Analyst downgrades: CLAY, PDGI, RBS, PGIC and WSFS

Posted Oct 29th 2007 10:57AM by Eric Buscemi
Filed under: Analyst Reports, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Clayton, PharmaNet Development, Royal Bank of Scotland, Progressive Gaming and WSFS Financial were today's noteworthy downgrades:

JMP Securities downgraded shares of Clayton Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: CLAY) to Market Perform from Outperform citing lack of visibility in the non-agency MBS market. William Blair also downgraded shares to Market Perform from Outperform after the company's in-line quarter, to reflect lowered estimates and uncertainty regarding a recovery time.
Jefferies downgraded shares of PharmaNet Development Group Inc (NASDAQ: PDGI) to Hold from Buy as they believe departures of board and management executives have introduced new risk.
The Royal Bank of Group PLC (NYSE: RBS) was lowered to Sell from Buy at Citigroup, as they are negative on the company's acquisition of ABN Amro Holding NV (NYSE: ABN).
ThinkEquity downgraded shares of Progressive Gaming International Corporation (NASDAQ: PGIC) to Accumulate from Buy following Friday's announcement that it lost its post-trial motions and will proceed to appeals court in the Webb lawsuit. PGIC will have to post a $20M bond, which is more than the firm expected.
B. Riley downgraded shares of WSFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WSFS) to Neutral from Buy after they lowered their estimates to reflect the company's higher projected on-interest expense.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Goldman removed Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) from its Conviction Buy List.
Calyon downgraded VeraSun Energy Corporation (NYSE: VSE) to Add from Buy.
Merrill Lynch downgraded Aetna Incorporated (NYSE: AET) to Neutral from Buy.
Friedman Billings downgraded Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE: BHI) to Market Perform from Outperform.