Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CMCSA, GAME, GRMN, ETN, FO, MDT, MSO ...


Analyst upgrades:

  • Deutsche Bank upgraded Vale SA (NYSE: VALE) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company will benefit from higher realized prices. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $23.
  • Soleil upgraded Education Management (NASDAQ: EDMC) to Buy from Gradually Accumulate following the company's Q1 results and raised its target on shares to $34 from $32.
  • Credit Suisse upgraded Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) to Outperform from Neutral. The firm also added the stock to its Focus List and raised its target on shares to $49 from $41. Credit Suisse believes Medtronic's base business is stabilizing and the stock's risk/reward is compelling.
  • Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Roth Capital.
  • Martha Stewart (NYSE: MSO) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Morgan Joseph.
  • Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) was upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies.

Analyst downgrades:

  • Collins Stewart downgraded Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to Hold from Buy to reflect overhang from the NBCU deal and lower-than-expected medium-term growth prospects.
  • RBC Capital downgraded Garmin (NASDAQ: GRMN) to Underperform from Sector Perform on concerns of increased competition and execution risk. The firm lowered its target on shares to $24 from $28.
  • Stephens downgraded Alvarion (NASDAQ: ALVR) to Equal Weight from Overweight on a lack of near-term catalysts and contract uncertainty. The firm lowered its target on shares to $5 from $7.
  • Approach Resources (NASDAQ: AREX) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman.

Analyst initiations:

  • Merriman initiated Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) with a Buy rating. The firm believes Novavax has a top technology in vaccine development for infectious diseases and set a $6-$8 price target on shares.
  • Merriman also started YM Biosciences (AMEX: YMI) with a Buy rating. The firm expects Nimotuzumab news flow to drive YM Biosciences shares.
  • Shanda Games (NASDAQ: GAME) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $16 target at Oppenheimer.
  • Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO) was initiated with a Neutral rating at BofA/Merrill.
  • Eaton (NYSE: ETN) was initiated with a Neutral rating and $70 target at Baird.
Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-35.8712,842.33
NASDAQ-8.232,895.85
S&P 500-2.371,344.68

Last updated: February 08, 2012: 12:15 PM

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