Analyst upgrades:
- Citigroup upgraded Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) to Hold from Sell following the company's Q2 results, believing the worst may be behind the company. Citi raised its target on shares to $24 from $18.
- Goldman upgraded AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN) to Buy from Neutral and raised its target to $13 from $6.50, citing improved merchandising and inventories.
- Baird upgraded TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) to Outperform from Underperform and raised its target to $12 from $9, citing the better-than-expected Q2 report and guidance, strong balance sheet, and valuation.
- F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
- Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
- Sanmina (NASDAQ: SANM) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
Analyst downgrades:
- Jefferies downgraded Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) to Hold to Buy on valuation and believes a near-term takeout is unlikely. The firm keeps a $23 target on the stock.
- Oppenheimer downgraded Microsemi (NASDAQ: MSCC) to Perform from Outperform ahead of tonight's Q3 report. The firm believes Microsemi will beat/raise when it reports but views risk/reward as balanced.
- William Blair downgraded Moody's (NYSE: MCO) to Market Perform from Outperform on news Warren Buffet lowered his stake in the company to 40M from 48M shares.
- HealthFitness (AMEX: FIT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at B. Riley.
- American Capital (NASDAQ: AGNC) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.
- Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman.
Analyst initiations:
- NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) was reinstated with a Buy rating and $39 target at UBS.
- TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Cowen.
- Government Properties Income (NYSE: GOV) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Morgan Keegan.
- Ceragon Networks (NASDAQ: CRNT) was initiated with a Buy rating and $9 target at Jesup & Lamont.
- Actuant (NYSE: ATU) was initiated with a Neutral rating and $13 target at JPMorgan.
- Riverbed Technology (NASDAQ: RVBD) was initiated with a Sector Perform rating and $28 target at RBC Capital.
Prudential Earnings Preview: Strong 2009 Results Expected
Allstate Earnings Preview: Looking for a Turnaround
Disney Starts Off the New Fiscal Year with Solid Results
