MOST NOTEWORTHY: Anheuser-Busch (BUD), Checkpoint (CHKP) and Sprint-Nextel (S) were the notables in today's list of upgrades. - Bank of America upgraded Anheuser-Busch Cos (NYSE: BUD) to Buy from Neutral, with a $55 target; the firm believes there could be modest upside to the Street's 2007 estimates.
- Checkpoint Software Tech (NASDAQ: CHKP) was upgraded by RBC Capital Markets to Outperform from Sector Perform and a $32 target; the firm believes Checkpoint has reached an inflection point and expects year-over-year production license growth.
- Sprint Nextel Corp (NYSE: S) was added to JP Morgan's Focus List with a $25 target; the firm expects Sprint to be a turnaround story in 2007.
OTHER UPGRADES:
- Bear Stearns upgraded shares of AstraZeneca ADS (NYSE: AZN) to Outperform from Peer Perform on valuation.
- BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at FTN Midwest; the firm expects management's restructuring efforts to improve sales and earnings will drive shares.
- Dentsply Int'l (NASDAQ: XRAY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley based on valuation.
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