Five stocks stand out heading into Thursday, October 15, 2026, each carrying a bullish rating change issued on Wednesday, October 14. The September Consumer Price Index, released October 14, showed prices up 0.6% for the month and 3.7% from a year earlier as gasoline costs jumped. Core prices rose 0.3% for the month and 2.6% annually, both a tick above forecasts. After the report, CME FedWatch put the odds of an October 28 rate hike at 53.7%, up from 22.1% on October 13. The S&P 500 was down 0.9% by late morning on October 14, and chipmakers extended their selloff. September retail sales and the Producer Price Index are due October 15.
The five ideas below span building climate systems, semiconductor materials, casual dining, specialty pharmaceuticals, and lithium. Editorial notes only, not investment advice.
Trane Technologies (TT) – Goldman Sachs Upgrades the HVAC Leader
Trane Technologies was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Wednesday by Goldman Sachs. Trane makes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for commercial buildings, homes, and data centers. In our view, demand for data center cooling and energy-efficient buildings gives Trane a durable growth runway beyond the normal construction cycle.
Shares traded near $467.97 during Wednesday's session, down about 2.10%, giving Trane a market capitalization near $103 billion. The 52-week range runs from $348.06 to $505.87, the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 35.49, and the dividend yield is near 1%.
Consensus reads buy, with nine bullish, two neutral, and one bearish rating among 12 tracked firms. The average price target of $524.33 implies roughly 12% upside. Bernstein's Varun Govindaraj raised his target to $575 on August 14.
Risks: RBC Capital held Sector Perform on October 14 while lifting its target to $502. A slowdown in data center construction, softer residential demand, and a premium valuation remain factors to monitor.
Entegris (ENTG) – Truist Initiates One Day After Barclays
Entegris drew a Buy initiation on Wednesday from Truist, following an Overweight initiation from Barclays on October 13. Entegris supplies specialty materials, filters, and containers that chipmakers use to keep production clean. In our view, more complex chip designs require more of its products per wafer, which supports growth as advanced manufacturing expands.
Shares traded near $151.73 during Wednesday's session, down about 5.85% amid the chip selloff, giving Entegris a market capitalization near $23 billion. The 52-week range runs from $67.97 to $186.94, and the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 76.05.
Consensus reads strong buy, with eight bullish ratings and one bearish among nine tracked firms. The average price target of $170.89 implies roughly 13% upside. UBS's Timothy Arcuri raised his target to $215 on August 5.
Risks: Goldman Sachs' James Schneider held Sell at $95 in February. Swings in semiconductor spending, export restrictions on China, and a high valuation remain factors to monitor.
Brinker International (EAT) – Jefferies Upgrades the Chili's Owner
Brinker was upgraded from Hold to Buy on Wednesday by Jefferies analyst Andy Barish, who raised his price target to $255 from $230. Brinker owns Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. In our view, Chili's value menu and improved operations are still drawing traffic at a time when many diners are trading down.
Shares traded near $201.21 during Wednesday's session, down about 0.56%, giving Brinker a market capitalization near $8.4 billion. The 52-week range runs from $100.30 to $254.99, and the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 18.49.
Consensus reads strong buy, with 15 bullish and four neutral ratings among 19 tracked firms. The average price target of $252.74 implies roughly 26% upside, close to the Jefferies target.
Risks: DA Davidson's Matt Curtis held Neutral and cut his target to $210 from $240 on September 21. Higher food and labor costs, discounting by rivals, and pressure on lower-income consumers remain factors to monitor.
Liquidia (LQDA) – BTIG Upgrades After a Legal Settlement
Liquidia was upgraded from Neutral to Buy on Wednesday by BTIG. On October 13, Liquidia and United Therapeutics announced a global settlement resolving all six pending lawsuits between them. Under the settlement, Liquidia will make net payments of $380.7 million, will not appeal a patent ruling, and will remove one indication from the label of its inhaled drug Yutrepia. The company reported preliminary third-quarter Yutrepia sales of $222.7 million and $396.1 million in cash as of September 30. Management expects to fund the payments without raising new capital. In our view, removing the legal overhang lets investors focus on Yutrepia's growth in its main pulmonary hypertension market.
Shares traded near $33.69 during Wednesday's session, up about 25.65%, giving Liquidia a market capitalization near $3.0 billion. The 52-week range runs from $21.94 to $93.61, and the trailing price-to-earnings multiple is 24.65.
Consensus reads buy, with five bullish, two neutral, and one bearish rating among eight tracked firms. The average price target of $59.88 implies roughly 78% upside, though several targets predate the legal ruling. Needham's Serge Belanger cut his target to $58 from $72 on October 14 while holding Buy.
Risks: Wells Fargo's Benjamin Burnett, who downgraded the stock to Equal-Weight on October 2, set a $33 target on October 14, which is near the current price. The settlement payments, a narrower label, and heavy insider selling remain factors to monitor.
Albemarle (ALB) – Mizuho Upgrades the Lithium Producer
Albemarle was upgraded from Neutral to Outperform on Wednesday by Mizuho analyst John Roberts, who kept a $130 price target. Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers, supplying battery makers for electric vehicles and energy storage. In our view, rising demand for grid-scale battery storage could tighten lithium supply after an extended price slump.
Shares traded near $97.28 during Wednesday's session, down about 0.38%, giving Albemarle a market capitalization near $11.5 billion. The stock sits near its 52-week low of $88.01, far below its high of $221. Trailing earnings are roughly break-even, so the price-to-earnings multiple is not meaningful. The dividend yield is near 2%.
Consensus reads buy, with 12 bullish and six neutral ratings among 18 tracked firms. The average price target of $182.61 implies about 88% upside, but many targets look stale. The Mizuho target implies roughly 34%.
Risks: Argus Research cut its target to $135 from $230 on October 7, and UBS's Joshua Spector cut to $150 from $175 on October 5. Lithium prices, slowing electric vehicle sales, and new supply from China remain factors to monitor.
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