Analyst Upgrades

• Applied Materials (AMAT) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Air Products (APD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Youku.com (YOKU) and Pinnacle West (PNW) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer (ZMH) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Alnylam (ALNY) to buy from hold at Needham.
• AK Steel (AKS) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Analyst upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded Boeing (BA) to outperform from market perform. The firm is more confident about the company's earnings growth going forward.
• Oppenheimer upgraded H&R Block (HRB) to outperform from perform on expectations the company will improve performance in 2011. The firm has a $22 price target for shares.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded SunTrust (STI) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and expectations the company's credit will improve. The firm raised its target for shares to $34 from $29.
• Children's Place (PLCE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Taubman Centers (TCO) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS.
• Cavium Networks (CAVM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.

Analyst upgrades:

• Calyon upgraded major network carriers based on falling oil prices and capacity cuts. The analyst is positive over the next 12 months but cautious short-term given the uncertain economy, and volatile markets and oil prices. AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) and Delta Air (NYSE: DAL) were upgraded to Add from Neutral and UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) was raised to Neutral from Reduce.
• Ryanair (NASDAQ: RYAAY) was upgraded at Citigroup to Buy from Hold.
• Boardwalk Pipeline (NYSE: BWP) was raised to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cowen lifted Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) to Outperform from Neutral.
• JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Neutral from Underweight following the better-than-expected Q3 report.
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) to Outperform from Perform on valuation, the company's minimal exposure to economic conditions, and expectations for margin improvement and a rebound in organic growth.

Analyst downgrades:

• Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) and AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) were downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
• UBS downgraded Embarq (NYSE: EQ) to Neutral from Buy following the CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) merger announcement.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: 1-800-Flowers.com, Ctrip.com International, 51job and Choice Hotels were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Nollenberger started shares of 1-800-Flowers.com (NASDAQ: FLWS) with a Buy rating and $14 target and believes shares are undervalued at current levels given the company's compelling growth prospects, strong cash flow generation, and solid balance sheet.
  
• Bear believes Ctrip.com (NASDAQ: CTRP) is the best positioned online travel company ahead of structural changes and consolidation in China's fragmented travel agency industry. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $80 target.
  
• Bear expects 51job (NASDAQ: JOBS) to benefit from China's increasing Internet user base due to the internet's broadening reach among job seekers, resuming coverage with an Outperform rating and $28 target.
  
• Goldman started Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) with a Buy rating and $45 target, as they are positive on the stock given unit growth and minimal capital needs, among other reasons.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Thomas Weisel initiated On Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) with an Overweight rating and $15 target.
  
• Broadpoint initiated Ariba (NASDAQ: ARBA) with a Buy rating and $15 target and Ultimate Software (NASDAQ: ULTI) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Merrill started shares of Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) with a Neutral rating.

Can't stand the thought of leaving your loved one behind while you travel? Is your pooch pal a bit too paunchy? These dilemmas are business opportunities eagerly embraced by American business.

For example, Bringyourpet.com is a web site that will help you find hotels that welcome both you and your closest companion. I did some research and found:

Planning a trip to NYC? The Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan allows up to four dogs per room at $25 each.

The Crown Plaza Union Square in downtown San Francisco offers its luxury accommodations to pooches under 30 pounds.

But neither matches the welcome of the Hotel Monaco in Chicago. Its special PAWS Pet Package includes --

• A welcome letter from Stevie Nix, the Hotel's honorary dog mascot
• For dogs, a doggy bed and bowl and a welcome treat at check-in
• For cats, a bowl, a disposable litter box and a special kitty treat at check-in
• Ten percent of the proceeds donated to PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago
• The Hotel concierge staff also arranges pet walking and sitting services along with day care, grooming and spa services

Additionally, the hotel offers Guppy Love, a complimentary goldfish to keep the guest company during his stay.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The more notable downgrades today included Playboy Enterprises (PLA), Embratel Participacoes (EMT) and Choice Hotels Int'l Inc (CHH):

• Bank of America and UBS downgraded Playboy Enterprises (NYSE: PLA) to Neutral from Buy, citing limited visibility.

• Citigroup downgraded Embratel Participacoes ADS (NYSE: EMT) to Sell from Hold on expected lower liquidity following Telfonos de Mexico SA ADS (NYSE: TMX) voluntary tender expiration.

• Choice Hotels Int'l Inc (NYSE CHH) was downgraded to Underperform from Peer Perform at Bear Stearns following the company's Q4 report and guidance.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• VeraSun Energy Corp (NYSE: VSE) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman based on relative valuation.

• Goldman Sachs also downgraded 1-800-Flowers.com Inc (NASDAQ: FLWS) to Sell from Neutral based on valuation.

• Piper Jaffray downgraded Buffalo Wild Wings Inc (NASDAQ: BWLD) to Market Perform from Outperform citing difficult year-over-year comps and increased chicken wing prices.

• CIBC downgraded Nasdaq Stock Market Inc (NASDAQ: NDAQ) to Sector Performer from Outperformer.

• ThinkEquity downgraded Zoltek Companies inc (NASDAQ: ZOLT) to Accumulate from Buy.

• BMO Capital Markets cut Weyerhaeuser Co (NYSE: WY) to Market Perform from Outperform based on valuation.

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