for its luxury homes. 

Shares of online money transfer platform Remitly (NASDAQ:RELY) jumped 4.1% in the morning session after the company unveiled a positive medium-term outlook and set financial targets for 2026 and 2028 during its Investor Day event. During the event, Remitly shared its vision for building a global financial services company. Management provided financial targets for 2028, with revenue expected to be in a range of $2.6 billion to $3.0 billion and Adjusted EBITDA projected between $575 million and $600 million. The company also stated it would balance revenue growth and profitability to achieve a "Rule of 40" framework by 2028, meaning the sum of its revenue growth rate and profit margin would aim to be at least 40%. To reach these goals, Remitly planned to introduce new value-added financial services and enter high-growth areas to deepen engagement with customers. The company's CFO noted that its financial model was built on a foundation of durable growth.

Shares of data center products and services company Vertiv (NYSE:VRT) fell 3.2% in the morning session after Wolfe Research downgraded its stock from Outperform to Peer Perform and the company was not selected for inclusion in the S&P 500 index. Adding to the pressure, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that Ares Management would join the benchmark index, while Vertiv, a data-center infrastructure company, was among those that missed out this round. Inclusion in a major index like the S&P 500 often leads to increased demand for a stock from index-tracking funds. Therefore, being passed over was viewed as a setback by investors.

Shares of alternate site health provider Option Care Health (NASDAQ:OPCH) jumped 4.7% in the morning session after the company received positive commentary from multiple financial analysts, including price target increases from Deutsche Bank and BofA Securities. Deutsche Bank raised its price target on the stock to $36 from $31, while keeping a Buy rating. Similarly, BofA Securities lifted its target to $35 from $32 and also maintained its Buy rating. The move from BofA followed a conference where Option Care Health's management reaffirmed the company's long-term goals. These targets included expectations for high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit earnings growth, signaling confidence in the company's future performance. The updates contributed to a broadly positive view among analysts.

Shares of exercise equipment company Peloton (NASDAQ:PTON) jumped 6.2% in the morning session after the company officially launched its 2025 holiday sales event for its fitness equipment. The promotions, which covered the company's popular Bikes, Treads, and Rows, were designed to drive sales during the crucial holiday shopping season. By offering discounts, Peloton aimed to attract new customers and boost its revenue. The market's positive reaction suggested investors were optimistic that the sales event could lead to stronger financial performance for the connected fitness company.

Shares of mobile app technology company AppLovin (NASDAQ:APP) jumped 3.6% in the morning session after the company provided a positive business update during its presentation at the Nasdaq 53rd Investor Conference. During the conference, AppLovin highlighted that its mobile gaming and ad tech growth remained robust. This strength was driven by ongoing improvements to its models and the introduction of new self-serve tools for clients. The company also noted that its AI-powered advertising solutions were successfully expanding its advertisers' reach, pointing to continued market expansion.

Shares of regional banking company KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) jumped 3.9% in the morning session after the company released a positive investor presentation for the Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference, highlighting expectations for a record revenue year. The presentation detailed a strong financial outlook, with the company projecting adjusted total revenue to grow by more than 15% year-over-year. Additionally, net interest income was anticipated to increase by over 22%. KeyCorp also outlined its plans to return capital to shareholders, including the repurchase of approximately $200 million in shares in the fourth quarter. This move was part of a larger, remaining authorization of about $800 million for capital returns.

Shares of student loan provider Sallie Mae (NASDAQ:SLM) fell 16.4% in the morning session after multiple analysts downgraded the stock, citing concerns about a higher expense outlook. Morgan Stanley lowered its rating on the student loan company from 'Overweight' to 'Equalweight' and cut its price target. The change came after Sallie Mae presented a scenario that showed potentially higher-than-expected expenses in 2026 and 2027 as it prepared for new loan opportunities and potential government changes. Due to this outlook, Morgan Stanley reduced its earnings per share estimates for those years. Adding to the pressure, Compass Point also downgraded the stock more severely, from 'Buy' to 'Sell,' and significantly lowered its price target from $35.00 to $23.00.

Shares of digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group (NYSE:DBRG) jumped 2.1% in the morning session on continued positive momentum following a massive rally in the previous session driven by reports of a potential acquisition. 

Shares of offshore banking group Butterfield Bank (NYSE:NTB) jumped 2.7% in the morning session after the company announced that its Board of Directors approved a new $140 million share repurchase program. The plan authorized the bank to buy back up to 3.0 million of its ordinary shares through December 31, 2026. This new program was set to begin on January 1, 2026, and replaced an existing repurchase plan. Share buybacks reduce the number of shares available on the market, which can increase the value of the remaining shares. This move was often seen by investors as a sign of confidence from a company's leadership in its own financial future and a commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Shares of beer company Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP) fell 3% in the morning session after concerns grew over the impact of new weight-loss drugs on alcohol sales, a factor cited by Piper Sandler when the firm lowered its price target on the stock. The investment firm cut its price target to $50 from $52, citing recent developments in GLP-1 drugs and other regulatory factors. These types of drugs, often used for weight loss, were believed to be negatively impacting alcohol consumption. This view was previously shared by Molson Coors' former CEO, Gavin Hattersley, who had noted the adverse effects of these drugs. The adjustment from the analyst firm highlighted the increasing caution regarding the potential for these drugs to dampen demand for alcoholic products.

Shares of egg and butter company Vital Farms (NASDAQ:VITL) jumped 6.2% in the morning session after S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the company would be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 index. The news meant that index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the S&P SmallCap 600 needed to buy shares of Vital Farms to mirror the index's composition. This anticipated demand from passive investors often causes a stock's price to increase. According to the announcement, Vital Farms was set to officially join the index before trading began on December 11. The company replaced Heidrick & Struggles International in the index.

Shares of e-commerce florist and gift retailer 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ:FLWS) jumped 18.2% in the morning session after the company announced the appointment of Alexander Zelikovsky as its new Chief Information Officer, which extended a rally from the previous trading session. This move continued the positive reaction from the prior day when the news was first released and the stock gained over 6%. Zelikovsky, a technology leader with over 25 years of experience, previously served as Executive Vice President and Global CIO at Pitney Bowes. His appointment is part of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM's strategy to accelerate its digital transformation under CEO Adolfo Villagomez. Zelikovsky will lead enterprise IT, data management, cybersecurity, and support for AI and digital commerce efforts. The market's sustained positive response suggested investor confidence in the new leadership to drive growth.

Shares of buy-now-pay-later service Sezzle (NASDAQCM:SEZL) jumped 4.8% in the morning session after it was announced the company would be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 index. The disclosure came from S&P Dow Jones Indices, which confirmed that Sezzle was set to replace Vital Energy Inc. in the index. The change was scheduled to be effective before the opening of trading on December 15. Being added to a major index is often viewed positively by investors. This is because index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the S&P SmallCap 600 were then required to purchase Sezzle's shares to match the index's holdings. This activity often created additional buying pressure and demand for the stock.

Sporting goods retailer Academy Sports & Outdoor (NASDAQ:ASO) fell short of the markets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025 as sales rose 3% year on year to $1.38 billion. On the other hand, the company’s outlook for the full year was close to analysts’ estimates with revenue guided to $6.11 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.14 per share was 7.5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Discount retail company Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ:OLLI) met Wall Streets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 18.6% year on year to $613.6 million. The company’s outlook for the full year was close to analysts’ estimates with revenue guided to $2.65 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.75 per share was 2.4% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Packaged food company Campbell's (NASDAQ:CPB) reported Q3 CY2025 results topping the market’s revenue expectations, but sales fell by 3.4% year on year to $2.68 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.77 per share was 5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Fashion conglomerate G-III (NASDAQ:GIII) fell short of the markets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales falling 9% year on year to $988.6 million. The company’s full-year revenue guidance of $2.98 billion at the midpoint came in 1.3% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.90 per share was 17.9% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Auto parts and accessories retailer AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) met Wall Streets revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 8.2% year on year to $4.63 billion. Its GAAP profit of $31.04 per share was 4.2% below analysts’ consensus estimates.

Organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) announced better-than-expected revenue in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 7% year on year to $729.8 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $687 million was less impressive, coming in 1.4% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.33 per share was 1.4% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Footwear company Caleres (NYSE:CAL) reported revenue ahead of Wall Streets expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 6.6% year on year to $790.1 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.38 per share was 55.5% below analysts’ consensus estimates.

Footwear and accessories discount retailer Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) fell short of the markets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales falling 3.2% year on year to $752.4 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.38 per share was significantly above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Water and fire protection solutions company Core & Main (NYSE:CNM) met Wall Streets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 1.2% year on year to $2.06 billion. The company’s outlook for the full year was close to analysts’ estimates with revenue guided to $7.65 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.89 per share was 26% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Asana’s third quarter results were met with a positive market reaction, driven by management’s focus on expanding its AI platform and disciplined cost control. CEO Dan Rogers attributed the performance to improvements in net retention rates and growing customer adoption of AI Studio, saying, “AI Studio delivered another good quarter with solid growth in sequential bookings.” The company also highlighted progress in enterprise and international customer segments, with notable wins in healthcare and financial services. Outgoing COO Anne Raimondi noted strength in customer retention and successful renewals with several large technology clients.

Pure Storage’s third quarter results were met with a significant negative market reaction, driven by concerns over declining operating margins despite strong year-on-year revenue growth. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to sustained enterprise demand and rapid adoption of its Evergreen One and modern virtualization solutions. CEO Charlie Giancarlo emphasized, “Our results were underpinned by continued strength in enterprise and sustained momentum in our Evergreen One and modern virtualization solutions.” The company also noted that shipments to hyperscale customers exceeded full-year forecasts earlier than anticipated, supporting the quarter’s top-line growth.

Box’s third quarter results showed solid operational progress, with revenue coming in above Wall Street’s expectations and non-GAAP profit matching consensus. However, the market responded negatively, with shares trading down notably after the release. Management attributed performance to continued customer adoption of AI-driven products and upgrades to Enterprise Advanced, as well as healthy momentum in billings and net retention. CEO Aaron Levie noted, “The adoption, just the timing of when we started to see the impact of Enterprise Advanced and some of our newer AI capabilities, is exceeding our expectations.”

GitLab’s third quarter results saw revenue and adjusted profits come in ahead of Wall Street expectations, but the market responded negatively as investors focused on a slowdown in net revenue retention and persistent U.S. public sector headwinds. CEO Bill Staples pointed to strong adoption of the company’s Ultimate subscription and increased usage of its platform—metrics like CI pipelines and deployments were up 35% to 45% year over year. Management also cited “softness in the US public sector” due to slower government decision-making as a drag on results.

CrowdStrike’s third quarter was marked by strong revenue growth and margin stability, though the market responded negatively to the results. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to accelerated adoption of its Falcon platform, driven by record net new annual recurring revenue and broad-based strength across cloud, identity, and next-generation SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) offerings. CEO George Kurtz noted that, “AI adoption is supercharging renewed interest in the endpoint as the endpoint is the epicenter of human and nonhuman interaction with AI,” underscoring the importance of endpoint security in the evolving threat landscape.

Marvell Technology’s third quarter delivered results that met Wall Street’s expectations, with the market reacting positively following management’s detailed discussion of drivers behind the company’s 36.8% year-over-year sales growth. Management attributed this momentum to robust demand in the data center market, particularly for high-speed connectivity solutions supporting artificial intelligence workloads. CEO Matthew Murphy highlighted that “momentum in our data center business remains strong with revenue growing 38% year-over-year, fueled by robust AI demand,” while also noting a recovery in the communications and other end markets as customer inventory levels normalized and new products gained traction across enterprise and carrier customers.

American Eagle’s third quarter was marked by a positive market reaction, as revenue and profit both exceeded Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the acceleration to strong demand across the Aerie and Offline brands, as well as effective merchandising and marketing initiatives. CEO Jay Schottenstein highlighted that recent investments in advertising, particularly high-profile campaigns and collaborations, have led to higher customer engagement and an increase in loyalty program membership. The company also noted operational improvements and cost discipline as key contributors to the quarter’s results, even as tariffs created headwinds for margins.

Okta’s third quarter results were shaped by strong customer demand for its expanding identity management portfolio, especially among large enterprises. Management credited the outperformance to robust adoption of new products, such as Okta Identity Governance and AI-focused security solutions, which address increasingly complex identity needs. CEO Todd McKinnon highlighted that, “Customers frustrated managing dozens of disparate identity systems are turning to Okta for a modern, unified platform.” However, the negative market reaction reflected concerns about the sustainability of these recent gains, as some partners and customers remain cautious about consolidating identity solutions amid evolving enterprise IT priorities.

Leslie's third quarter was met with a significant negative market reaction, reflecting investor concerns over ongoing sales declines and a sharp miss on non-GAAP profit expectations. Management attributed the underperformance to continued market share losses, primarily driven by a pricing strategy that fell out of alignment with competitors and an increasingly value-focused consumer environment. CEO Jason McDonell noted that unfavorable pricing led to a net loss of over 160,000 residential customers and an 8.6% decline in residential traffic. He also cited softer sales due to weather factors but emphasized the need for immediate action to address the company’s price-value equation.

Companies with more cash than debt often have stronger financial flexibility, making them attractive in uncertain markets. Without interest payments being less of a worry, these businesses can invest more in growth, innovation, or buybacks and dividends.

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

The best-performing stocks typically have robust sales growth, increasing margins, and rising returns on capital, and those that can maintain this trifecta year in and year out often become the legends of the investing world.

A cash-heavy balance sheet is often a sign of strength, but not always. Some companies avoid debt because they have weak business models, limited expansion opportunities, or inconsistent cash flow.

Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.

Rock-bottom prices don't always mean rock-bottom businesses. The stocks we're examining today have all touched their 52-week lows, creating a classic investor's dilemma: bargain opportunity or value trap?

Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments. Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.

A surplus of cash can mean financial stability, but it can also indicate a reluctance (or inability) to invest in growth. Some of these companies also face challenges like stagnating revenue, declining market share, or limited scalability.

Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence. With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players.

Large-cap stocks are known for their staying power and ability to weather market storms better than smaller competitors. However, their sheer size makes it more challenging to maintain high growth rates as they’ve already captured significant portions of their markets.

While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".

Wall Street has issued downbeat forecasts for the stocks in this article. These predictions are rare - financial institutions typically hesitate to say bad things about a company because it can jeopardize their other revenue-generating business lines like M&A advisory.

Insurance providers use their expertise in risk assessment to help protect assets while offering consumers peace of mind through comprehensive coverage options. But worries about an economic slowdown and potential claims deterioration have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry’s return was flat while the S&P 500 climbed by 14.3%.

Banks play a critical role in the financial system, providing everything from commercial loans to wealth management and payment processing services. Still, investors are uneasy as banks face challenges from credit quality concerns and potential regulatory changes. These doubts have certainly contributed to banking stocks’ recent underperformance - over the past six months, the industry’s 10.3% gain has fallen behind the S&P 500’s 14.3% rise.

Insurance firms play a critical role in the financial system, offering everything from property coverage to life insurance and specialized risk solutions. But worries about an economic slowdown and potential claims deterioration have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry’s return was flat while the S&P 500 climbed by 14.3%.

Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments. Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.

Financial firms serve as the backbone of the economy, providing essential services from lending and investment management to risk management and payment processing. Still, investors are uneasy as companies face challenges from an unpredictable interest rate and inflation environment. These doubts have certainly contributed to the indutry's recent underperformance - over the past six months, its 7.9% gain has fallen behind the S&P 500's 14.3% rise.

Great things are happening to the stocks in this article. They’re all outperforming the market over the last month because of positive catalysts such as a new product line, constructive news flow, or even a loyal Reddit fanbase.

The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%. But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.

Wall Street’s bearish price targets for the stocks in this article signal serious concerns. Such forecasts are uncommon in an industry where maintaining cordial corporate relationships often trumps delivering the hard truth.

Value stocks typically trade at discounts to the broader market, offering patient investors the opportunity to buy businesses when they’re out of favor. The key risk, however, is that these stocks are usually cheap for a reason – five cents for a piece of fruit may seem like a great deal until you find out it’s rotten.

Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.

Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings. However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.

Large-cap stocks usually command their industries because they have the scale to drive market trends. The flip side though is that their sheer size can limit growth as expanding further becomes an increasingly challenging task.

Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns, and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.

Even if they go mostly unnoticed, industrial businesses are the backbone of our country. They are also bound to benefit from a friendlier regulatory environment with the Trump administration, and this excitement has led to a six-month gain of 15.9% for the sector - higher than the S&P 500’s 14.3% return.

Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

Stocks in the $10-50 range offer a sweet spot between affordability and stability as they’re typically more established than penny stocks. But their headline prices don’t guarantee quality, and investors should exercise caution as some have shaky business models.

Wall Street has issued downbeat forecasts for the stocks in this article. These predictions are rare - financial institutions typically hesitate to say bad things about a company because it can jeopardize their other revenue-generating business lines like M&A advisory.

Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings. However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.

Growth is oxygen. But when it evaporates, the consequences can be severe - ask anyone who bought Cisco in the Dot-Com Bubble or newer investors who lived through the 2020 to 2022 COVID cycle.

The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%. But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.