Continue reading Brookfield Infrastructure LP Offers Cash Flow, Capital Gain Potential

Brookfield Infrastructure LP Offers Cash Flow, Capital Gain Potential originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP) to outperform from sector perform with a $20 target. The firm thinks the units' valuation is compelling, while the company's proposed acquisition of assets is positive.
• Stifel upgraded First Horizon (FHN) to buy from hold based on valuation and its path towards normalized profitability. The firm has a $15 price target on the stock.
• KeyBanc upgraded Isle of Capri (ISLE) to buy from hold based on improved earnings growth and valuation. The firm has a $13 target on the stock.
• ATA Inc. (ATAI) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Buckeye Partners (BPL) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Sinopec (SNP) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ...

Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of National City (NYSE: NCC) to Outperform from Perform on valuation as they believe the bank is not seeing a mass exodus of depositors.
  
• Wachovia upgraded Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP) to Outperform from Market Perform due to what the firm sees as the company's solid cash flow growth outlook, strong balance sheet, and discounted valuation.
  
• Baird upgraded Tellabs (NASDAQ: TLAB) to Outperform from Neutral citing valuation and improving 2009 prospects from 8800, 8600, and 7100 products and better Opex management..
• Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Cowen.
  
• UBS raised Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Borg-Warner (NYSE: BWA) was raised to Buy from Hold at Keybanc.

• Merriman downgraded shares of TheStreet.com (NASDAQ: TSCM) and Bankrate (NASDAQ: RATE) to Neutral from Buy to reflect concerns about display advertising trends and the company's above average exposure to the financial vertical.
  
• Baird downgraded Monaco Coach (NYSE: MNC) to Neutral from Outperform and Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) and Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO) to Underperform from Neutral citing valuations and checks that indicate "dreadful" fundamentals.
  
• RBC Capital downgraded Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to Sector Perform from Outperform citing weakening consumer spending, reduced visibility, and risks to valuation. The company's target was lowered to $140 from $200.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AAPL, NCC, NT, TLAB, TTWO, TSCM, HOT, CHK ...

Analyst calls: AAPL, NCC, NT, TLAB, TTWO, TSCM, HOT, CHK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Gordon Pape, editor of Internet Wealth Builder, chose Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) as his top pick for 2007. The stock rose 31%, as of June 1, 2007. Here is Gordon's original recommendation on BAM and his current favorite stock for the rest of 2007.

Updating the stock, Pape now says, "Brookfield is the oldest recommendation still on our active list -- we've been recommending it since 1997 -- and it continues to churn out handsome gains for members. Maybe the company will stumble some day, but I wouldn't bet on it.

"The company holds $50 billion in assets and invests in the property, power, and infrastructure sectors. Its strong stock performance is the result of a combination of continued profit growth and a corporate commitment to enhance shareholder valuation in every possible way.

"For example, the company recently announced that it is spinning off its timber assets and much of its electrical generating business into an infrastructure partnership -- Brookfield Infrastructure Partnership LP -- which will be listed on the NYSE under the symbol BIP.

"It's expected the partnership will be very attractive to investors, and Brookfield could have chosen to bring it out through an IPO. Instead, a majority interest will be distributed to Brookfield shareholders in the form of a dividend and the parent company will retain a 40% interest.

"In addition, the board of directors has approved another share split, the fourth since I recommended the stock. This will be a three for two split, paid as a dividend, which will be effective on June 1 for shareholders of record as of May 24. We continue to rate BAM a buy."

Top 20 advisors: Gordon Pape likes Brookfield's 'assets' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.