Seeing analyst upgrades is not an unusual event by any means. Most analyst reports come after earnings reports and other key events. There are actually some reports where analysts stick their necks out and make bold predictions ahead of key earnings reports. These are far less common analyst reports — because they are proactive rather than reactionary.
Oggonomics has tracked multiple analyst upgrades and positive rating initiations that are ahead of key earnings reports — and these come with higher implied upside expectations than most analyst ratings.
Investors generally prefer companies which beat earnings and raise guidance versus those with weak earnings or weak expectations. That’s just common investor sense if you believe that earnings growth ultimately drives stock prices higher. Just don’t ever forget that even a company beating earnings, or getting an analyst upgrade, never comes with a guarantee of stock gains ahead.
Also please keep in mind that analysts can get their thesis wrong. That’s even more so the case when analysts may seem like they are projecting through a crystal ball. And, again, no research report ever comes with money-back guarantees in the event of losses. There are also no assurances that analyst price targets will ever be achieved.
Here are five analyst reports from July 27, 2026 calling for upside to earnings ahead with above-average implied upside to their price targets.
ARLO: HOME SECURITY WINNER!
Arlo Technologies, Inc. (ARLO) is a player in smart home security and monitoring services and earnings will be released on August 6, 2026. Piper Sandler issued a new Overweight rating and $17 issued a price target (versus $12.87 prior close) ahead of its earnings. The firm sees Arlo’s home security market as being under-penetrated even when there are larger and better-known names in the sector. The firm sees its business model at an inflection point where the current share price leaves a favorable risk/reward scenario — and Piper Sandler also sees upside to the coming earnings estimates.
BWXT: 10-YEAR NUCLEAR UPGRADE
BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) is set to report earnings for Q2-2026 on Monday, Aug. 3. 2026. JPMorgan decided to not even wait for the report, with the firm initiating coverage of BWX Technologies with an Overweight rating and issuing a $230 price target (versus $174.52 prior close). This call for 30% in implied upside over the next year counts BWX as a leader in nuclear manufacturing and materials handling, and JPMorgan sees durable competitive advantages with a solid demand outlook over the coming decade.
FORD: NO RECALL WORRY TODAY
Jefferies upgraded Ford Motor Co. (F) to Buy from Hold and the price target was raised to $17.50 from $14.50 (versus a $14.37 prior close). This upgrade was on the heels of GM having already reported earnings, but here are other upgrades and/or price target hikes over the last 30 days or so:
- 7/17 JPMorgan (reiterated Overweight) target raised to $16 from $15
- 7/14 BNP Paribas (reiterated Neutral) target raised to $14 from $13
- 7/09 Barclays (reiterated Equal-Weight) target raised to $14 from $13
D-WAVE: QUANTUM SET TO LIVE ON
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) is set to report earnings in August, but Benchmark initiated coverage of D-Wave Quantum with a Buy rating and $30 price target (versus $17.96 prior close) on July 27 ahead of its earnings report. This was actually a quantum computing sector call from Benchmark with big upside to their target prices along with two other stocks in the space:
- IonQ (IONQ) was started as Buy with a $60 price target (versus $32.84 prior close).
- Rigetti Computing (RGTI) was started as Buy with a $25 price target (versus $14.15 prior close).
RIVIAN: SET TO GO!
Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN) is set to report earnings on July 30 after the closing bell. The EV maker had already announced its vehicle production numbers, and raised its full year 2026 delivery guidance earlier in the month, and it sold shares in a large capital raise to bolster its finances. Piper Sandler upgraded Rivian to Overweight from Neutral and raised its price target to $20 from $18 on July 27. The report cited a de-risked balance sheet after its equity sale and sees an improved demand environment for its EVs.
