BUZZ - JPMorgan upgrades VF Corp to "Neutral," shares rise

October 9 - ** Clothing retailer VF Corp (VFC.N) shares rose about 3%, trading at $14.90

** JPMorgan upgraded its rating from "underweight" to "neutral"; maintained a target price of $18

**The brokerage said VF's sales and profit for fiscal 2027 are expected to meet or exceed market consensus

** Growth is expected to be primarily driven by outdoor brands—The North Face, Timberland, and Altra

**JPMorgan stated that the decline at the Vans brand has been brought under control, and wholesale orders for spring 2027 provide "high visibility" for an improvement in performance in the second half of the year

** It pointed out that, supported by more full-price sales, better inventory planning, and a shift toward high-margin brands and premium products, the company is still expected to achieve an operating margin of about 10% by fiscal 2029

** Of the 25 brokerages, 8 have a "buy" or "more optimistic" rating, 15 have a "hold" rating, and 2 have a "sell" rating; the median target price is $16—data compiled by LSEG

** As of the previous trading session's close, the stock has fallen about 20% year-to-date

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