Analyst Upgrades

• Akamai (AKAM) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Aetna (AET) to Outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Hot Topic (HOTT) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Colonial Properties (CLP) upgraded to Outperform from market perform at FBR Capital and to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Altera (ALTR) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• American Reprographics (ARC), CarMax (KMX) and American Campus (ACC) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Zebra Tech (ZBRA) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• IMAX (IMAX) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Basic Energy (BAS) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Mednax (MD) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• UTi Worldwide (UTIW) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

I guess you could say that shareholders of Harley-Davidson (HOG) aren't in hog heaven. The motorcycle magnate announced solid third-quarter earnings results, but it disappointed the Street with its motorcycle sales.

Let's start with the good news. Harley-Davidson reported third-quarter net income of 38 cents per share ($88.8 million) or 40 cents per continuing share, far better than last year's same-quarter earnings of 11 cents per share. What's more, these results topped the consensus estimate of 35 cents per share. The company was even able to overcome poor quarterly sales because of it financial services division and cost-cutting efforts.

The earnings crunch is back on this week. Third quarter reports are due from tech, financial and pharmaceutical companies, from airlines and from many others. Here's a day-by-day rundown of the coming week's earnings highlights, with a closer look at Apple (AAPL), Harley-Davidson (HOG), Boeing (BA) and Southwest Airlines (LUV).

Getting things started on Monday, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Citigroup (C), Halliburton (HAL) and IBM (IBM) to post year-over-year earnings growth. But Monday's highlight no doubt will be Apple's (AAPL) quarterly results.

You had to love the excitement surrounding Harley-Davidson (HOG) Tuesday. I'm sure shareholders were jumping for joy at the incredible rise experienced by the stock: it closed on Tuesday at a price of $26.83, up well over 13%. Volume supported the conviction of the move.

Back in April, BloggingStocks' Tom Taulli covered the company's first-quarter numbers. He called the stock risky at the time. He was correct to do so because the shares retreated not long after his piece was published, as the following chart clearly shows. Now that the second-quarter stats are here, should investors be interested in the motorcycle maker?

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities upgraded Boston Properties (BXP) to outperform from market perform and has an $89 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on near-term catalysts that include, the potential start of 1msf of development in Midtown, investments, and selection as 1 World Trade Center project manager.
• Baird upgraded Bucyrus (BUCY) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation and an a more favorable view of the Terex Mining acquisition. The firm has an $83 price target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Warner Chilcott (WCRX) to buy from hold and has a $30 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and conservative guidance.
• AmeriCredit (ACF) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Rio Tinto (RTP) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.

Human Genome (HGSI) closed at $29.70 after announcing 76-week SLE responder data missed statistical significance vs. 52 weeks. HGSI overall option implied volatility of 52 is near its 22-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Harley-Davidson (HOG) closed at $35.17 after rallying 7% on the announcement of Q1 EPS of 29 cents. HOG overall option implied volatility of 35 is below its 26-week average of 41, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Harley-Davidson (HOG) closed yesterday much higher than where it opened. The stock rose over 10%, finally settling at $31.37. During the intraday session, the shares hit a new 52-week high of $31.66. According to TheFly, RBC Capital increased its price target for the motorcycle company, believing it may eventually hit $36.

You know what? My gut tells me $36 is easy at this point (however, I do have some reservations and warnings, which I'll get to). There was a lot of volume backing the bid on Monday, and as I look through different time periods for the stock in terms of price gain (one-month return, three-month return, etc.), I come to the conclusion that this is one strong equity.

Harley-Davidson (HOG) shot up recently on takeover rumors, but in my opinion, they're just that -- rumors.

Who needs a high-end motorcycle during the Great Recession? Or its aftermath? And who needs the stock of a company with more than $4 billion in long-term debt, huge unpaid pension obligations, lousy cash flow to service its debt, and that is still in search of a partner to take customer loans off its hands.

Spring is finally here, which means it's time to break out the broom and dustpan for some spring cleaning.

But your home isn't the only thing that requires constant maintenance -- your portfolio does too.

And what better time than spring to get a fresh start by cleaning out the stocks that are sitting around collecting dust rather than making you money?

How's this for a kick in the pants: Flying in the face of it's first quarterly loss in 16 years, a seriously questionable compensation package has just been awarded to the new, short-time CEO of Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG).

Keith E. Wandell, the new Harley-Davidson CEO, and former COO of Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), has been awarded a compensation package totaling approximately $6.4 million for his participation in Harley-Davidson operations from May 2009 through the end of that year. When given the company's downward slide through 2009, and in consideration of tough times ahead for those who survive on high-end discretionary spending, might there be cause to wonder if Mr. Wandell's compensation package is just a tad excessive?