Analyst upgrades:
- Stephens upgraded Quidel (QDEL) to equal weight from underweight on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm keeps a $16 price target on the stock.
- UBS upgraded Clearwire (CLWR) to neutral from sell, citing the company's funding, which increases opportunities. The firm raised its price target to $6 from $3.
- Oppenheimer upgraded Mattson Technology (MTSN) to outperform from perform on expectations the company will benefit from a cyclical recovery in memory capex spending in 2010. The firm raised its target on shares to $4 from $3.
- Eli Lilly (LLY) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
- Kinross Gold (KGC) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
- Limited Brands (LTD) was upgraded to hold from sell at Soleil.
Analyst downgrades:
- MerrMerriman downgraded Netflix (NFLX) to neutral from buy on valuation and concern that subscriber additions from launches on PS3 and Xbox 360 could pressure near-term earnings.
- RBC Capital downgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to outperform from a top pick and said it would look to be more aggressive on pull backs. The firm has a $66 target on shares.
- JMP Securities downgraded NuVasive (NUVA) to market perform from outperform, citing reimbursement concerns.
- Abbott Lab (ABT) was cut to buy from conviction buy at Goldman.
Analyst initiations:
- Kaufman Bros. believes Standard Microsystems (SMSC) is well-positioned as a mixed-signal analog vendor. Shares were initiated with a buy rating and $23 target.
- Benchmark Co. believes Equinix (EQIX) will benefit from increasing usage of web-based communications services. The firm set a buy rating and $120 price target on shares.
- Morgan Stanley initiated Santander Brasil (BSBR) with an overweight rating and $17 target, citing relative valuation.
- Boeing (BA) was started with an underweight rating and $45 target at HSBC.
- Alpha Natural (ANR) was assumed at BofA/Merrill with a buy rating and $50 target.
- Perrigo (PRGO) was initiated with an outperform rating and $50 target at RBC Capital.
Closing Bell: When We All Love the PIIGS (NBG, SQNM, PG, ERTS, KO)
Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks List Shrinks from 26 to 21
Chasing Value: Hasbro Earnings Makes My Point
Add your comments