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

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue and offered rosy guidance.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) higher Q4 earnings matched analysts' estimates, but shares rose afterward.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (ANN) swung to a profit in Q4 even though same-store sales dropped; shares fell.
• Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) received an analyst's upgrade following its Q4 results and guidance for the full year.
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) posted strong Q4 earnings even though same-store sales were flat.

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

• Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A) announced improved results year over year, with book value up nearly 20%.
• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ) Q4 earnings were in line with expectations but guidance for the year fell short.
• Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) received an analyst's downgrade and lowered price target following its Q4 results.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) strong Q2 results fell short of analysts' estimates and shares declined.
• Dress Barn Inc. (DBRN) said it swung to a profit in Q2 and same-store sales increased, and it raised its outlook.

The next company in my ongoing series of the top 25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years is CBeyond, Inc (NASDAQ: CBEY). CBeyond has a market capitalization right at $1 billion. The company has an opportunity to be a dominant player in the total communications to the small-to-medium business sector.

CBeyond is a communications service provider (CSP), marketing to the small-to-medium business sector, as defined by 2 to 300 employees. The managed services offered by CBeyond include local voice, long distance and broadband internet access. Other services include e-mail systems, unified messaging, virtual private network (VPN) for remote users, and secure backup and file sharing. Soup to nuts, CBeyond offers the smaller enterprise the full package of communications with ease of use and simplified pricing programs.

The systems are delivered through T1 circuits right on the customer's premise and CBeyond guarantees carrier-grade quality of service and functionality. Most customers sign up for 3- to 5-year contracts, thus providing CBeyond with excellent revenue visibility going forward.

Small-to-medium business enterprises are ripe for bundled services, as CBeyond offers the one-stop shopping convenience for these enterprises. CBeyond monitors the "what's new" factor for its customers and builds in to the contracts, the upgrades when available. This allows the end customer to not be concerned about what is new in the technology world. CBeyond provides the so-called peace-of-mind solution.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Citigroup (C), Altria Group, Inc (MO), and TreeHouse Foods Inc (THS) were today's notable upgrades:

• Bank of America upgraded Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) to Buy from Neutral with a $58 target to reflect the low valuation and the company's opportunities to increase earnings growth over the next year.

• Altria Group (NYSE: MO) was added to Goldman Sachs' Conviction Buy List. The firm believes shares, excluding Kraft (KFT), could reach $76 over the next 12 months. Goldman also thinks Altria may announce a spinoff of its Philip Morris International unit this summer.

• TreeHouse Foods Inc (NYSE: THS) was upgraded to Buy from Sell on valuation at Matrix.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Suncor Energy Inc (NYSE: SU) was upgraded Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.

• Melco PBL Entertainment (NASDAQ: MPEL) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.

• Prudential upped J.M. Smucker Co (NYSE: SJM) to Neutral from Underweight.

• BMO upgraded Smurfit-Stone Container Corp (NASDAQ: SSCC) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Raymond James upgraded Cbeyond, Inc (NASDAQ: CBEY) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Stifel upgraded Accenture Ltd (NYSE: ACN) to Buy from Hold with a $44 target.

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