Analyst upgrades:
- Jefferies upgraded CME Group (CME) to Buy from Hold and has a $330 target on the stock. The firm believes increased regulatory concerns have created a buying opportunity and notes that CME Group's fundamentals are stable-to-improving.
- Susquehanna upgraded Priceline.com (PCLN) to Positive from Neutral and has a $230 target on the stock. The firm believes Priceline.com likely outperformed expectations in Q4.
- Citigroup upgraded AutoZone (AZO) to Buy from Hold citing an attractive valuation, favorable industry trends, and the potential for margin expansion. The firm raised its target price on shares to $188 from $176.
- Genzyme (GENZ) was raised to Sell from Conviction Sell at Goldman.
- Disney (DIS) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
- Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded at Collins Stewart to Buy from Hold.
Analyst downgrades:
- JP Morgan downgraded Dun & Bradstreet (DNB) to Neutral from Overweight to reflect a lack of positive catalysts. The firm lowered its target price on shares to $80 from $87.
- Janney Montgomery downgraded Metro Bancorp (METR) to Neutral from Buy following the company's Q4 results and lowered its target price on shares to $14 from $20.
- Baird downgraded Airgas (ARG) to Neutral from Outperform. The firm believes the proposed acquisition by Air Products (APD) will get done.
- Petrohawk Energy (HK) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Bernstein.
- AMB Property (AMB) was lowered to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
- St. Jude Medical (STJ) was downgraded to Conviction Sell from Sell at Goldman.
Analyst initiations:
- McGraw-Hill (MHP) was initiated with a Neutral rating and $35 target at Goldman. The firm also started Global Payments with a Neutral rating and $50 target.
- BMO Capital initiated Lululemon (LULU) with a Market Perform rating and $28 target.
- Broadcom (BRCM) was initiated with a Buy rating and $35 target at Citigroup.
- Cardtronics (CATM) was assumed with an Outperform rating at William Blair.
- Aixtron (AIXG) was initiated with an Overweight rating at HSBC.
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