Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Amazing. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), that big online retailer, sees the flix for the net. The shares keep rising for the online DVD rental company-up about 15%, highest since January-- even if their discs do come a little scratched. More than that though is while new subscribers are coming on; it's not exactly going gangbusters. Still, 6.8M is a whole lot of subscribers. Will Amazon, or someone else, overpay?

Rackable Systems Inc (NASDAQ: RACK)

Which came first: The ongoing takeover rumors or the higher stock price? Or was it that Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) is said to be after Rackable, a provider of servers and storage products for high density data center deployments. Rack it up.

Feldman Mall Properties Inc (NYSE: FMP)

Word is that this real estate investment trust will look for a sale, combo or merger. They said the venerable firm of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. will help them "explore strategic alternatives." Then the stock went up.

STILL FLYING AROUND

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc (NASDAQ: TRMP)

Dennis Gomes, whose name surfaced in March, is a one time gaming exec and regulator. He's signed a confidentiality agreement to have a look see at the firm's Atlantic City casinos. Separately, Las Vegas' Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

YRC Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW)

The CEO of this Kansas-based transportation service provider has been quoted as saying that a takeover is possible. An LBO is likely. This week the shares have actively been trading up.

Dollar Tree Stores Inc (NASDAQ: DLTR)

Imagine a dollar tree where the stock keeps going up, up, up. Well, here it is, once again, a subject of takeover talk.

BUZZ

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X): Russia's Severstal may be prowling around...Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP): Takeover candidate's stock is sharply higher... Micron Technology Inc (NYSE: MU): Blackstone has interest...Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA): A hot stock and takeover rumors abound...Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA): Remains an LBO candidate...The First Marblehead Corporation (NYSE: FMD): The student loan business is booming and earnings growth is strong, but who would buy it?...Marriott International Inc (NYSE: MAR): A target? But where's the movement?...Oakley Inc (NYSE: OO) as a target has been around and around, and now some say it will be bought by Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: British Airways plc (BAB), Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY), Cox Radio, Inc (CXR) and Autoliv Inc (ALV) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of both British Airways (NYSE: BAB) and Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ: RYAAY) to Hold from Sell on valuation.

• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of Cox Radio Inc (NYSE: CXR) to Neutral form Underperform on valuation following the stock's recent pullback. Bear Stearns also upgraded Cox Radio to Outperform from Peer Perform on valuation.

• Merrill Lynch upgraded shares of Autoliv Inc (NYSE: ALV) to Neutral from sell.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Wachovia upgraded Heelys, Inc (NASDAQ: HLYS) to Outperform from Market Perform following positive channel checks, which could lead to upside to the Street's Q1 EPS estimate of 18c, and valuation.

• Stifel upgraded VistaPrint Ltd (NASDAQ: VPRT) to Buy from Hold with a $43 target. The firm said risks from taxes and non-transaction revenue have been diminished to levels that allow them to focus on the core printing business.

• Ameristar Casinos, Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc (NYSE: WDR) to Outperform from Peer Perform based on strong operating leverage and valuation.

• Potash Corp (NYSE: POT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Insituform Technologies, Inc (INSU), Ameristar Casinos, Inc (ASCA) and Christopher & Banks Corp (CBK) were some of today's more noteworthy downgrades:

• Canaccord Adams downgraded shares of Insituform Technologies (NASDAQ: INSU) to Underweight from Neutral following the company's reduced outlook and announcement to exit the tunneling business.

• Prudential downgraded shares of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA) to Underweight from Neutral on valuation following the recent run-up due to speculation the company will be sold; based on management statements, Prudential believes a company sale is unlikely.

• Buckingham cut Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK) to Underperform from Neutral.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• ABN AMRO downgraded shares of British Airways plc (NYSE: BAB) to Sell from Hold as the firm believes profits on trans-Atlantic routes may drop from increased competition due to the "open skies" agreement between the European Union and the U.S.

• JP Morgan downgraded China Unicom Limited (NYSE: CHU) to Underweight from Neutral.

• RBC cut Paychex, Inc (NASDAQ: PAYX) to Sector Perform from Outperform.

• Matrix USA downgraded EarthLink, Inc (NASDAQ: ELNK) to Sell from Hold and WCI Communities, Inc (NYSE: WCI) to Strong Sell from Hold on valuation.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Plexus Corp (PLXS) and Ameristar Casinos Inc (ASCA) were some of today's most notable initiations:

• Lehman initiated Plexus Corp (NASDAQ: PLXS) with an Underweight rating and $15.50 target.

• Wachovia started Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA) with an Outperform rating; the firm sees upside for Ameristar through growth of existing properties that have expansions and the removal of the $500 loss limit in Missouri.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Mattel Inc (NYSE: MAT) was initiated with a Hold rating at Sterne Agee.

• First Albany started Gaming Partners International Corp (NASDAQ: GPIC) with a Buy rating and $23 target.

• Jefferies initiated Morgans Hotel Group Co (NASDAQ: MHGC) with a Hold rating and $20 target based on valuation.

• UBS started E*Trade Financial Corp (NASDAQ: ETFC) with a Buy rating and $29 target.

• UBS also started TD Ameritrade Holding Corp (NASDAQ: AMTD) with a Neutral rating on valuation.

• Stifel initiated Saia Inc (NASDAQ: SAIA) with a Buy rating and $31 target; the firm is positive on Saia's growth and said the company should be the biggest beneficiary of further tonnage leakage from Central Freight Lines, which recently went private.

• William Blair started US BioEnergy Corp (NASDAQ: USBE) with an Outperform rating.

• JMP Securities assumed coverage of Delta Financial Corp (NYSE: DFC) with a Strong Buy rating and $13 target.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

While gaming money flows toward exotic locations such as Macau, domestic gambling companies continue to turn up winning cards. Ameristar (NASDAQ:ASCA), the American casino company based in Las Vegas with casinos throughout the Midwest, reported Friday a strong fourth quarter, culminating the most prosperous year in the company's history. EBITDA for the quarter finished at 6.4%, or $66.1 million, with net earnings of $17.8 million. Earning per share of $0.31 exceeded market expectations of $0.25.

This performance is especially impressive in light of the death in November of founder and chairman Craig Neilsen. Also, the 2005 same-quarter report, against which this year's was compared, was heavily skewed by a windfall from gamblers fleeing the destruction of Hurricane Katrina to Ameristar's casino inland at Vicksburg, MS. With the rebuilding of coastline casinos, the Vicksburg location's take has returned to more typical levels.

On the heels of Neilsen's passing, some have wondered if the company would be put up for sale. New CEO John Boushy stated late last week that the company is not for sale, and that it intends to double their EBITDA within the next three to five years. Key to this ambition is expansion of operations in Black Hawk, Co., St. Charles, MO., and Vicksburg, MS.

Some analysts are concerned about the increased competition the company will face in the St. Louis market, as several competing casinos approach completion. Stifel Nicholaus & Co., for example, continues to keep Ameristar at a hold, although it has raised its projection of 2007 Ameristar earnings per share from $1.38 to $1.45.

Also check out some other earnings reports that we're following, and let us know what you're expecting.