Analyst Upgrades

• Hudson Square upgraded Take-Two (TTWO) to buy from hold, citing the better-than-expected Q3 report and increased guidance.
• Keybanc upgraded The Buckle (BKE) to hold from underweight given the potential for a special dividend in the near term.
• Stifel Nicolaus upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) to hold from sell, citing KA First Reserve's $100M equity investment.
• Gold Fields (GFI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• James Hardie NV (JHX) was upgraded to neutral from reduce at Nomura.

Back in 2002, Burger King (BKC) went private in a $1.5 billion deal (at the time, the food chain was owned by Diageo PLC). Then in 2006, the company came back to the public markets, providing a nice return for the private equity sponsors, which included TPG Capital, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital.

OK, so how about going private again? Actually, this is the latest rumor making the rounds. Although, it sounds like the negotiations are in the early stages.

Burger King (BKC) really laid a whopper Tuesday when it announced weaker-than-expected earnings.

Burger King said net income fell to $49 million, or 36 cents a share, during its fiscal fourth quarter, compared to $58.9 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier.

It looks like Burger King's successful attempt to court young males with its brash commercials and willingness to indulge a less-than-healthy appetite has hurt the company during the recession -- as this demographic has been disproportionately hit with job losses in construction and manufacturing.

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) was down roughly 2% as I began composing this piece during the afternoon session. I hope investors weren't paying attention to the bears who were in control of the fast-food giant's shares. To me, the stock seems to be in good shape, and in the kind of trading climate we're in, it could be a useful instrument for the cautious player.

I'm seeing a quote of around $70 go by on my screen. Not bad in the least, considering that the 52-week high is $71.84. It shows the kind of resilience the stock possesses. Indeed, considering how many equities have pulled back from their 52-week highs, you've got to enjoy this element of the story.

There is a decidedly global flavor to KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants lately. And no, we're not talking about the Chalupa Baja -- this is about a global sales for these franchises and their parent company.

In recent years, operator Yum! Brands (YUM) has been growing at a breakneck pace, now with more than 3,500 locations in China alone and plans to open another 900 restaurants outside the U.S. in 2010. And the next global market that is in its sights is the United Kingdom, with a Taco Bell in Essex set to peddle low-priced burritos by the end of June.

I'm not a fan of Wendy's/Arby's Group (WEN). It just doesn't seem as safe as stocks like Burger King (BKC), McDonald's (MCD), or Yum! Brands (YUM). Of course, I'm certain I did nothing more than state the obvious.

As a low-priced equity, Wendy's/Arby's Group always possesses the risk of volatility. Today, the shares are off by over 3% in afternoon trading; at the time of this writing, I saw a share price of $4.93. Hey, it's better than the day low of $4.86. The company had reported earnings results for the first quarter Thursday morning. Do the numbers make the company look more or less attractive?

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

• Aflac Inc. (AFL) higher Q1 earnings were better than analysts expected, due in part to a stronger yen.
• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) Q3 EPS were the same as a year ago and revenue inched higher.
• BlackRock Inc. (BLK) higher Q1 earnings fell short of analysts' expectations due to acquisition-related charges.
• Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) posted record revenue in Q1 and swung to a profit from a year-ago loss.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) topped Wall Street's Q3 earnings estimate, but same-store sales fell.

Fast-food giant McDonald's (MCD) is without doubt the quintessential American fast-food restaurant -- but it is also a global name with strong sales at global stores. The company makes products enjoyed around the world and it offers those products at a price point accessible to nearly everyone.

Certainly, fast-food consumers have demonstrated a taste for McDonald's. But investors also have a taste for MCD stock. Over the past five years, the stock has shot up nearly 138% and so far this year there's been no sign the stock is slowing down. The restaurant stock now trades at 52-week highs.

Seattle coffee icon Starbucks (SBUX) has been on the resurgence in 2010 after consumers fled during the Great Recession. In order to keep the profits percolating, SBUX is looking to roll out a fresh new menu of Frappucinos and iced coffee for the hot summer months.

Growth is crucial for SBUX stock now after it has weathered the worst of the economic downturn. Notable achievements over the past few months include:

• The announcement of the first-ever cash dividend to SBUX stock owners.
• Gains of about 220% in Starbucks shares since the 2009 lows, from $8.24 on March 9, 2009, to the mid-$26 range today.
• Four straight earnings reports topping Wall Street forecasts, with an average earnings surprise of almost 20%.

Burger King (BKC) is turning up the heat in its war with McDonalds (MCD) for early morning sales. In selected markets, Burger King is advertising the availability of a "Burger King brunch" in a quest to cash in on lucrative morning sales. This is only a few months after announcing Burger King will carry coffee made by Starbucks to provide a more flavorful alternative to its BK Joe coffee.

This is what the fast-food breakfast wars have become: Mimosas at the drive-thru window.

Yum! Brands (YUM), owner of KFC and Taco Bell, operates in the same industry as McDonald's (MCD), Burger King (BKC), and Wendy's/Arby's Group (WEN). All of these stocks are either at or near their respective 52-week highs. How does Yum! Brands look after its first-quarter report?

You've got to take notice of this stock. The one-year chart depicts an equity that consolidated for a while, only to finally break out and head to the upside. And here's some more good news for both traders and investors alike: Wednesday, the shares closed the regular session 1.8% higher from where they started. Then, during the after-hours session, following distribution of the earnings release, the bulls, deciding they wanted to remain in charge, gave the company another boost.