Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ARM, KFT, LOW, OXY, UBS, UPS, VRSN ...

Analyst Upgrades

Deutsche Bank upgraded United Parcel Service (UPS) to buy from hold on expectations the company will benefit from improving international package volumes and restructuring initiatives. The firm raised its target on shares to $70 from $67.
JPMorgan upgraded SVB Financial (SIVB) to overweight from neutral on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm has a $54 price target on the stock.
Baird upgraded ArvinMeritor (ARM) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $15 from $12 following the Q2 report. The firm said ArvinMeritor has transformed its business model and is well-positioned for growth.
UBS (UBS) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
Vail Resorts (MTN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.

Analyst Downgrades

Goldman downgraded Lowe's (LOW) to neutral from buy, citing its preference for buy-rated Home Depot (HD), which has company specific drivers. The firm has a $25 price target on Lowe's.
Deutsche Bank downgraded Verisign (VRSN) to hold from buy on concerns the stock will be range-bound following the Q4 results. The firm lowered its target price on shares to $24 from $27.
COMSYS IT Partners (CITP) was downgraded to market perform from outperform at BMO Capital. The company is being acquired by Manpower (MAN) for $17.65 per share.
CH Robinson (CHRW) was downgraded to market perform from outperform at Wells Fargo and to hold from buy at BB&T.
Kenexa (KNXA) was downgraded to neutral from buy at Janney Montgomery.
Roche (RHHBY) was downgraded to add from buy at Natixis.

Analyst Initiations

Soleil started Kraft Foods (KFT) with a buy rating and $32 target. The firm believes the acquisition of Cadbury (CBY) should accelerate Kraft's long-term sales growth rate.
Mylan (MYL) was initiated with an outperform rating and $24 target at Oppenheimer.
Deutsche Bank initiated Barrick Gold (ABX) with a hold rating and $44 target.
Barclays (BCS) coverage was resumed with a buy at BofA/Merrill.
Boston Properties (BXP) was started with a neutral rating at Credit Suisse.
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling (CCH) was initiated with a buy rating at RBS.