Edwards Lifesciences upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel

Stifel analyst Rick Wise upgraded Edwards Lifesciences (EW) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $90, up from $75. The firm said that TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, growth slowed post-COVID, but added that the upgrade is predicated on “now more credible TAVR growth re-acceleration potential” following six recent TAVR physician conversations and a subsequent survey of thirty physicians. Stifel noted that fifteen of the thirty doctors surveyed said they are “already experiencing faster TAVR procedure growth,” with those fifteen doctors noting “~12% near-term growth acceleration.”