Five stocks stand out heading into Friday, October 30, 2026, each backed by a bullish rating change or new coverage issued on Thursday, October 29. The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4% on October 28 in a 10-2 vote. Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissented in favor of a quarter-point hike. Stocks closed modestly higher that day, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% to 7,743.98 and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.3% to 26,549.85. Results from big tech then split the market. Alphabet fell about 12% on October 29, a record drop, after missing revenue and earnings forecasts. Microsoft beat estimates on 48% growth in its Azure cloud business. By 1:09 p.m. ET on October 29, the S&P 500 was down 0.4% and the Nasdaq 100 had lost 1.4% as money rotated out of AI leaders. September PCE inflation rose as expected, and the first estimate of third-quarter GDP beat forecasts. Amazon reports after the close on October 29, and the midterm elections are November 3.
The five ideas below span hotels, AI software, business lending, regional banking, and aluminum products. Editorial notes only, not investment advice.
Hilton Worldwide (HLT) – Mizuho Upgrades the Hotel Operator
Hilton was upgraded from Neutral to Outperform on Thursday by Mizuho analyst Ben Chaiken, who raised his price target to $421 from $329. That new target is the highest on the panel. Hilton franchises and manages more than 20 hotel brands, including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, DoubleTree, and Hampton. In our view, Hilton's fee-based model, which collects fees without owning most of its hotels, gives it steady cash flow with less capital at risk.
Shares traded near $354.62 during Thursday's session, up about 1.43%, giving Hilton a market capitalization near $79 billion. The stock sits close to its 52-week high of $364.50 and well above its low of $253.54. The trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 47.90.
Consensus reads buy, with nine of 13 tracked firms bullish and four neutral. The average price target of $359.85 sits just above the share price, while the Mizuho target implies about 19% upside. Barclays' Brandt Montour kept his Overweight rating with a $375 target on October 28.
Risks: Susquehanna's Christopher Stathoulopoulos rates the stock Neutral. Slower travel demand, a weaker economy, and a stock trading near its high remain factors to monitor.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) – JPMorgan Initiates the AI Software Company at Overweight
Palantir was initiated with an Overweight rating on Thursday by JPMorgan. Oppenheimer's Param Singh reiterated his Outperform rating the same day and raised his price target to $235 from $200. Palantir sells data and AI software to government agencies and large companies, helping them pull together information and make decisions faster. In our view, Palantir's work with defense and intelligence agencies, plus growing business demand for its AI platform, gives it two strong engines of growth.
Shares traded near $193.70 during Thursday's session, down about 1.58%, giving Palantir a market capitalization near $446 billion. The 52-week range runs from $106.37 to $212.94, and the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 164.11.
Consensus reads buy, with 11 bullish, five neutral, and one bearish rating among 17 tracked firms. The average price target of $209.76 implies roughly 8% upside, and the Oppenheimer target implies about 21%. Rosenblatt's John McPeake raised his target to $260 on October 27.
Risks: HSBC's Stephen Bersey downgraded the stock to Hold on May 1. A very high valuation, reliance on government contracts, and swings in AI-related stocks remain factors to monitor.
Ares Capital (ARCC) – UBS Upgrades the Business Development Company
Ares Capital was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Thursday by UBS analyst Melissa Wedel, who kept a $21 price target. Ares Capital is the largest publicly traded business development company. It lends money to midsize private companies and passes most of its income to shareholders as dividends. In our view, its size and long record help it win deals, and its high payout appeals to income investors.
Shares traded near $18.91 during Thursday's session, up about 2.06%, giving Ares Capital a market capitalization near $14 billion. The 52-week range runs from $17.40 to $21.14, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 15.51, and the dividend yield is near 10%.
Consensus reads strong buy, with six of seven tracked firms bullish and one neutral. The average price target of $20.36 implies roughly 8% upside, and the UBS target implies about 11%, before dividends.
Risks: Wells Fargo's Finian O'Shea downgraded the stock to Equal-Weight on June 12. Rising loan defaults, lower interest rates that reduce lending income, and competition in private credit remain factors to monitor.
Wintrust Financial (WTFC) – UBS Upgrades the Chicago-Area Bank
Wintrust was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Thursday by UBS analyst Timur Braziler, who raised his price target to $180 from $160. Wintrust runs community banks in the Chicago area and Wisconsin, along with a national business that finances insurance premiums. In our view, that specialty lending arm and its deposit base set Wintrust apart from typical regional banks.
Shares traded near $153.37 during Thursday's session, up about 2.06%, giving Wintrust a market capitalization near $10 billion. The 52-week range runs from $122 to $167.22, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 11.64, and the dividend yield is near 1%.
Consensus reads strong buy, with all 10 tracked firms bullish. The average price target of $178.40 implies roughly 16% upside, and the UBS target implies about 17%. TD Cowen's Janet Lee kept her Buy rating with a $174 target on October 21.
Risks: Truist's Brian Foran kept his Buy rating but trimmed his target to $175 on October 26. Loan quality, deposit costs, and the path of interest rates remain factors to monitor.
Constellium (CSTM) – JPMorgan Upgrades the Aluminum Products Maker
Constellium was upgraded from Neutral to Overweight on Thursday by JPMorgan. Constellium makes rolled and shaped aluminum products for beverage cans, aircraft, and cars. In our view, steady demand for cans and aerospace parts gives Constellium a solid base, and the stock's drop from its high leaves room for a rebound if results improve.
Shares traded near $24.21 during Thursday's session, down about 0.90%, giving Constellium a market capitalization near $3.3 billion. The stock trades well below its 52-week high of $36.99 and above its low of $14.62. The trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 5.92.
Consensus reads strong buy, but coverage is thin, with four of five tracked firms bullish and one neutral. The average price target of $33 implies roughly 36% upside. Deutsche Bank's Corinne Blanchard kept her Buy rating with a $36 target on October 8.
Risks: Wells Fargo's Timna Tanners kept her Overweight rating but cut her target to $33 from $38 on October 29. Aluminum price swings, tariffs, weaker auto demand, and limited analyst coverage remain factors to monitor.
Found this helpful? Share it with others.