Analyst initiations 12-7-06: Apple initiated with Above Average

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Video Game-makers and Apple (APPL) top today's list of initiations:

• Oppenheimer initiated THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and Activision Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) with Buy ratings and Electronics Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) with a Neutral rating and $60 target.
• Caris initiated Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) with an Above Average rating and $100 target; the firm considers Apple "a winner" in the consumer electronics space and sees two key catalysts for 2007: the iPhone and a wider-screen video iPod.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• American Tech initiated Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ENDP) with a Buy, and believes that Endo is positioned to benefit from both market share gains and overall market growth.
• RBC capital Markets initiated Restoration Hardware Inc. (NASDAQ:RSTO) with an Outperform rating and $12 target, saying that Restoration has reinvented its core brand and has multiple revenue growth opportunities.
• Jefferies believes Lamar Advertising Co. (NASDAQ:LAMR) digital transformation is driving higher revenues and expanding margins and initiated it with a Buy rating and $73 target.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).