Tuesday’s Biggest Analyst Calls: NVIDIA, Apple, Tesla, Nike, Costco, Microsoft, Netflix, Kkr & More

Here are Tuesday’s biggest calls on Wall Street:

‍

Bank of America Reaffirms Netflix as a Buy
Bank of America remains optimistic about Netflix ahead of its upcoming earnings report. The firm sees the streaming giant as a stable investment, thanks to its resilient subscription-based model and strong content library. This makes Netflix a safer bet for investors during periods of market uncertainty, especially when compared to other major tech and “Magnificent Seven” companies.

‍

Roth MKM Starts RedCloud at Buy
Roth MKM initiated coverage on RedCloud Holdings with a Buy rating. The firm highlighted the company’s vast potential, calling attention to its significant total addressable market. RedCloud operates as a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce technology platform that connects wholesalers and retailers in emerging markets, enabling streamlined trade in consumer goods.

‍

Baird Names Itron a Bullish Fresh Pick
Baird added Itron to its list of bullish fresh picks, praising the water technology company for its increasingly stable and predictable business. With a consistent customer base and a solid outlook heading into its first-quarter earnings, Baird believes Itron is well positioned to exceed expectations even amid broader economic uncertainty.

‍

Redburn Atlantic Equities Starts Nvidia at Buy
Redburn Atlantic launched coverage on Nvidia with a Buy rating, calling it one of their top investment ideas. Despite forecasting a slowdown in the semiconductor sector, they believe Nvidia remains a standout. The firm noted U.S. policy shifts aimed at reshoring chip production and advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which could benefit Nvidia and peers like ASMI, LRCX, and VAT.

‍

Berenberg Begins Coverage of Nike with Hold
Berenberg initiated coverage on Nike with a Hold rating, noting that the company's recovery will take time. While Nike still maintains strong competitive advantages, the firm pointed to ongoing efforts to correct past strategic missteps and cultural issues. A strong balance sheet and reasonable valuation could cushion the impact of short-term margin challenges.

‍

Barclays Downgrades General Motors to Equal Weight
Barclays downgraded General Motors due to potential earnings pressure from tariffs. The firm slashed its 2025 EBIT estimate from $14.4 billion to $8.6 billion, citing significant near-term risks stemming from global trade policy changes.

‍

Wells Fargo Downgrades Howmet Aerospace
Wells Fargo lowered its rating on Howmet Aerospace to Equal Weight, expressing concern over a global economic slowdown. The firm believes reduced demand in both original equipment and aftermarket segments will weigh on aerospace stocks.

‍

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Goldman Sachs
Despite some underperformance in the first quarter compared to peers, Wells Fargo reaffirmed its Overweight rating on Goldman Sachs. The bank sees positive signs ahead, including a stronger investment banking pipeline, surplus capital, and ongoing cost-reduction initiatives.

‍

Morgan Stanley Reaffirms Costco, O’Reilly, AutoZone, Walmart
Morgan Stanley continues to rate Costco, Walmart, O’Reilly Automotive, and AutoZone as Overweight. These companies are considered well positioned to weather a recession due to their defensive business models and steady consumer demand.

‍

HSBC Upgrades KKR to Buy
HSBC raised its rating on private equity firm KKR from Hold to Buy, citing improved risk-reward dynamics following a notable dip in the stock price.

‍

Bank of America Upgrades Church & Dwight
Church & Dwight earned an upgrade from Bank of America, which shifted its rating from Neutral to Buy. The firm praised the consumer goods company's strong track record during economic downturns and its value-oriented product line, which could attract cost-conscious shoppers.

‍

UBS Upgrades HubSpot to Buy
UBS upgraded HubSpot from Neutral to Buy, citing a favorable setup for the high-quality software company. UBS believes HubSpot’s conservative 2025 guidance minimizes the risk of earnings revisions and could lead to a rebound if macroeconomic pressures ease.

‍

Bank of America Downgrades PepsiCo to Neutral
Bank of America downgraded PepsiCo from Buy to Neutral, lowering its price target to $155. The firm expressed concern that PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division may see slower-than-expected growth this year.

‍

Baird Maintains Tesla as Outperform
Baird stuck with its Outperform rating on Tesla, though it warned of potential volatility in upcoming results. The firm noted ongoing ramp-up efforts for the Model Y at multiple factories and sees long-term catalysts, even as short-term uncertainties remain.

‍

Morgan Stanley Highlights Taiwan Semiconductor
Morgan Stanley sees Taiwan Semiconductor as a key stock to watch ahead of its April 17 analyst event. The firm expects commentary on AI demand, trade tariffs, and a potential joint venture with Intel to impact the stock.

‍

Bank of America Reiterates Microsoft as Buy, Lowers Price Target
Microsoft retained its Buy rating from Bank of America, though the firm reduced its price target from $510 to $480. Despite speculation about reduced capital expenditures, the firm believes Microsoft is still investing for long-term growth.

‍

Bank of America Downgrades Dow to Underperform
Dow was downgraded from Buy to Underperform as Bank of America highlighted multiple headwinds. These include weakening macroeconomic conditions, rising U.S. feedstock costs, and increasing trade barriers, which prompted a cut in the company’s 2025–26 EBITDA forecasts.

‍

Evercore ISI Reaffirms Apple as Outperform
Evercore ISI continues to support Apple, expecting strong March quarter results. However, they caution that tariff risks could cloud the outlook for the June quarter, especially if new sector-wide tariffs are introduced on Chinese electronics.

‍

Benchmark Starts MercadoLibre at Buy
Benchmark initiated coverage on MercadoLibre with a Buy rating and a $2,500 price target. The firm views the Latin American e-commerce giant as a dominant force in the region, benefiting from rapid growth in digital retail and fintech.

‍

Needham Begins Coverage on Aurora Innovation as Buy
Needham initiated Aurora Innovation with a Buy rating, pointing to its leadership in autonomous trucking. The firm believes Aurora is well positioned to capitalize on a $1 trillion market through its per-mile revenue model and innovative partnerships.

‍