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MOST NOTEWORTHY: Viacom, Agilent, AudioCodes and Microsoft were today's noteworthy upgrades:
- JP Morgan upgraded shares of Viacom (NYSE: VIA) to Overweight from Neutral as they believe contractual rate increases and distribution of the company's newer networks will drive higher earnings growth in 2008. The firm does not believe this growth is priced into shares.
- JP Morgan also upgraded Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) to Overweight from Neutral and added shares to its Focus List. Shares were upgraded based on its sum-of-the-parts valuation and sees further upside given that strategic buyers are back in the marketplace.
- AudioCodes (NASDAQ: AUDC) was raised to Buy from Accumulate at Think Equities, as they expect the company to benefit from the newly acquired CTI squared business, the security gateway business, and traction in the SBC business, with Microsoft's OCS launch of a new driver today.
- Goldman added Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) to its Conviction Buy List, citing valuation and overwhelmingly negative sentiment, and expects shares to trade higher on a better Q1 report.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Closing Bell: Economic Catapult for Thanksgiving & Black Friday (WMT, TGT, GRMN, GOOG, MSFT)
Deere up on Q4 earnings performance
Reid Hoffman: LinkedIn will go public (at some point)
