Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Vivus (VVUS) to overweight from neutral.
• Citigroup upgraded Corn Products (CPO) to buy from hold.
• Maxim Integrated (MXIM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Cardinal Health (CAH) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Citigroup upgraded Monster Worldwide (MWW) and EchoStar (SATS) to buy from hold, as well as Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to buy from sell.
• BMO Capital upgraded Potash (POT) and Barrick Gold (ABX) to outperform from market perform.

"Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (MOO) offers a great opportunity to capitalize on the move in the sector; the fund focuses on the 40 most actively traded companies in the agriculture chemical and product business," says Jim Farrish.

The exchange-traded fund specialist and editor of SectorExchange.com explains, "Below, we review the ETF as well as some individual agriculture-based stocks poised to break out on the upside.

"The agriculture stocks have been moving up aggressively since the end of June. The initial push came on the drought issues in Russia and wheat production.

Analyst Upgrades

• Canaccord upgraded IBM (IBM) to buy from hold, citing the better-than-expected Q4 report, an ongoing economic recovery and higher IT budgets. The firm raised its target to $150 from $130.
• Citigroup upgraded Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to buy from hold to reflect strength in the oilseed processing market and a positive inflection in ethanol profitability. The firm raised its target on shares to $37 from $33.
• FBR Capital upgraded Tesco (TESO) to outperform from market perform on expectations the company's top drive orders will accelerate in the coming quarters. The firm raised its target price on shares to $18.
• CBS (CBS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• HSBC Holdings (HBC) was upgraded to buy from hold at RBS.
• Essex Property Trust (ESS) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

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

• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings as revenues surged in the quarter.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) just beat Q3 expectations despite weak same-store sales growth.
• Corn Products International Inc. (NYSE: CPO) Q1 results were dragged down by higher corn costs.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) Q1 earnings sank on falling sales, job cuts and acquisition costs.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) reported a deeper-than-expected Q1 loss and suspended its dividend.
• Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ENR) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings but revenue declined.

Illinois-based Corn Products International, Inc. (NYSE: CPO) stepped into the earnings spotlight this morning, with the food firm reporting first-quarter net income of $17 million, or 22 cents per share, down sharply from $64 million, or 85 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2008. Sales for the period fell 11% to $831.1 million.

The results were impacted by higher net corn costs, softer volumes, and foreign currency translations. Analysts were expecting significantly higher earnings of 49 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters.

As if the wide earnings miss wasn't enough of a downside catalyst, CPO multiplied its negative momentum by slashing its outlook for the remainder of 2009. "We now anticipate lower volumes in North America due to the economic environment and a slightly longer than anticipated rebound in pricing in Brazil to offset the currency and volume impact," explained Chief Executive Sam Scott.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON), my favorite investment idea for 2009, should prosper regardless of how the economy performs," Charles Rotblut, CFA and editor of Zacks Elite.

In the same sector, Tracey Ryniec, editor of The Zacks Value Trader looks to Corn Products International (NYSE: CPO), noting, "Despite a tough economy, this 100-year old company is positioned to reap the rewards from growth in agriculture."

Regarding Monsanto, Rotblut continues, "Monsanto helps farmers improve their crop yields, via both better seeds and herbicides. In blunt terms, MON provides solutions that most farmers will view as more of a necessity than a luxury.

"The data supports this assessment. Since fiscal 2005, revenues have more than doubled, rising from $5.3 billion to $11.4 billion. Net income has jumped nearly tenfold and free cash flow is up substantially.

"Looking forward, Monsanto thinks fiscal 2009 profits will total $4.20 to $4.40 per share -- an approximate 18% increase over fiscal 2008. The company also thinks that gross profits will grow by a compound annual growth rate of 15% to 20% over the next 3 years.

This post was writtenby Minyanville contributor Ryan Krueger.

Looks like Verasun Energy Corp. (NYSE: VSE), a formerly popular ethanol stock and second largest producer, has won court permission to cancel contracts signed to purchase corn. It is now in bankruptcy. I'm also hearing about a lot of excess ethanol funded by your tax dollars being sold to other countries. That worked out well.

The mistaken policy and debates are endless, the trades are what I am chewing on instead. I think consumers of corn at lower prices are set up for some awfully tasty '09 comparisons for their bottom lines. Corn Products International, Inc. (NYSE: CPO), after Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) backed away from its take-over, is a name I have re-entered from the long side after closing out my position just after the non-merger was announced and shares traded twice what they are now. They sweeten something you'll eat or drink in the next hour.

Longer term, however, I am even more interested in the ingredients, not the end products. But it's still early. I have been long gone from 2008 corn contracts for quite some time, but am starting to poke around out on the futures curve. On the same day this court ruling was announced abolishing artificial demand, quiet real demand emerged as Mexico was a big buyer of corn.

I'll take a few billion eaters over several million drivers any day.

Today felt like a traditional summer Monday with plenty of market winners and losers and the general sense that it was a wash day. So the Saudis agreed to boost production, but oil still rose to near $137/barrel today in a move that is becoming all too familiar. The markets are getting ready for the two-days before the FOMC announcement on the rate decision, so you can expect the talking heads to come out of the woodwork ahead of this. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

• DJIA 11846.27 (+3.58)
• S&P500 1318.30 (+0.37)
• NASDAQ 2385.74 (-20.35)
• 10YR T-Note 4.168% (+0.031%)
• 52-WEEK LOWS
• TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD) fell harder than most techs, and the news may have been some highly unusual put options activity in the stock. Shares were down 6% at $6.57 in today's final minutes.

Barrier Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BTRX) also saw a rise of more than 100% to be at $2.27 late in the day after a $4.15 buyout offer from private Stiefel laboratories.

Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC) is down as analysts and others are doubting whether or not the company will allow itself to be acquired. We saw a drop early on And shares were down 20% to $3.42 in the final minutes today.

Corn Products International Inc. (NYSE: CPO) saw an 18% rise by the end of the day with shares at $50.65 after Bunge Ltd. (NYSE: BG) agreed to acquire the company.

In the agricultural sector, it's been nirvana for investors. But are prices too high?

Perhaps not. Take Bunge Ltd. (NYSE: BG), which is a major fertilizer and oilseed producer. Bunge has agreed to pay $4.4 billion for Corn Products International Inc. (NYSE: CPO), a producer of finished corn products. Some of its customers include biggies like Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). This is a stock-for-stock deal. In other words, why not take advantage of the high market caps?

Both companies have rich histories. Corn Products got its start in 1906 and Bunge was founded in 1818. But it's the future that matters, and Bunge is certainly bullish on the global growth trends in the agricultural markets. To take advantage of this, it makes sense to bulk up. Corn Products will expand Bunge's offerings as well as provide some diversification.

In fact, Bunge also raised its full-year 2008 earnings forecast from $7.10-$7.40 to $9.35-$9.65. This doesn't even include the impact of the Corn Products transaction.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates MergerBook.com.

Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) will acquire Corn Products (NYSE: CPO) for $56 in BG stock. CPO overall option implied volatility of 44 is near its 26-week average of 41 according to Track Data, suggesting slightly larger price movement.

Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP), a natural gas company, closed at $15.85. BEXP July option implied volatility of 86 is above its 26-week average of 71 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

U.S. stock futures were higher early Monday as a recovery from Friday's selloff seemed in the cards. Oil, which will continue to be in focus alleviated some pressure as it came off highs, and several deals also gave boost to stocks. The Federal Reserve is due to have a two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday. Most investors expect the Fed to keep its key federal funds rate unchanged but change the focus, or give more weight to inflation.

U.S. stocks fell sharply Friday as oil prices climbed once again and financials continued to be in the headlines. The Dow industrials tumbled 220 points, or 1.83%, for a weekly loss of 3.7%. The Dow closed below 12,000 at 11,482.69, a three-moth low. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 25 points, or 1.85%, Friday and 3.1% last week. The Nasdaq Composite, with the same weekly decline, fell nearly 56 points, or 2.27%, Friday.

Without any economic readings out today, the market will undoubtedly focus on oil. Despite Saudi Arabia saying Sunday it will produce more crude this year if the market needs it, oil prices rose overnight as the promise was kept vague enough for any concrete relief.

Corn Products International (NYSE: CPO) manufactures and markets food ingredients and industrial products derived from corn and other starch-based materials. Major offerings include sweeteners, corn oil, salad dressings, shortening, vitamins, corn gluten feed, food-grade starches and industrial starches. The firm operates manufacturing plants in the Americas, Africa and Asia, serving customers in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, paper, textile, and brewing industries. Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) is a major competitor.

Investors were pleased last week, when the company reported fiscal Q1 EPS of 85 cents and revenues of $930.9 million. Analysts had been looking for 71 cents and $867.9 million. Net sales set a record, for the ninth consecutive quarter. The firm also guided FY08 EPS to $2.90-$3.10 ($2.87 consensus) and FY08 revenues to $4.0 billion ($3.78 billion consensus).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Amag Pharmaceuticals, Corn Products and Alpharma were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Baird initiated Amag Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMAG) with an Outperform rating and believes concerns regarding ferumoxytol approvability are misplaced.
• JP Morgan assumed coverage of Corn Products (NYSE: CPO) with an Overweight rating and points to the company's growth in emerging markets and improved business economics in its core U.S. market.
• RBC Capital is positive on Alpharma's (NYSE: ALO) Flector opportunity in the U.S. topical NSAID market. The firm started shares with an Outperform rating and $28 target.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Merrill resumed coverage of Baxter (NYSE: BAX) with a Buy rating.
• Goldman initiated Teradyne (NYSE: TER) with a Neutral rating and $11 target.
• Allianz AG (NYSE: AZ) was initiated with a Buy rating at Societe Generale.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: ORBComm Inc (NASDAQ: ORBC), Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI) and Regency Centers Corporation (NYSE: REG) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• ORBComm was initiated with a Market Perform rating and $16 target at Piper Jaffray, as the firm believes the company may need to launch at least 25 satellites over the next few years to continue servicing its existing subscribers, which could lead to further losses. The company was initiated with an Outperform rating at Raymond James.
• Baird initiated Weingarten Realty with an Outperform rating and $56 target due to its strategy to accelerate growth and initiated Regency Realty with a Neutral rating and $88 target citing valuation and lack of catalysts.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• OceanFreight Inc (NASDAQ: OCNF) was initiated with a Buy rating and $24 target at Cantor.
• UBS initiated shares of Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: OPTT) with a Buy rating and $20 target and shares of Omega Healthcare Investors Inc (NYSE: OHI) with a Neutral rating and $18 target.
• Shutterfly Inc (NASDAQ: SFLY) was initiated at JMP Securities with a Strong Buy rating and $25 target.
• Corn Products International Inc (NYSE: CPO) was initiated with a Buy rating and $48 target at BB&T Capital Mkts, as the firm believes CPO will be able to generate strong earnings growth, as well as use its strong cash flow to grow its specialty ingredients business, raise its dividend, use for a share repurchase or a combination of the above.

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

"This past year, 40 countries faced food emergencies that required external assistance, with the crisis in Darfur being the most visible example," notes Glenn Rogers in an exceptional research effort on investing in the food and farming sector.

The contributing analyst for Internet Wealth Builder offers a basket of stocks involved in the food chain which he feels will help "fatten your portfolio" in coming years.

He notes, "There are a few things you will need to buy to begin growing food. First, you'll need a tractor to prepare the soil." For that, he turns to The Deere Company (NYSE: DE), a firm that has been manufacturing and distributing agricultural equipment worldwide since 1837.

He explains, "The stock has been on a tear this past year and has risen from the mid-$60s to $112. But the p/e ratio is still reasonable at 17.9 and I think the prospects for the company continue to be excellent."

After you've tilled the soil, he continues, the next thing you're going to need is some seed to plant. For that, he turns to Monsanto (NYSE: MON). Rogers explains, "Monsanto is much more than your average seed company in that they use biotechnology to develop the best sorts of seeds available in the world today."