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Analyst upgrades:
- Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of Colonial Bancgroup (NYSE: CNB) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation following the recent weakness and believes the company will be eligible to receive TARP funds. Morgan Stanley believes the company's valuation adequately reflects risk to the loan portfolio; the firm raised shares to Equal Weight from Underweight.
- Merrill upgraded Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) to Buy from Underperform and believes their valuation reflects the worst-case for bad news.
- Oppenheimer upgraded Trimble Navigation to Outperform from Perform on valuation as they believe the company's long-term growth story is intact.
- Celestica (NYSE: CLS) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.
- KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) was added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
- Wachovia raised EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) to Outperform from Market Perform.
- UBS cut Barclays (NYSE: BCS) to Neutral from Buy as they believe capital raises could negatively impact earnings and that the dividend is likely to be cut.
- JP Morgan downgraded Discovery Holdings (NASDAQ: DISCA) to Underweight from Neutral based on valuation and the deteriorating economic outlook.
- Friedman Billings downgraded shares of Janus Capital (NYSE: JNS) to Underperform from Market Perform and lowered its target to $7 from $23 as they see further risk to the downside following the company's weaker-than-expected results.
- LKQ Corp (NASDAQ: LKQX) was cut to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital.
- Affymetrix (NASDAQ: AFFX) was lowered to Sell from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
- RightNow Tech (NASDAQ: RNOW) was downgraded at Baird to Neutral from Outperform.
Analyst initiations:
- Repligen (NASDAQ: RGEN) was initiated with a Buy rating at Merriman. The firm thinks shares warrant a higher valuation given the company's "late stage pipeline, strong partners, premier science and strong management."
- Jefferies initiated Gap (NYSE: GPS) with a Hold rating and $13 target, citing upcoming difficult margin comps and the challenging macro environment.
- NBTY (NYSE: NTY) was assumed with a Neutral rating and $30 target at B. Riley, as the firm believes the acquisition of Leiner is risky.
- Rodman & Renshaw initiated China Direct (NASDAQ: CDS) with an Outperform rating and $6 target.
- Zenith National (NYSE: ZNT) was assumed with a Perform rating at Oppenheimer.
- Liberty Capital (NASDAQ: LCAPA) was re-initiated at Barclays with an Equal Weight rating.
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