It's become all-too-common for Nokia (NOK). That is, another quarter with a drop in earnings. As for Q4, there was a 21% reduction. As for its global market share, it fell by 2% to 32%. So far in today's trading, the stock is off 2.52% to $10.46.

True, Nokia cranks out lots of cash. In the quarter, earnings still amounted to $1 billion. Sales were up 6%.

Nokia (NOK - option chain) stock is trading lower today after an analyst with Strategy Analytics said the company's market share in global handset sales will fall to 33% for the fourth quarter of 2010, down from 39% in 2009. Traders are also selling off in anticipation of the first earnings release under the new CEO. It is common wisdom that the first earnings usually feature a round airing out the last guy's dirty laundry. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on NOK.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded BP (BP) to buy from neutral.
• STEC (STEC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Corporate Office (OFC) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Citigroup upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) and Post Properties (PPS) to hold from sell.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Embraer (ERJ) to buy from underperform.
• Wilmington Trust (WL) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Parkway Properties (PKY) was upgraded to hold from sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Investors always look for good things to happen in stocks they own. Things like better than expected earnings, new contracts or a breakthrough discovery that will convert to better sales and profits. But they should also look for red flags, troubling developments within a company that could spell lower earnings in the future, even if they start with the opposite intent.

I'm reminded of that as I read about Microsoft (MSFT) getting into the mobile phone business. Of course, management thinks it will create more sales and profits, else why would they enter one of the most competitive markets on the planet? The problem (the red flag) is that there are already too many mobile phones with every type of application available and profit margins are much slimmer than in software. What can Microsoft add to this market that doesn't exist?

Nokia (NOK - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced it has begun shipping its Nokia N8 smartphone. The phone has reportedly received the most pre-orders in company history, and an analyst at Morgan Stanley wrote in a note to investors earlier this week that NOK could sell 3 million mobile phones during the fourth quarter thanks in large part to the highly-anticipated N8. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NOK.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Franklin Resources (BEN) to outperform from market perform and raised its target price for shares to $127 from $105 to reflect its belief the company is well positioned in the current environment.
• UBS upgraded Nuance (NUAN) to buy from neutral and has an $18 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and believes the company could be an acquisition target.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded DryShips (DRYS) to equal weight from underweight and has a $5.50 target on the stock. The firm cites the firmer ultra-deepwater drilling market for the upgrade.
• Becton Dickinson (BDX) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Edwards Lifesciences (EW) was upgraded to market perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
• Arkansas Best (ABFS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Baxter (BAX) to buy from hold on expectations the company will benefit from supply disruptions at privately-held plasma manufacturer Octapharma. The firm raised its price target for shares to $56 from $45.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Dolby (DLB) to buy from hold, citing valuation following the recent underperformance of shares. The firm upped its price target to $75 from $70.
• Bernstein upgraded Alexion (ALXN) to outperform from market perform based on increased Soliris forecasts for PNH and potential in aHUS. The firm also raised its price target to $75 from $60.
• Agrium (AGU) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Roche (RHHBY) was upgraded to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• BMO Capital upgraded Energizer (ENR) to outperform from market perform.

With the upcoming launch of Nokia's (NOK) N8 smartphone, there's much at stake for shareholders. If the device gets traction, there may be an upside catalyst for the stock. In fact, Nokia's shares have already been trending higher lately.

Yet there are some issues. For example, a report from the Wall Street Journal says there will be a delay of a few weeks. Why? Well, the details were sketchy.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup assumed coverage of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and upgraded shares to buy from hold with a $52 price target. Citi cites valuation and the company's successful execution for the rating change.
• UBS upgraded Rowan Companies (RDC) to buy from neutral based on better-than-expected dayrates in the high specification jack-up market. The firm raised its price target to $42 from $28.
• UBS also upgraded NetLogic (NETL) to buy from neutral and keeps a $33.50 target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and solid long-term outlook.
• AvalonBay (AVB) and BRE Properties (BRE) were upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Covance (CVD) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Reynolds American (RAI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup upgraded OpenTable (OPEN) to buy from hold, citing stronger than expected near-term trends and traction for the company's Spotlight offering. Citi upped its price target for shares to $70 from $46.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Werner (WERN) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation, the company's reduction in cost, and its above peer exposure to the pricing cycle.
• Goldman upgraded CarMax (KMX) to neutral from sell based on valuation and higher used car profitability. The firm has a $24 target on the stock.
• Apollo Group (APOL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Nokia (NOK) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.

Once a top player in the fast-growing mobile phone industry, Nokia (NOK) has turned into a has-been. This is certainly common in the tech world as top players usually cannot make transitions to the next big thing. Of course, one of the few companies that has been able to do this is Apple (AAPL).

But finding a "Steve Jobs" to run Nokia is impossible. Yet it looks like Nokia was still able to find a capable CEO: Stephen Elop. He ran Microsoft's (MSFT) Business Division (which includes the Office Suite). And before this, he was an executive at Juniper Networks, Macromedia and even Boston Chicken.

Analyst Upgrades

• Jefferies upgraded Computer Sciences (CSC) to buy from hold and raised its target to $53 from $47. The analyst said Computer Sciences' valuation has created one of the best LBO opportunities in several years and could provide a five year IRR of 25+%.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Comerica (CMA) to outperform from market perform, citing strength of the company's capital. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $43.
• RBC Capital upgraded Nokia (NOK) to outperform from sector perform and raised its price target to $14 from $12. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation, reduced execution risk on software development, and potential catalysts from new devices based on Symbian^3. RBS upgraded Nokia to buy from hold after the company named Stephen Elop as CEO.
• Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Moody's (MCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.