Five stocks stand out heading into Friday, October 2, 2026, each carrying a bullish rating change issued on Thursday, October 1. Expectations for the Federal Reserve have shifted quickly. After August inflation data came in cooler than forecast on September 30 and New York Fed President John Williams signaled no urgency to raise rates again, the CME Group FedWatch tool put the odds of an October hike at 37.1% on September 30, down from 50.9% on September 29. Markets still price a high chance of a hike by the December 9 meeting. The September jobs report is due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on October 2, with economist forecasts ranging from roughly 85,000 to 100,000 new jobs.
The five ideas below span oil production, a regulated utility, luxury homebuilding, rare-disease biotech, and packaged beverages. Editorial notes only, not investment advice.
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) – Goldman Sachs Upgrades the Oil Producer
Occidental was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Thursday by Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta, who raised his price target to $69 from $63. Occidental is one of the largest oil producers in the Permian Basin and also owns a chemicals business. In our view, the company's lower-cost acreage and progress on debt reduction give it room to benefit from firm crude prices.
Shares traded near $57.55 during Thursday's session, up about 4.03%, giving Occidental a market capitalization near $57 billion. The 52-week range runs from $38.80 to $67.45, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 8.85, and the dividend yield is near 2%.
Consensus reads buy, with nine bullish, eight neutral, and one bearish rating among 18 tracked firms. The average price target of $63.83 implies roughly 11% upside, while the Goldman target implies about 20%. Wells Fargo's Sam Margolin holds the high target of $82.
Risks: UBS's Josh Silverstein holds Neutral at $67, and BMO Capital's Phillip Jungwirth held Market Perform at $60 in February. Oil price swings, the company's debt load, and execution on its carbon-capture projects all remain factors to monitor.
Consolidated Edison (ED) – Wells Fargo Takes a Contrarian Stance
Consolidated Edison was upgraded from Equal-Weight to Overweight on Thursday by Wells Fargo analyst Shahriar Pourreza, who raised his price target to $118 from $108. Con Ed supplies electricity, gas, and steam to New York City and nearby areas. In our view, a cooler inflation reading and softer rate-hike odds ease some of the pressure that higher bond yields have placed on utility stocks.
Shares traded near $103.69 during Thursday's session, up about 1.44%, giving Con Ed a market capitalization near $38 billion. The 52-week range runs from $94.96 to $116.23, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 17.01, and the dividend yield is near 3%.
This is a contrarian call. Consensus reads sell, with one bullish, four neutral, and four bearish ratings among nine tracked firms. The average price target of $109 implies roughly 5% upside, while the Wells Fargo target implies about 14%.
Risks: Morgan Stanley's David Arcaro cut his target to $97 on September 18 while holding Underweight, and Barclays' Nicholas Campanella held Underweight at $110 in February. Rate-case outcomes with New York regulators, rising capital spending, and Treasury yields all remain factors to monitor.
Toll Brothers (TOL) – Morgan Stanley Initiates at Overweight
Toll Brothers drew a fresh Overweight initiation on Thursday from Morgan Stanley. Toll is the largest builder of luxury homes in the country. In our view, its wealthier buyers rely less on mortgages than first-time buyers, which helps cushion demand when borrowing costs are high.
Shares traded near $136.28 during Thursday's session, up about 1.14%, giving Toll a market capitalization near $13 billion. The 52-week range runs from $123.15 to $168.36, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 10.94, and the dividend yield is near 1%.
Consensus reads strong buy, with 14 bullish, one neutral, and one bearish rating among 16 tracked firms. The average price target of $166.06 implies roughly 22% upside. Citigroup's Anthony Pettinari raised his target to $179 on August 21 with Buy.
Risks: Evercore ISI's Stephen Kim trimmed his target to $184 from $191 on September 25 while holding Outperform, and the panel's low target sits at $122. Mortgage rates, the spring selling season, and land and labor costs all remain factors to monitor.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) – BTIG Upgrades the Rare-Disease Drug Maker
United Therapeutics was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Thursday by BTIG. The company sells treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension and other lung diseases, and it is developing lab-grown organs for transplant. In our view, its strong cash position and pipeline give it more than one path to growth.
Shares traded near $581.33 during Thursday's session, up about 7.28%, giving United Therapeutics a market capitalization near $25 billion. The stock sits near its 52-week high of $609.35 and well above its low of $409.07. The trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 20.83.
Consensus reads strong buy, with nine bullish and two neutral ratings among 11 tracked firms. The average price target of $640.73 implies roughly 10% upside. JPMorgan's Jessica Fye holds Overweight at $687.
Risks: After a strong run, the stock has less room to the average target. BofA's Greg Harrison holds Neutral at $613. Generic competition, patent disputes, and clinical trial results all remain factors to monitor.
Vita Coco (COCO) – Oppenheimer Initiates at Outperform
Vita Coco drew a fresh Outperform initiation on Thursday from Oppenheimer. The company is the leading coconut water brand in the United States and also sells private-label juices and water. In our view, steady demand for healthier drinks supports growth, and the stock's pullback from its high offers a better entry point.
Shares traded near $56.98 during Thursday's session, down about 0.48%, giving Vita Coco a market capitalization near $3.3 billion. The 52-week range runs from $38.07 to $85.83, and the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 31.46.
Consensus reads strong buy, with seven bullish ratings and one neutral among eight tracked firms. The average price target of $69.88 implies roughly 23% upside.
Risks: Piper Sandler's Michael Lavery cut his target to $83 from $89 on September 10 while holding Overweight, and Morgan Stanley's Eric Serotta holds Equal-Weight at $68. Coconut supply costs, shipping rates, and tariffs on imported goods all remain factors to monitor.
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