.gif){kind=logo}
Analyst upgrades:- UBS upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Buy from Neutral but lowered its target to $42 from $45 following the solid Q4 report. The firm expects Dollar Tree's cost containment to continue. JP Morgan upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as it believes the recent pullback is overdone and the company set achievable FY09 guidance. The firm has a $43 target on the stock.
- JP Morgan also upgraded Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as they find the stock oversold at current levels.
- KeyBanc upgraded Nordson (NASDAQ: NDSN) to Hold from Underweight based on valuation, strong balance sheet and cost reductions, and a solid track record of execution.
- Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at HSBC.
- Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
- Carter's (NYSE: CRI) was upgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.
Analyst downgrades:
- Jefferies downgraded shares of Quicksilver (NYSE: KWK) to Hold from Buy as it expects the company to prioritize debt repayment over volume growth, which it expects will keep shares around current levels. The firm lowered its target price to $7 from $21.
- Baird downgraded TAL International (NYSE: TAL) to Neutral from Outperform and lowered its target to $9 from $17 based on the larger than expected dividend cut and lack of catalysts.
- Citigroup downgraded Allied Irish Bank (NYSE: AIB) and Bank of Ireland (NYSE: IRE) to Sell from Hold as it believes the banks may require additional capital.
- Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE: SPR) was lowered to Sell from Neutral at UBS.
- Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America/Merrill.
- JP Morgan downgraded Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) to Underweight from Neutral.
- Jefferies initiated Cummins (NYSE: CMI) with a Hold rating and $22 target. The firm believes the company's exposure to the industrial and power generation markets creates earnings risk as the downturn has only recently begun in those sectors.
- Merriman believes Halozyme Therapeutics (NASDAQ: HALO) has strong collaborations and finds the stock undervalued at current levels. The firm started shares with a Buy rating.
- Wunderlich assumed Valueclick (NASDAQ: VCLK) with a Buy rating and $10 target. The firm expects the company to sustain a strong position in online display advertising and benefit from the shift from offline to online advertising.
- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was initiated with a Sector Perform rating and $54 target at RBC Capital.
- VCA Antech (NASDAQ: WOOF) was assumed at SunTrust with a Neutral rating.
- Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) was started with a Hold rating at Citigroup.
Entrepreneur's Journal: Want to get a piece of the Buffett/Goldman honeypot?
The week in preview: No turkey earnings from Tyson, Hormel, Cracker Barrel ...
Comfort Zone Investing: Intel is saying something ... can you hear it?
