MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Oppenheimer believes Cougar Biotech's (NASDAQ: CGRB) lead compound abiraterone is well positioned to address two underserved lines of therapy in prostate cancer with highly unmet medical needs. The firm assumed coverage of Cougar with a Buy rating and $43 target.
  
• Jefferies believes Penford's (NASDAQ: PENX) initiatives to improve product mix and increase returns on capital should lift the company's valuation multiples, starting shares with a Buy rating and $33 target.
  
• AtriaCure (NASDAQ: ATRC) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $17 target at Barrington, as they have confidence the company's minimally invasive approach will be the standard of care procedure for the less invasive surgical management of atrial fibrillation.

• Penske Automotive (NYSE: PAG) was initiated with a Reduce rating and $17 target at Calyon.
  
• Broadpoint initiated Applied Material (NASDAQ: AMAT) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Jefferies initiated eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH) with a Buy rating and $36 target.

Analyst initiations: Cougar Biotech, Penford, AtriaCure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan assumed coverage of 5 machinery stocks: The firm assumed Eaton (NYSE: ETN) and Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) with Overweight ratings and Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR), Parker Hannifin (NYSE: PH) and Kennametal (NYSE: KMT) with Neutral ratings. JP Morgan's top picks in the group are Illinois Tool Works and Eaton.

• Pali initiated Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU) with a Buy rating and $41 target and believes the Olympic Games represent the biggest growth catalyst for the company.

• Jefferies started shares of Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) with a Buy rating and $34 target, likes the momentum in TurboTax and QuickBooks and sees potential upside fo FY08 expectations.

• Banc of America initiated Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) with a Buy rating and $96 target and is positive on the company's European positioning given expectations for top line growth and margin expansion. The firm also started shares of Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) with a Buy rating and $35 target, positive on the company's strong management, solid competitive positioning and improving fundamentals.

• First Albany assumed coverage of Cougar Biotechnology (OTC: CGRB) with a Buy rating and $29 target.

• Oppenheimer started shares of Virginia Commerce (NASDAQ: VCBI) with a Neutral rating.

• Omega Financial (NASDAQ: OMEF) was initiated at Keefe Bruyette with a Market Perform rating and $25 target.

• Merrill Lynch initiated shares of Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) with a Buy rating.

Analyst initiations: ETN, EXPE, INTU, PCLN and SOHU originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.