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Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TGT, SWY, CSIQ, HOTT, MPEL, RIO, CPB, CVD and HGG

Analyst upgrades:
  • UBS upgraded Target (NYSE: TGT) to Buy from Neutral and raised its price target to $52 from $45 citing reduced inventories, some credit stability, and an improved back-to-school period.
  • Credit Suisse said concerns regarding Safeway's (NYSE: SWY) price position are overblown and that earnings risk is limited. The firm upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral and raised the target price to $25 from $22.
  • Oppenheimer upgraded Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Outperform from Perform as it believes the story is underappreciated following the recent sector rally. The firm has a $14 price target on the stock.
  • CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) was upgraded to buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  • Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
  • Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at FTN Equity.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TGT, SWY, CSIQ, HOTT, MPEL, RIO, CPB, CVD and HGG

Covance (CVD) is not recession-proof, but it's close

Covance logo Given the market's continued choppy/consolidated pattern (or perhaps worse), one would think that there isn't a promising business model in the states today, with a technically-strong stock chart accompanying it. Pre-clinical / clinical research company Covance dispels that thesis.

Covance (NYSE: CVD) develops and conducts pre-clinical and clinical trials of potential commercial drugs. The company also offers laboratory testing services to companies in the chemical, agri-chemical, and food sectors.

Analysts like CVD's ramping drug development services demand from both pharmaceutical and biotech companies, new orders, market-share increase prospects, and the company's sector-leading research lab. The Reuters F2007/F2008 EPS consensus estimates for CVD are $2.65/$3.12.

The risks? Project cancellations, or a reduction in research and development spending by pharmaceutical and/or biotech companies would hurt CVD's results. Analysts also have their eye on a possible slowdown in drug development outsourcing.

The First Call mean rating for CVD is: Buy. [14 firms.] Mean 2008 target: $94.00. [high: $106, low: $83.]

Stock Analysis:
Covance is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than two years should be rewarded from CVD's shares. Sell / Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $56.

DISCLOSURE: Joseph Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-154.4810,309.92
NASDAQ-37.612,138.44
S&P 500-19.141,091.49

Last updated: November 27, 2009: 10:15 PM

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