MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• 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.

• 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.

Analyst upgrades: TSN, UN, BRKS, AKZOY and YHOO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

Brooks Automation: Fashioning the machines that integrate your circuits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

Brooks Automation makes the machines that make your chips originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.