(This is CNBC Pro’s live coverage of Tuesday analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) Analysts on Tuesday were focusing on a top pharma name and a chip maker as places where investor money can grow. Even with an outsized surge in its stock this year, Wells Fargo thinks Eli Lilly still has big growth ahead as key drug trials progress. Elsewhere, Wells Fargo started its coverage of AMD, saying the chipmaker’s tailwinds include strong demand for data centers. Vista Energy also is offering value as the company’s South American operations give it an edge, according to JPMorgan. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 6:42 a.m.: JPMorgan initiates Vista Energy at overweight The Vista Energy stronghold on the South American Vaca Muerta basin makes the company a unique play among oil company’s in the region, according to JPMorgan. The firm initiated coverage of the natural gas and oil company with an overweight rating in a Tuesday note, alongside a $68 per share price target. JPMorgan’s forecast implies more than 38% upside from Monday’s $49.10 close. Analyst Rodolfo Angele lauded the company’s founder-owned and run structure which helps align itself with shareholder values, and noted its willingness to invest in infrastructure as a key growth catalyst. “Vista has recently secured an additional frac set (to come online in 4Q24, boosting its drilling program); and (b) the industry has several projects to address Vaca Muerta’s growth,” Angele said. “As these efforts bear fruit, the anticipation of production becomes an upside risk to our base case.” “We estimate Vista’s production and EBITDA rowing by a CAGR of 30% from 2023 to 2026, with potential for upward revision if additional drilling rigs and frac sets are acquired,” the analyst added. — Brian Evans 6:13 a.m.: Wells Fargo names Eli Lilly a top pick Wells Fargo sees improved supply and tailwinds from key drug trials as growth drivers moving Eli Lilly forward. The firm listed Eli Lilly as a top pick within its biotechnology coverage universe in a Tuesday note, standing by an overweight rating and a $1,000 per share price target. Wells’ forecast implies more than 8% upside from Monday’s $921.81 close. LLY YTD line Eli Lilly share growth “We see upside to 2025 consensus numbers and note that the company has key catalysts in the form of Surpass-CVOT [cardiovascular outcome trial] trial (2025) and then Orforglipron/Retatrutide pivotal readouts in 2025/26,” analyst Mohit Bansal said. “We are less concerned about new competition since we think manufacturing and wealth of data are going to create a big moat for LLY in longer term,” Bansal added. Eli Lilly stock has added more than 58% in 2024. — Brian Evans 6:09 a.m.: Edward Jones initiates AMD stock coverage at buy, forecasts above average growth Edward Jones doesn’t see any signs of data center demand slowing down, which could expand AMD ‘s growth runway. The firm initiated coverage of the chipmaker with a buy rating in a Monday note. Shares have ticked up more than 5% in 2024. Analyst Logan Purk added that AMD’s acquisition of semiconductor firm Xilinx will help the company broaden out its slate of chip offerings and also tap into new markets, while it remains “in the early innings of cross-selling and integrating Xilinx and AMD products.” “[E]ven though PC markets have started to rebound, we believe AI-enabled PCs could drive a longer upgrade cycle, supporting higher growth for the PC market,” Purk said. “We believe our optimism is not fully reflected in the share price.” — Brian Evans
