This Hewlett Packard Enterprise Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Friday

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) stock trades at 29.1x earnings, below the S&P 500 IT median. Revenue rose 33.7% YoY, driven by demand for servers, AI systems, and networking. Management raised fiscal 2027 revenue growth forecast to 15%. Underlying income grew 5% YoY, with no recent acquisitions.

Argus Research downgraded Abbott Laboratories (ABT) to Hold from Buy, citing the company's reduced full-year growth outlook. ABT shares traded lower following the downgrade.

Argus downgraded Abbott Laboratories (ABT) to Hold from Buy, citing near-term challenges including guidance cuts, reimbursement uncertainty, and competitive pressures. The company's Q3 2026 earnings met estimates, but it lowered full-year revenue guidance to 6%. Analysts have mixed reactions, with price targets ranging from $115 to $125. ABT plans to spin off its Nutrition business by 2027.

Abbott reported data from the Beta-CORRECT study showing WGS Oncodetect detected colorectal cancer recurrence with 72.2% sensitivity vs. 42.2% for WES Oncodetect. Detectable ctDNA post-surgery was linked to a 10.6-fold higher recurrence risk and lower disease-free survival. Results presented at ESMO 2026, not peer-reviewed.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) launched its Oncodetect MRD test, using whole-genome sequencing to detect circulating tumor DNA. The test tracks up to 5,000 variants, improving sensitivity by 30% in colorectal cancer studies and detecting recurrence in 90% of triple-negative breast cancer cases. Abbott estimates 3 million U.S. patients could benefit, with ongoing studies and expansion plans.

Stephens raised Horizon Bancorp's (HBNC) price target to $24 from $23, citing strong Q3 2026 performance. The company reported operating ROA of 1.7%, net interest margin of 4.37%, and loan growth of 4% annualized. HBNC trades at a discount to peers with a P/E ratio of 9.76. Q3 earnings beat estimates at $0.56 per share, though revenue missed slightly at $77.08M.