Analyst Upgrades

• Micron (MU) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• PDL BioPharma (PDLI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Fluor (FLR) and Rush Enterprises (RUSHA) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Camden Property (CPT) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Pinnacle Financial (PNFP) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Linear Technology (LLTC) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Hologic (HOLX) and Illumina (ILMN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• F5 Networks (FFIV) to buy from neutral at Gleacher.

WD-40 (WDFC), whose related stocks include Church & Dwight (CHD) and Clorox (CLX), did a good job of courting earnings growth through efficiency. According to yesterday's post-market release, the consumer products concern saw its bottom line jump 22% to 56 cents per diluted share. According to Earnings.com, that was five pennies better than the expectations of Wall Street's smart guys.

Unfortunately, sales growth was not in the cards. The top line experienced a decrease of 7%. Furthermore, according to Reuters, revenues came in softer than projections. It would have been really nice to see at least a little increase in sales, or perhaps an in-line performance, to go along with the improved bottom line. Wasn't meant to be.

A recent study from the London School of Economics produced some findings that could be seen as a blow to proponents of aggressive investment in emerging green technologies: investments in contraception are five times more effective in reducing carbon emissions than green energy technologies like wind and solar power.

The symbol of the green movement shouldn't be a wind turbine. It should be a condom.

The day may have closed down in negative territory for stocks, but even watching it all day didn't give one any major feel for the market's direction into the close. Today's PCE Inflation index came in at +4.1%, although traders have discounted this data as energy prices and even some food prices have started coming down from the May to June highs. Oil put in a serious drop to briefly under $120 and now traders are calling for lower levels rather than higher. You could throw up literally 5 issues affecting oil prices, but you might as well call it "air out of the bubble" rather than anything.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,283.74 (-42.58)
S&P500 1,249.01 (-11.30)
NASDAQ 2,285.17 (-25.79)
10YR T-NOTE 3.9720% (+0.024%)
52-WEEK LOWS
TOP ANALYST UPGRADES
TOP ANALYST DOWNGRADES

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) sent most health insurers higher after it posted $1.24 EPS versus a prior guidance of $1.15 to $1.20 EPS and above $1.18 estimates. Shares were up over 5% to $47.00 in today's final minutes.