US Top Rating Updates on 11/2: MSFT, XOM, PANW, SNOW and More

Macquarie analyst Sarah Hindlian-Bowler initiated coverage of $Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ with a Neutral rating and $234 price target. The analyst sees near-term headwinds for Microsoft from slowness in the macro environment, cloud pull-in from COVID, slower PC sales, high energy costs and a soft consumer.

Exane BNP Paribas analyst Lucas Herrmann upgraded $Exxon Mobil (XOM.US)$ to Neutral from Underperform with a $115 price target.

Macquarie analyst Frederick Havemeyer initiated coverage of $Snowflake (SNOW.US)$ with a Neutral rating and $173 price target. The analyst thinks Snowflake is a "software winner," but says that with cloud growth and margin pressures emerging, he's taking a "wait-and-see approach."