Analyst Upgrades

• Merriman upgraded Penn National (PENN) to buy from neutral, citing the company's strong balance sheet and management team. The firm also raised its target range for shares to $34 to $37.60.
• BMO Capital upgraded Cooper Companies (COO) to outperform from market perform and raised its price target to $55 from $46. The firm sees upside to Street estimates and increased visibility.
• Argus upgraded Watson Pharma (WPI) to buy from hold based on valuation.
• Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) was upgraded to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Weingarten Realty (WRI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, ALL, AOL, AVP, AZPN, BMY, COO, F, K, MSFT, PENN, UAL ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, ALL, AOL, AVP, AZPN, BMY, COO, F, K, MSFT, PENN, UAL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Starwood Hotels (HOT) to buy from hold, citing accelerating RevPAR comps and valuation. The firm upped its target for shares to $57 from $55.
• TD Newcrest upgraded Ivanhoe Mines (IVN) to speculative buy from hold based on valuation.
• BMO Capital upgraded Power Integrations (POWI) and ON Semiconductor (ONNN) to outperform from market perform based on valuation. The firm has a $45 target on Power Integrations and a $9 target on ON Semiconductor.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Reliance Steel (RS) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• AXA (AXA) was upgraded to add from neutral at WestLB.
  

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AXA, BHP, BYI, CAT, DWA, HOT, IVN, JPM, ONNN, PCLN ...

Analyst Calls: AXA, BHP, BYI, CAT, DWA, HOT, IVN, JPM, ONNN, PCLN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded Yum! Brands (YUM) to buy from neutral, citing valuation, improving momentum and stabilizing China fast-food sales. The firm raised its target to $44 from $38.
• United Technologies (UTX) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Needham upgraded Arris (ARRS) to buy from hold, citing valuation and positive near-term business trends. The firm has a $16 price target on shares.
• Warnaco (WRC) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Aetna (AET) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Nestle (NSRGY) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AET, ARRS, BIIB, CMA, CP, ENER, FSLR, UTX, YUM ...

Analyst Calls: AET, ARRS, BIIB, CMA, CP, ENER, FSLR, UTX, YUM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• RBC Capital believes software stock fundamentals have bottomed and that the next several quarters should see reduced earnings risk, easier comps, stimulus spending benefits, and lower FX headwinds. The firm upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Taleo (NASDAQ: TLEO), Digital River (NASDAQ: DRIV) and Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) to Outperform from Sector Perform.
  
• Rodman & Renshaw upgraded Provectus (OTC: PVCT) to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm has increased conviction in the success of the company's ongoing trial of PV-10 in melanoma.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Hold from Sell as it believes the risk/reward is balanced at current levels and that there are signs of potential credit market stabilization. The firm raised its price target on shares to $16 from $9.
• Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.
  
• PG&E (NYSE: PCG) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Federal-Mogul (NASDAQ: FDML) was lifted to Conviction Buy from Buy at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MSFT, AXP, RBS, FIATY, NFLX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MSFT, AXP, RBS, FIATY, NFLX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• ING upgraded Roche (OTC: RHHBY) to Buy from Hold as it believes Roche will not pay more than $100/share for Genentech (NYSE: DNA) and that the Avastin adjuvant data due April 2009 provides significant upside potential.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Motorola (NYSE: MOT) to Outperform from Perform on valuation as it believes sentiment is at an all-time low and the stock has limited downside. The firm set a $5 target on shares.
  
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Comerica (NYSE: CMA) to Equal Weight from Underweight citing valuation that adequately reflects credit deterioration in its commercial-heavy loan portfolio and aggressive government action.
• Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Nucor (NYSE: NUE) were upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: RHHBY, MOT, RBS, DKS, MCO ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: RHHBY, MOT, RBS, DKS, MCO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Baird upgraded Agilent (NYSE:A) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $24 from $22. The firm expects Agilent's YoY order declines to bottom in 1H09 and for growth to return in 1Q10.
  
• Despite downgrading the Equity REIT industry to Underweight from Market Weight, Friedman Billings upgraded Home Properties (NYSE:HME) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect the company's exposure to Washington, D.C. The firm thinks Washington has the potential for stable demand fundamentals.
  
• Keefe Bruyette raised Education Realty (NYSE:EDR) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect the company's improved liquidity outlook.
• Cullen/Frost (NYSE:CFR) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
  
• Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
  
• FPIC Insurance (NASDAQ:FPIC) was lifted at Piper Jaffray to Buy from Neutral.

• Credit Suisse downgraded Deutsche Telekom (NYSE:DT) to Neutral from Outperform and France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) to Underperform from Neutral in conjunction with cutting the European Telecommunications Services sector to Market Weight from Overweight.
  
• Goldman downgraded Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) to Sell from Neutral and added shares to its Conviction Sell List. The firm, which lowered its target to $11 from $30, said HOG shares do not fully reflect the impact from unprecedented headwinds in global luxury motorcycle demand and credit.
  
• Jefferies downgraded Precision Cast (NYSE:PCP) to Hold from Buy following the recent rally as they believe near-term EPS growth will be challenging. The firm lowered its target to $72 from $75.
• AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Bernstein.
• Tenneco (NYSE:TEN) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia.
• Burlington Northern (NYSE:BNI) was lowered to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Friedman Billings downgraded the Equity REIT sector to Underweight from Market Weight.

• Ladenburg initiated Pentair (NYSE:PNR) with a Buy rating and $32 target. The firm believes the company's cost reduction and growth strategies will limit earnings declines from weak end markets.
  
• Fiat (Other OTC:FIATY) was initiated with a Hold rating at ING Group.
  
• Raymond James resumed coverage of Tailsman Energy (NYSE:TLM) with a Market Perform rating.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: A, PFE, DT, HOG, AZO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) to Overweight from Neutral as they believe the company's market share gains in the e-commerce sector will continue and that new product lines are adding diversification of revenue streams.
  
• Wachovia upgraded Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP) to Outperform from Market Perform citing new market launches that should drive subscriber growth and reduced ARPU deterioration.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Pride International (NYSE:PDE) to Buy from Hold as they believe investors will view the stock as a pure deepwater play beginning in Q2.
• PDL BioPharma (NASDAQ:PDLI) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
  
• Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Altera (NYSE:ALTR) was upgraded at Wachovia to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Keefe Bruyette downgraded Southside Bancshares (NASDAQ:SBSI), Prosperity Bancshares (NASDAQ:PRSP), Cullen/Frost (NYSE:CFR) and BancFirst (NASDAQ:BANF) to Underperform from Market Perform on valuation and the weakening economic outlook in the Southwest.
  
• Oppenheimer cut Varian Medial (NYSE:VAR) to Perform from Outperform as they believe U.S. hospitals could reduce capital spending budgets by 15%-25% in 2009.
  
• Dress Barn (NASDAQ:DBRN) was lowered to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust based on valuation and lack of near-term catalysts.
• JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) was downgraded at Jesup & Lamont to Hold from Buy.
  
• Credit Suisse cut Novellus (NASDAQ:NVLS) to Underperform from Neutral.
  
• Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) was downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

• Merriman initiated Capstone Turbine (NASDAQ:CPST) with a Neutral rating and finds the stock fairly valued at current levels.
  
• Leerink sees a high likelihood that Momenta's (NASDAQ:MNTA) lead product candidates M-Enoxaparin and M-356 clear regulatory and legal hurdles. The firm has an Outperform rating and $16 fair value estimate on shares.
  
• NCI (NASDAQ:NCIT) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Wachovia based on valuation.
• Teradyne (NYSE:TER) was assumed at Barclays with an Overweight rating and $6 target.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, LEAP, BBY, BANF, JBLU originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Keefe Bruette downgraded regional banks, including Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) and Susquehanna Bancshares (NASDAQ:SUSQ) to Market Perform from Outperform and BB&T Corp (NYSE:BBT) to Underperform from Market Perform, on valuation and new economic baseline.
  
• Goldman downgraded shares of Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) to Neutral from Buy on U.S. competition and consumer demand concerns.
  
• Bear lowered its rating on Medarex (NASDAQ:MEDX) to Peer Perform from Outperform
  

• Morgan Stanley downgraded DeVry (NYSE:DV) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  
• B. Riley lowered Hill International (NASDAQ:HINT) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• HSBC downgraded Nikon Corp (NINOY) to Underweight from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: Regional banks, SBUX and MEDX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• City National Corp (NYSE: CYN) - downgraded to a sell from a neutral; stock is down 1.5%
  
• Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. (NYSE: CFR) - downgraded to a sell from a neutral; stock is down 3.3%
  
• First Midwest Bancorp (NASDAQ: FMBI) - downgraded to a sell from a neutral; stock is down 3.1%
  
• Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBI) - downgraded to a sell from a neutral; stock is down 6.7%
  

Merrill Lynch (MER) issues a string of bank downgrades originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• WestLB upgraded shares of DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX) to Buy from Add after the company raised the profit margin forecast for its Mercedes unit.

• Omniture (NASDAQ: OMTR) was upgraded by Piper Jaffray to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect the company's strong revenue momentum and expanding margins.

• Wedbush upgraded Convergys (NYSE: CVG) to Hold from Sell on valuation.

• Citigroup raised shares of Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) and Baidu.com (NASDAQ: BIDU) to Buy from Hold on valuation...

• Bear Stearns upgraded shares of Ryder System (NYSE: R) to Outperform from Underperform.

• Lehman raised EnCana Corp (NYSE: ECA) to Equal Weight from Underweight.

• USG Corp (NYSE: USG) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Buckingham.

• Morgan Keegan upgraded shares of Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Citigroup raised Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE: CFR) to Hold from Sell.

Analyst upgrades 7-26-07: BIDU, DCX, EXPE and USG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Roger Conrad has shown a particularly strong aptitude in selecting small bank takeovers; in fact, in Personal Finance, he featured a list of six favored small banks in early 2004 and since then, 4 of the 6 have been acquired.

Now, he again turns his eye toward the sector to find an additional list of small bank stocks, that are recommended for their growth potential - as well as the extra kicker of potentially becoming a future takeover target. He explains, "It's time to look at small bank stocks again. Even though deposit rates have risen along with short-term rates, returns on the loans and other assets they depend on -- which move with longer-term rates -- haven't kept up.

"At the same time, higher short rates have increased default risk and the nonperforming assets on their books. As a result, many of these stocks have taken a pause in what have been multi-year runs. Valuations have contracted, yields have risen and many shares are again back on the bargain rack." Conrad uses nine criteria to select bank stocks:

Continue reading Bank Bets: Conrad's recipe for takeovers

Bank Bets: Conrad's recipe for takeovers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.