MOST NOTEWORTHY: Tyson Foods, Unilever, Brooks Automation, Akzo Nobel and Yahoo! were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) to Buy from Hold on valuation and the potential for protein complex improvement.
  
• Goldman upgraded shares of Unilever (NYSE: UN) to Neutral from Sell to reflect the company's diversified product range and growing exposure to developing and emerging markets.
  
• Bear Stearns raised its rating on Brooks Automation (NASDAQ: BRKS) to Outperform from Peer Perform. The firm cited the company's compelling valuation and growth drivers.
  
• Akzo Nobel (OTC: AKZOY) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at SNS Securities, as they see absolute total return greater than 20%.
  
• CIBC upgraded Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer on valuation following the recent pullback and their analysis of Yahoo's non-operating assets. They believe Yahoo's stake in Alibaba Group is now worth about $4/share and raised their target to $31 from $28.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• First Analysis upgraded Spss Inc (NASDAQ: SPSS) to Overweight from Equal Weight.
  
• UBS upgraded Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• WestLB upgraded Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to Hold from Reduce.
  
• HSBC upgraded Posco (NYSE: PKX) to Overweight from Neutral.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Marvel Entertainment, Inc (MVL), Electronic Arts Inc (ERTS), ION Media Networks Inc (ION), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc (MDRX) and Tenet Healthcare Corp (THC) were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• JP Morgan downgraded Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL) to Neutral from Overweight based on the lack of near-term catalysts.

• Gabelli downgraded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) to Hold from Buy on reduced 2008 expectations. The firm expects Electronic to lose market share given the lack of Q1 product launches.

• CRT downgraded ION Media Networks (AMEX: ION) to Sell from Buy and recommends taking profits at these levels as shares are approaching Citadel LP's offer of $1.46 per share.

• BB&T cut Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc (NASDAQ: MDRX) to Hold from Buy after its weak Q1 report.

• Jefferies downgraded Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Underperform from Hold with a $5.50 target to reflect weak volumes.
  

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Brooks Automation, Inc (NASDAQ: BRKS) was cut to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns.

• Prudential downgraded AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (NYSE: AU) to Neutral from Overweight.

• JP Morgan downgraded Jeffries Group, Inc (NYSE: JEF) to Market Perform to Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.

• Pacific Crest cut Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Sector Perform from Outperform on valuation.

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

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Delta Air Lines, Inc (DAL), Goodrich Corp (GR), Opnext, Inc (OPXT), Terex Corp (TEX) and Aruba Networks (ARUN) topped today's most noteworthy initiations list:

• UBS started shares of Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL) with a Reduce rating and $17 target on valuation and management's overly optimistic outlook.

• Deutsche Bank prefers to wait of a better entry point for Goodrich Corp (NYSE: GR) and initiated shares with a Hold rating.

• Opnext Inc (NASDAQ: OPXT) was initiated at JP Morgan with a Neutral rating citing concerns regarding new transceiver margins.

• Prudential believes Terex Corp (NYSE: TEX) is well positioned to take advantage of strong sustainable growth in the global infrastructure and mining markets over at least the rest of the decade, starting shares with an Overweight rating.

• RBC Capital started Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) with a Sector Perform rating while Lehman Bros initiated Aruba with an Overweight rating.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Deutsche Bank started Delta Petroleum Corp (NASDAQ: DPTR) with a Buy rating and $27 target.

• JMP Securities started Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX: HT) with an Outperform rating and $14 target.

• Credit Suisse assumed coverage of Interline Brands, Inc (NYSE: IBI) with an Outperform rating and $34 target.

• Credit Suisse reinstated Brooks Automation, Inc (NASDAQ: BRKS) with a Neutral rating.

• Goldman Sachs started CenturyTel, Inc (NYSE: CTL) with a Sell rating and $42 target on valuation.

• B. Riley initiated Insteel Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: IIIN) with a Buy rating and $24 target.

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

As in most industrial endeavors, profits in the semiconductor manufacturing business are a direct function of production efficiency. A leader in the art of creating the automated systems used to make quality chips is headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Brooks Automation (NASDAQ: BRKS) provides production tools and factory automation products for semiconductor makers and suppliers of chip-making equipment. Products include the vacuum systems, wafer handling systems and thermal conditioning modules necessary to efficient chip manufacturing. The company also sells specialty equipment to manufacturers of flat-panel displays and data storage devices. Major customers include Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) and Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS).

The BRKS share price rose last week, following completion of the company's sale of its Brooks Software unit to Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) for $125 million in cash. The move popped the shares out of a late March "cup" into the early April "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. The price is showing signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle".

Brokers recommend the issue with one "strong buy", four "buys," six "holds" and one "sell." Analysts see a 15% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The BRKS Price to Sales ratio (1.75), Price to Book ratio (1.61), Price to Cash Flow ratio (15.43), Sales Growth rate (76.38%) and EPS Growth rate (258.78%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutions own about 89% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $10.56 and $18. A stop-loss of $15.25 looks good here. Note that the firm is next expected to release quarterly results in late April.

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

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Coca-Cola Co (KO), Merck & Co (MRK) and National Semiconductor (NSM) were some of today's more notable upgrades:

• The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) was upgraded to Buy from Hold with a $57 target at Deutsche Bank based on valuation.

• Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup to reflect the firm's bullish outlook for the company's diabetes drug, Januvia. Citigroup believes the drug will help drive above-consensus earnings following its recent diabetes survey.

• National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM) was upgraded to Strong Buy from Market Perform at Raymond James.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Comverse Technology (NASDAQ: CMVT) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation and potential catalysts that include a possible break-up of the company.

• RBC upgraded Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) to Outperform from Sector Perform with a $180 target, as checks indicate shipment and sub-momentum from the company's product cycle will be significantly greater than anticipated.

• Kellogg (NYSE: K) was added to Lehman Brothers' Favorites List.

• Stanford upgraded Brooks Automation (NASDAQ: BRKS) to Buy from Hold with a $20 target on improved industry conditions, cash generation and valuation.

• Cowen added Ericsson Telephone Co (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Oracle Corp (NASDAQ: ORCL) to its Focus List.

• Matrix USA upgraded J.C. Penney Co Inc (NYSE: JCP) to Strong buy from Buy with an intrinsic value of $115.

• Wedbush upgraded LSI Logic Corp (NYSE: LSI) to Buy from Hold with a $13 target.

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

As they say in manufacturing circles, it takes good hardware to make good hardware. A leader in the art of fashioning the automated systems used to make quality semiconductors is headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Brooks Automation (NASDAQ:BRKS) supplies a range of technology products to the semiconductor market. The Hardware segment provides the vacuum systems, factory automation devices, wafer handling systems and thermal conditioning modules necessary to efficient chip manufacturing. It also sells specialty equipment to makers of flat-panel displays and data storage devices. The Software segment provides programs that manage the manufacturing process.

The firm surprised investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q1 EPS of 35 cents and revenues of $191.4 million. Analysts had been looking for 28 cents and $187.3 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 30-35 cents (24 cent consensus) and Q2 revenues to $185-$190 million ($180.35M consensus). The CEO noted strong demand for new generation atmospheric and vacuum automation products, which provide an improved cost structure for Brooks. He also remarked that the firm's global customer support business continues to generate future growth, as it leverages new product offerings on the large installed base of core automation modules. The news boosted the share price out of a late January "cup" into the early February "handle" of a bullish Cup & Handle formation. The price is showing signs of completing the pattern by rising from the right-hand side of the "handle."

Brokers recommend the issue with four "buys," seven "holds" and one "sell." The BRKS P/E ratio (21.43), Price to Sales ratio (1.56), Price to Book ratio (1.43), Price to Cash Flow ratio (13.76), Sales Growth rate (76.41%) and EPS Growth rate (0.00 to 0.35 yr/yr) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 94% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $10.56 and $16.74. A stop-loss of $13.40 looks good here.

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