- 3M (NYSE:MMM) is upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight and a $194 price target at Barclays, part of the firm's more optimistic outlook in the U.S. multi-industry sector that prompts several stock upgrades.
- Now is an attractive entry point for the overall group, Barclays believes, based on a view that the negative earnings revision cycle is nearing an end, greater visibility on key end-markets - particularly non-residential construction and general capital spending - and a recovery in emerging markets; $50-plus oil and potential M&A activity helps too, the firm says.
- Barclays says 3M is the largest emerging market exposed name it covers (at 35% of sales), and it believes an emerging market recovery is taking place, particularly in places where 3M has been hit hard, notably Brazil; also, the recent rally in emerging market currencies will help 3M in an outsized manner.
- In addition to 3M, Barclays upgrades WABCO Holdings (NYSE:WBC), ITT Industries (NYSE:ITT), Rexnord (NYSE:RXN) and Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) to Overweight from Equal Weight; however, the firm downgrades Actuant (NYSE:ATU) and Terex (NYSE:TEX) to Underweight from Equal Weight.