Apple Upgraded, American Express Downgraded: Updated Rankings on Top Blue-Chip Stocks

InvestorPlace’s Stock Grader updated ratings for 143 blue-chip companies on May 12, 2026, producing a mix of upgrades and downgrades that could influence investor positioning. Notable moves include Apple (AAPL.OQ) upgraded from Neutral to Strong, Williams Companies (WMB.N) moving higher, and widespread downgrades for names such as American Express (AXP.N) and Boeing (BA.N). The changes span sectors — energy, industrials, financials, healthcare and tech — signaling selective optimism in certain commodity/utility and semiconductor names while caution increasing around some financials and large-cap industrials. The piece is an editorial market commentary summarizing the fund’s quantitative and fundamental re-ratings rather than new company-specific events, so the primary market impact is on sentiment and investor stock-selection decisions rather than immediate price-driving news.