BUZZ-Raymond James upgrades American Airlines on improved revenue view

American Airlines Group shares AAL.O rise 0.7% to $17.48 premarket

Raymond James upgrades rating to "market perform" from "outperform," sets PT of $24

Says upgrades AAL on "attractive risk-reward and above consensus forecast, which reflects an improved revenue outlook following the early-December update"

Also cites "attractive competitive capacity set up, and anecdotal evidence of improved engagement with contracted corporate customers"

Eight brokerages rate AAL "buy" or higher, 14 "hold" and one "sell; their median PT is $18 - LSEG compiled data

Raymond James also lifts price targets of peer Southwest Airlines LUV.N to $40 from $36, United Airlines UAL.O to $120 from $90, SkyWest SKYW.O to $120 from $114 and Allegiant Travel ALGT.O to $110 from $75

As of last close, AAL had risen 26.3% YTD, compared with a 56.5% increase in the S&P 500 Passenger Airlines index .SPLRCALI YTD

(Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta)

((Aatreyee.Dasgupta@thomsonreuters.com))