Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded CSX (CSX) to neutral from sell.
• General Cable (BGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Chart Industries (GTLS) and Dresser Rand (DRC) to overweight from equal weight.
• Blackrock (BLK) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Zions Bancorp (ZION) to neutral from underperform and GameStop (GME) to outperform from neutral.
• Honeywell (HON) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Panera Bread (PNRA) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

This morning one of my colleagues, Joseph Lazzaro, who heavily uses technical analysis, posted an article titled General Cable Corp.: Stopped-Out.

I have never used technical analysis to make investment decisions, but I have used charts for general long-term trends examining a stock from a historical perspective. I think in the case of General Cable Corp. (BGC), it may prove untimely to bail out now based on just technical analysis.

In investing, they don't all work out. General Cable Corp. (BGC), which I first wrote about on May 5, 2009, at a price of $34.59, has been stopped-out at at the sell/stop loss of $28.

The stock of General Cable, which develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy, and electrical markets, has been retreating since it announced a Q4 production cut back in mid-2009.

Based on its decent Q3 performance and the 2010 outlook for the U.S./global economies, I'm reiterating my buy rating for General Cable Corporation (BGC), first recommended on May 5, 2009, at a price of $34.59.

General Cable, which develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and electrical markets, reported Q3 EPS of 55 cents, above the First Call Q3 EPS estimate of 53 cents. However, General Cable gave up yearly gains because it announced a Q4 production cut -- one that will likely weigh on Q4 earnings.

I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for General Cable Corp. (NYSE: BGC), first recommended on May 5, 2009 at a price of $34.59.

Since the May recommendation, BGC has run into resistance at/near $43. The stock broke through psychological resistance at $40 (twice), rallied slightly higher, only to fall back both times.

For investments in large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and a competitive advantage in established markets -- preferably with a favorable, global trend as a support -- General Cable Corporation (NYSE: BGC) is worth a review.

General Cable Corporation develops, designs, manufactures, markets, distributes and installs copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products.

"The new administration will likely soon launch a new spending program to put people back to work and boost the economy," says Jim Powell, adding, "That's even more likely now that the financial crisis is in full swing and growth is declining."

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report he looks at General Cable (NYSE: BGC) as a play on the rebuilding of the nation's electric power grid.

"Politicians at all levels have also voiced strong support for rebuilding our woefully inadequate infrastructure. Because building roads, bridges, electrical grids, and so on, will employ many voters, I think allocations for such projects will go to the top of the government's spending list.

"That's especially true since infrastructure projects will also funnel billions of dollars to state and local governments that are facing hard times. All in all, modernizing the the electric power grid should be another very pro?table long-term investment.

"I believe the most promising beneficiary of the electric power project will be General Cable. The company produces products for a wide variety of applications including large cables for long distribution networks.

On tonight's MAD MONEY on CNBC Jim Cramer addressed the opportunity created by the big down day. He thinks some stocks are so loved that hedge funds and mutual funds just keep buying. These funds can't buy what they want all at once any longer, so they just keep buying and then the smaller funds jump on board. The other change is that the companies are shrinking because of buybacks. On days like today they sold off and that's an opportunity for you to buy. The floats on these are small enough that they almost trade like small cap stocks. He has a dozen of these stocks:

Whirlpool (WHR), Black & Decker (BDK), Allegheny Tech (ATI), General Cable (BGC), Honeywell (HON), American Standard (ASD), Johnson Controls (JCI), McDermott (MDR), Foster Wheeler (FWLT), Caterpillar (CAT) and Terex (TEX), and Deere (DE).

What Cramer is talking about does have some merit, but keep in mind that when this happens there is a mad rush at the exits when the line ends. In a world where funds are now in the tens of billions of dollars, this is becoming an issue. He's touting it a bit too much and these are names that are probably better for the public to buy on short-term weakness rather than on strength.

This follows up on yesterday's feature by Cramer where he sort of touted this as a scam on Wall Street in Qualcomm (QCOM).

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

The nation's electrical and telecommunications wiring needs run the gamut from delicate instrument filaments to light transmitting fiber optic lines to massive industrial power cables. Broadscale wire makers face a wide range of manufacturing complexities, but there is a Highland Heights, Kentucky firm that can handle them.

General Cable Corp. (NYSE: BGC) manufactures copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products. These are used in the industrial power and control, utility, mining, equipment control, entertainment, military, residential construction, industrial and medical equipment, automotive aftermarket, enterprise networking, and telecommunications markets. Brand names include Carol, BICC, and Helix/HiTemp. AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Qwest Communications International (NYSE: Q) are customers. Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is a major competitor.

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of $1.01 (ex-items) and revenues of $1.01 billion. Analysts had been looking for 76 cents and $980 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to $1 or better (86 cent consensus) and Q2 revenues to something approaching $1.1 billion ($1.06B consensus). The CEO remarked, "The company continues to experience increasing demand, particularly for overhead transmission cable in the U.S. and Europe. Combined with tight supply in the market for utility products, this has produced increasing prices and is allowing manufacturing improvements to fall to the bottom line."

RBC Capital Markets subsequently reiterated its "outperform" rating on the issue and boosted its price target from $61 to $74. The stock popped into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern on the news. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Altogether, brokers now recommend the shares with two "strong buys," three "buys" and two "holds." Analysts see a 14% average annual growth rate through the next five years. The BGC Price to Sales ratio (0.87), Sales Growth rate (25.48%), EPS Growth rate (146.34%), Return on Investment (13.62%) and Return on Equity (38.44%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutions hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $26.10 and $65.60. A stop-loss of $55.50 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.