The top analyst calls from Friday: First Republic, Whirlpool, Apple ($AAPL), Nvidia ($NVDA), FedEx ($FDX), Meta ($META), and more

On Friday, March 17th, several major companies were subject to analyst calls, which provided valuable insight into the companies' potential growth, financial health, and future prospects. Here are some of the biggest calls of the day:

Apple (AAPL):
Analysts at Bank of America reiterated their Buy rating on Apple and raised their price target from $180 to $185. The analysts cited strong demand for Apple's iPhone 13, which is driving growth in the company's Services segment, as well as the potential for increased adoption of Apple's new AirPods Pro.

Nvidia (NVDA):
Analysts at Raymond James reiterated their Strong Buy rating on Nvidia and raised their price target from $325 to $350. The analysts cited Nvidia's strong positioning in the data center and gaming markets, as well as the potential for continued growth in the automotive and artificial intelligence industries.

First Republic (FRC):
Analysts at JMP Securities reiterated their Market Outperform rating on First Republic and raised their price target from $270 to $290. The analysts cited the company's strong loan growth and high-quality loan portfolio, as well as its solid deposit base and conservative underwriting standards.

Whirlpool (WHR):
Analysts at J.P. Morgan reiterated their Overweight rating on Whirlpool and raised their price target from $262 to $305. The analysts cited strong demand for home appliances, as well as Whirlpool's market leadership and cost-cutting initiatives.

Meta (formerly Facebook) (META):
Analysts at Oppenheimer reiterated their Outperform rating on Meta and raised their price target from $425 to $475. The analysts cited strong user engagement on Meta's platforms, as well as the potential for continued growth in the company's advertising business.

FedEx (FDX):
Analysts at Deutsche Bank reiterated their Buy rating on FedEx and raised their price target from $315 to $330. The analysts cited strong demand for e-commerce deliveries, as well as FedEx's solid execution and cost-cutting initiatives.

These analyst calls provide valuable insights into the growth prospects of these major companies. Investors should carefully consider these recommendations when making investment decisions.