Analyst upgrades:

• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of Novartis (NYSE: NVS) to Neutral from Underperform as they believe the stock's defensive characteristics justify a premium valuation.
  
• Merrill raised Dreamworks (NYSE: DWA) to Buy from Neutral and has increased confidence in DWA's sustainable success following the performance of Kung Fu Panda and new revenue streams.
  
• Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) was raised to Buy from Hold at Stanford on valuation.
  
• Goldman upgraded Smurfit-Stone (NASDAQ: SSCC) and Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) to Buy from Neutral and added International Paper (NYSE: IP) to the Conviction Buy List.
  
• Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merrill.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Savvis (NASDAQ: SVVS) to Hold from Buy and lowered the target to $17 from $20 to reflect decreasing visibility from economic headwinds and expectations for increased capex.
  
• Citigroup downgraded Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) to Sell from Hold as they believe fundamentals are not in-line with the current valuation following the recent rally.
  
• Merrill lowered their General Electric (NYSE: GE) estimates below consensus and downgraded shares to Neutral from Buy citing increased fundamental pressures on the company's GE Capital unit. GE's target was cut to $28 from $37.50.

Continue reading Analyst calls: NVS, DWA, APC, RF, GE, MTB, BYD, NWL ...

Analyst calls: NVS, DWA, APC, RF, GE, MTB, BYD, NWL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JMP Securities started shares of Advanced Analogic (NASDAQ: AATI) with a Market Outperform rating and $13 target, as they are positive on AATI's increasing margins driven by proprietary portable power management designs and cost-effective manufacturing technology.
  
• Cantor assumed coverage of Navios Maritime (NYSE: NMM) with a Buy rating and $21 target and believes the company's focus on long-term charter contracts and substantially fixed operating costs helps provide clear earnings visibility to support its dividend policy.
  
• American Technology views Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) as a compelling long-term investment opportunity given the overall predictability of the sector and an attractive valuation. The firm initiated shares with a Buy rating and $129 target.

• Morgan Stanley initiated SuccessFactors (NASDAQ: SFSF) with an Overweight rating.
  
• Cowen initiated Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ) with a Neutral rating and Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) with an Outperform rating.

Analyst initiations: Advanced Analogic, Navios Maritime, Lockheed Martin originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Soleil upgraded shares of Staples, Inc (NASDAQ: SPLS) to Buy from Hold following the in-line Q1 results, as the firm believes management's initiatives will benefit the company for the remainder of the year.

• Matrix upgraded Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) to Hold from Sell based on improved profitability and margins due to cost cuts.

• First Albany upgraded Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) to Strong Buy from Neutral following positive preliminary results for Milnacipran in Fibromyalgia.

• AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at BMO Capital based on valuation.

• Bernstein upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) to Outperform from Market Perform...

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Medtronic, Inc (NYSE: MDT) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorp (NASDAQ: AATI) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Needham.

• CIBC raised Cypress Bioscience, Inc's (NASDAQ: CYPB) rating to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer.

• HSBC upgraded Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd (NYSE: AEM) and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (NYSE: AU) to Overweight from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades 5-23-07: COP, FRX, SPLS and SUNW originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 May 2007 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.