The shares of Joy Global (JOY) and Caterpillar (CAT) are climbing after research firm Baird analyst Mircea Dobre upgraded both names, citing a potential bottom in commodity prices. Both companies develop mining equipment.
WHAT’S NEW: In a note to investors earlier today, Baird’s Dobre upgraded Joy Global and Caterpillar to Outperform from Market Perform. There are signs that the worst of the downturn in commodity prices may have passed, the analyst stated. Additionally, the shares of both Caterpillar and Joy Global historically bottom three to five quarters before mining equipment shipments rebound, according to Dobre. Consequently, investors who wait for evidence of a turnaround in the companies’ mining equipment bookings may be late to the party, the analyst warned. Both stocks have now underperformed the market by amounts that are similar to their worst underperfomance during the early 1980s commodity bust, according to Dobre, who raised the firm’s price target on Caterpillar to $101 from $80 and on Joy Global to $62 from $45.
PRICE ACTION: In early trading, Joy Global climbed nearly 4% to $43.64 and Caterpillar rose 1.5% to $88.60.
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