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Analyst Moves for December 2: What They Mean for Mutual Fund Investors (AAPL, MSFT, PCLN, More)

Shauna O'Brien Dec 02, 2014

On Tuesday morning, there were several big-name analyst moves that were announced. Below are the most important analyst moves for mutual fund investors.

Two Firms Boost Price Target on Apple

BofA/Merrill raised its price target on Apple (AAPL) to $130, suggesting a 13% upside from the stock’s current price. The firm has also increased estimates on the company as higher iPhone sales are now expected.

Canaccord Genuity has boosted its price target on Apple from $120 to $135, suggesting a 17% upside. The firm sees strong demand for the 64GB iPhone 6/6 Plus.

Mutual Funds to Watch

For investors that are interested in gaining exposure to Apple without owning the individual stock, a mutual fund investment may be a good alternative. Below are the mutual funds with the largest stake in Apple.

Symbol	Mutual Fund	Stake
VTSMX	Vanguard Total Stock Market Index	1.69%
VFINX	Vanguard 500 Index	1.08%
VIGRX	Vanguard Growth Index	0.51%

FBR Capital Downgrades Priceline

FBR Capital has lowered its rating on Priceline Group Inc (PCLN) from “Outperform” to “Market Perform” and has given the company a $1,225 price target. The company’s outlook suggests that its growth is slowing.

Mutual Funds to Watch

For investors seeking exposure to PCLN without purchasing the stock, a mutual fund investment may be a good choice. Below are three mutual funds with the largest stakes in the company.

Symbol	Mutual Fund	Stake
PRGFX	T. Rowe Price Growth Stock	2.21%
FCNTX	Fidelity Contrafund	1.95%
VTSMX	Vanguard Total Stock Market Index	1.66%

JP Morgan Initiates Coverage on Microsoft

JP Morgan has initiated coverage on Microsoft (MSFT) with an “Overweight” rating and a $53 price target. According to the firm’s analysts, MSFT has the strongest cloud platform in the industry.

Mutual Funds to Watch

For investors seeking exposure to Microsoft, a mutual fund investment could be a good alternative. Below are the mutual funds that have the largest stake in the company.

Symbol	Mutual Fund	Stake
VTSMX	Vanguard Total Stock Market Index	1.25%
VFINX	Vanguard 500 Index	0.77%
VINIX	Vanguard Institutional Index	0.74%

JP Morgan Starts Coverage on Oracle

JP Morgan has started coverage on Oracle Corporation (ORCL) with an “Underweight” rating and a $38 price target. The firm noted that ORCL has limited organic growth potential.

Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in Oracle may also consider a mutual fund investment with exposure to the company. Below are the mutual funds with the largest stakes in ORCL.