Clowngrade (clown + downgrade/upgrade)
A “clowngrade” (clown + downgrade/upgrade) is a foolish downgrade or upgrade made by a financial analyst. The term was coined by Joshua M. Brown on The Reformed Broker blog on February 29, 2012:
“Can’t go using the term ‘Bullsh*t Downgrade’ in polite company. So I came up with the term ‘Clowngrade’ instead. As in: ‘Can you believe that imbecile at XYZ Securities just clowngraded Apple over iPod margins?’”
The term was popularized on the “Downgrade or Clowngrade?” segment of CNBC’s Fast Money show on January 6, 2014.
The Reformed Broker
Don’t Clowngrade My Stocks, Bro.
Joshua M Brown February 29th, 2012
My post yesterday about buying growth stocks on “Bullsh*t Downgrades” generated a lot of emails in response – guys are coming out of the woodwork with stories and anecdotes about amazing opportunities they’ve seen created when stocks with huge potential and secular tailwinds are temporarily kneecapped by an analyst with a myopic view or a hidden agenda.
And then it struck me that we need a name for this type of thing. Can’t go using the term “Bullsh*t Downgrade” in polite company.
So I came up with the term “Clowngrade” instead. As in: “Can you believe that imbecile at XYZ Securities just clowngraded Apple over iPod margins?”
Twitter
Downtown Josh Brown
@ReformedBroker
DON’T CLOWNGRADE MY STOCKS, BRO. http://stks.co/2cOm
2:41 PM - 29 Feb 2012
Twitter
Woody’s Alter Ego
@FreakingAnnoyed
@reformedbroker coins term #clowngrade! Awesome!! 😃👍
4:17 PM - 6 Jan 2014
Yahoo! Finance
Downgrade or clowngrade?
Thu, Jan 9, 2014 6:12 PM EST 3:28
CNBC Videos
The “Fast Money” traders discuss whether they agree or disagree with analysts’ downgrades of Yum Brands, Exxon Mobil and more.
Business Insider
22 Phrases That Only Wall Streeters Will Understand
LINETTE LOPEZ AND MAX NISEN FEB. 5, 2014, 4:20 PM
(...)
10. “A clowngrade”
When a sellside analyst upgrades or downgrades a stock for a stupid reason.
Trader: “You see that Guggenheim analysts’ Twitter clowngrade? You can’t monetize that s—- yet!”