• Roth Capital upgraded Charlotte Russe (NASDAQ: CHIC) to Hold from Sell. The firm is positive on management's strategy to drive improved operating performance and is encouraged by the company's longer-term growth prospects.
  
• Banc of America upgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) to Neutral from Sell following the company's capital raise as they see a more balanced risk/reward at current levels. The firm lowered their target to $5 from $12.
  
• Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded Ameriprise (NYSE: AMP) to Outperform from Neutral.
  
• Bob Evans (NASDAQ: BOBE) was upgraded to Hold from Underweight at KeyBanc.
• J. Sainsbury (OTC: JSAIY) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at ING and to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan after the company topped earnings expectations.

• JP Morgan downgraded General Motors (NYSE: GM) to Neutral from Overweight citing the "ambiguity of government aid structure" and the likely dilution to equity. The analyst said GM needs money now to get past December 2008 and will need at least $15B to get through 2009, with the total bailout potentially reaching $30B.
  
• Goldman downgraded Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) to Sell from Neutral and added shares to the Conviction Sell List.
  
• J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) was lowered to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley.

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

• Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) posted stronger-than-expected Q4 earnings.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) beat earnings expectations, but share prices slipped anyway.
• Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ: DAKT) Q4 results beat expectations and it raised its revenue outlook.
• Diageo (NYSE: DEO) is recession-proof and should deliver solid results, predicts one adviser.
• Donaldson Company Inc. (NYSE: DCI) beat Q3 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Ensco International Inc. (NYSE: ESV) was upgraded because of its earnings growth potential.
• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) earnings prospects don't impress Jim Cramer.
• Netezza Corp. (NYSE: NZ) beat Q1 expectations and offered full-year revenue guidance.
• Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT) earnings are "set to soar" says one analyst, due to rising demand and prices.
• Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE: SHW) lowered its Q2 and full-year forecasts, sending shares down.
• Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) beat Q2 estimates on Grand Theft Auto IV demand.
• Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) beat Q1 estimates but shares fell on the disappointing Q2 outlook.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was upgraded due to its earnings outlook and increased productivity.

See also: Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., National Semiconductor, Dr Pepper, Guess and others

Also, continued real estate losses are expected to hurt the quarterly reports of banks such as like Wachovia (NYSE: WB), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and National City (NYSE: NCC). And Steven Mallas wonders why Playboy (NYSE: PLA) shares have tanked since its last earnings report.

Upcoming results to watch for include Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), and Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Donaldson Company (NYSE: DCI) manufactures filtration systems. The Engine Products segment makes air intake, exhaust and liquid filtration systems for the construction, industrial, mining, agriculture and transportation markets. The Industrial Products segment provides dust, fume, and mist collectors and air filtration systems used in industrial gas turbines, computer disk drives and manufacturers' clean rooms. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) accounts for over ten percent of Donaldson's sales.

The company surprised investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q3 EPS of 57 cents and revenues of $587.8 million. Analysts had been looking for 51 cents and $540.4 million. Management also guided FY08 EPS to $2.08-$2.13, versus consensus of $2.07. Donaldson said it expects full-year industrial product sales to grow by 17-19%. Engine product sales were seen growing 11-13%.

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reported a record quarter due in part to improved distribution.
• Blyth Inc. (NYSE: BTH) trounced EPS estimates and raised its guidance.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) raised its earnings forecast for Q2 on strength in merchandising.
• Donaldson Co. (NYSE: DCI) beat estimates due to strength in international markets.
• J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) posted a solid quarter due to strength in both store and direct sales.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) narrowed its loss, but foresees further store closures.
• Liquidity Services Inc. (NASDAQ: LQDT) posted a strong quarter, benefiting from the sluggish economy.
• Merck & Co. Inc.'s (NYSE: MRK) earnings forecasts for 2007 and 2008 fall short of expectations.
• Netezza Corp. (NYSE: NZ) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) forecast a loss for the current quarter due to product delays.
• Royal Bank of Scotland's (NYSE: RBS) better-than-expected forecast buoyed European banks.
• SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC) reported a profit when analysts expected a loss.
• Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) had a "blowout" quarter, beating even the most optimistic analyst.
• SkillSoft (NASDAQ: SKIL) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) posted a lower-than-expected loss, its first quarterly loss in 21 years.

Also, Brian White looks at how loss of market share contributed to Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ: DELL) recent results. Both Douglas McIntyre and Jim Cramer mull the effect on the cable industries of Comcast Corp.'s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) lowered guidance. And Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is among retailers warning about earnings in the current quarter.

Upcoming results to watch for include: H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), and Lehman Bros. (NYSE: LEH).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Donaldson Company (NYSE: DCI) manufactures filtration devices. The Engine Products segment makes air intake, exhaust and liquid filtration systems for the construction, industrial, mining, agriculture and transportation markets. The Industrial Products segment provides dust, fume, and mist collectors and air filtration systems used in industrial gas turbines, computer disk drives and manufacturers' clean rooms. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) accounts for over 10 percent of Donaldson's sales.

The company pleased investors last week when it reported fiscal Q1 EPS of 53 cents and revenues of $525.6 million. Analysts had been looking for 48 cents and $484.8 million. The CEO cited international strength, in particular, for the solid numbers. Management also predicted FY08 EPS of $1.97-$2.07 ($1.99 consensus). The stock popped on the news and has since begun forming a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Equities frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Filtering the air and fluids associated with many industrial processes protects sensitive machinery and addresses a variety of important health and safety concerns. A leading provider of the systems used to deal with a broad spectrum of such problems is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Donaldson Company (NYSE: DCI) manufactures filtration systems. The Engine Products segment makes air intake, exhaust and liquid filtration systems for the construction, industrial, mining, agricultural and transportation markets. The Industrial Products segment provides dust, fume and mist collectors and air filtration systems used in industrial gas turbines, computer disk drives and manufacturers' clean rooms. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) accounts for over 10% of Donaldson's sales.

The company pleased investors early in the week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 53 cents and revenues of $524.7 million. Analysts had been looking for 49 cents and $500.6 million. Management also predicted FY08 EPS of $1.92-2.01 ($1.97 consensus).