MOST NOTEWORTHY: Anadigics, American Axle and Caterpillar were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Stephens downgraded shares of Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) following the company's Q2 results, as they believe shares could trade sideways until the macro environment improves. The firm lowered their target to $9 from $14. Jefferies downgraded shares to Hold from Buy to reflect the company's lower than expected outlook. The firm lowered their target to $9 from $15.
• Deutsche Bank cut American Axle (NYSE: AXL) to Hold from Buy to reflect the risk associated with the company's exposure to General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Chrysler. The firm lowered their target price to $7.50 from $11.
  
• JP Morgan downgraded Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) to Neutral from Overweight based on increasing macro headwinds and likely multiple pressure.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) was cut to Sell from Neutral at Piper.
  
• United Microelectronic (NYSE: UMC) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Downey Financial (NYSE: DSL) and City National (NYSE: CYN) were lowered to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Anadigics, Crystal River Capital and Canadian Solar were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) to Perform from Outperform on valuation following the recent run-up.
  
• Wachovia downgraded Crystal River Capital (NYSE: CRZ) to Market Perform from Outperform citing the uncertain near-term strategic outlook.
  
• Broadpoint downgraded shares of Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Buy from Strong Buy on valuation following yesterday's rally but raised their target to $45 from $29.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• UBS cut Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE: SHO) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• KeyBanc downgraded Wabtec (NYSE: WAB) to Hold from Buy.
  
• Goldman downgraded Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Suntrust downgraded Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPC) to Neutral from Buy.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported its fifth straight quarterly loss and lowered its outlook.
• Anadigics Inc. (NASDAQ: ANAD) beat Q1 expectations and raised its Q2 guidance.
• AuthenTec Inc. (NASDAQ: AUTH) Q1 revenues jumped 67% on new product offerings.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) posted better-than-expected Q1 results and raised its dividend.
• Cognex Corp. (NASDAQ: CGNX) beat Q1 expectations and lifted its outlook.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) posted soild Q1 results on high-speed internet/digital phone strength.
• DreamWorks Animation Inc. (NYSE: DWA) earnings and revenues soared in the first quarter.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) narrowed its Q1 loss but missed earnings estimates.
• IAC/InterActivCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) Q1 profits fell but met analsts' expectations.
• LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI) beat Q1 expectations and raised its guidance for the next quarter.
• NetSuite Inc. (NASDAQ: N) narrowed its loss on a surge in Q1 revenue.
• Omniture Inc. (NASDAQ: OMTR) Q1 revenue jumped 136% on acquisitions.
• RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) just beat low Q1 expectations on lower demand and narrower margins.
• SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) earnings for the first quarter fell short of analysts' expectations.

Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) makes gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) radio frequency integrated circuits for the broadband wireless and wireline communications markets. The physical properties of GaAs and InP allow the firm to make chips that are smaller, faster and more energy efficient than the usual silicon-based devices. The company focuses on applications for wireless local area networks, cable set-top boxes, cell phones, cable television systems, microwave systems and fiber-to-the-premises communications systems. Customers include Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and Motorola (NYSE: MOT).

The firm surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 15 cents and revenues of $74.4 million. Analysts had been looking for ten cents and $69.2 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 16-17 cents (13 cent consensus) and Q2 revenues to $77-$79 million ($72.96M consensus). Roth Capital subsequently reiterated its "buy" recommendation on ANAD and Charter Equity upgraded the stock to "market perform".

Way back in early March I highlighted 10 horrifically downtrending stocks and said not to even think about buying them until they broke their nasty trendlines to the upside.

Over the past few weeks, many have displayed solid sideways price action, but it wasn't until yesterday that the high volume breakouts occurred. I'm talking about those 50+ million shares traded, 10%+ price surges beautifully accomplished by such popular names like Sprint Nextel Corp (NYSE: S), Broadcom Corp (NASDAQ: BRCM) and Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT).

Unsurprisingly, several other stocks also showed similarly strong price action:

RF Microdevices Inc (NASDAQ: RFMD)
Anadigics Inc (NASDAQ: ANAD)
Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ: SWKS)
Triquint Semiconductor Inc (NASDAQ: TQNT)
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd (NYSE: LFC)
Raymond James Financial Inc (NYSE: RJF)
Cerner Corp (NASDAQ: CERN)

Much of what we call "technology" is critically dependent on the operation of semiconductor integrated circuits. There is a firm in Warren, New Jersey that has put a non-silicon spin on the fabrication of such devices, with good results.

Anadigics Inc. (NASDAQ: ANAD) makes gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for the broadband wireless and wireline communications markets. The physical properties of GaAs and InP allow the firm to make chips that are smaller, faster and more energy efficient than the usual silicon-based devices. The company focuses on applications for wireless local area networks, cable set-top boxes, cell phones, cable television systems, microwave systems and fiber-to-the-premises communications systems. Customers include Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) and Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT).

The firm surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q2 EPS of three cents and revenues of $53.9 million. Analysts had been looking for two cents and $52.6 million. Management also guided Q3 EPS to six cents (five cent consensus) and Q3 revenues to $59.3 million ($56.91M consensus). Needham, Roth Capital and Charter Equity subsequently declared ANAD a "buy."

Barron's interviewed Michael Cahill, portfolio manager of Chilton Investment, on the outlook for tech stocks. Cahill made some interesting points:

• From 2004 to 2006, the Nasdaq has been the single worst performing major index.
• The Nasdaq is up only 23% versus 35% for the S&P 500, 47% for the Russell 2000, 47% for Japan, 60%-range for the European Indexes and over 100% for emerging markets.
• Cahill also points out that tech stocks have had serious multiple compression in addition to a huge accumulation of cash on their balance sheets. When adjusting for cash, tech valuations become even more attractive.
• In 1999, there were 282 tech IPOs; in 2000 there were 205; in 2005 there were 23 and in 2006 there were 26.

Cahill concludes that with the massive share buybacks and the lack of new supply coming to market via IPOs, the supply and demand balance for tech stocks is becoming more and more favorable. Further, Cahill says most of the liquidation of tech shares by mutual funds in the post-tech bubble environment is completed.

The area he particularly likes is broadband wireless. Companies he likes are Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) and EchoStar Communications (NASDAQ: DISH).