Here Are Thursday’s Top Wall Street Analyst Research Calls: Alphabet, Analog Devices, Crown Castle, Ebay, EPR Properties, Etsy, Merck & Co., Shopify, TJX Companies, and More

Alphabet is the main focus as this analyst-call roundup highlights Rosenblatt’s new Buy initiation on GOOG’s parent company with a $410 target. The piece also notes several other major rating actions that may influence sector sentiment: Morgan Stanley upgraded Merck, Barclays upgraded Crown Castle, Bank of America upgraded Etsy, while Citi downgraded TJX and RBC sharply cut Coty’s target. Separate macro commentary in the article says U.S. Treasury’s announcement to double bond buybacks lifted gold sharply, pushed Treasury yields lower, and supported major equity indices. Overall, the direct company-specific implication for Alphabet is mildly bullish, but the article’s broader market tone is mixed due to simultaneous upbeat analyst initiations and a volatile rates/commodity backdrop.