- Wells Fargo upgraded Gap (GPS) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation and expectations for EPS to grow in FY11. The firm thinks consensus estimates are achievable and has a $20 to $22 target valuation range for shares.
- BMO Capital upgraded Abercrombie (ANF) to outperform from market perform and has a $43 target on the stock. The firm believes Abercrombie's domestic business is turning and that the company is beginning to take share from competitors.
- Piper Jaffray upgraded Codexis (CDXS) to overweight from neutral as it believes Shell's (RDS.A) biofuel commercialization plans and a potential carbon capture partnership present near-term catalysts for the stock. The firm upped its target for shares to $12 from $11.
- Tortoise Energy Capital (TYY) and Tortoise Energy (TYG) were upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
- Comerica (CMA) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.
- Methanex (MEOH) was upgraded to strong buy from outperform at Raymond James.
DGIT posts
FeedAnalyst Calls: AMRC, ANF, CDXS, CIS, DGIT, GPS, MEOH, POT, RAX, ROST ...
Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMRC, ANF, CDXS, CIS, DGIT, GPS, MEOH, POT, RAX, ROST ...
Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LEN, LEAP, BBBY, ENR, JPM
Analyst upgrades:- Citigroup upgraded shares of Lennar (NYSE:LEN) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe the recent sell-off on concerns of fraud is overdone. The firm thinks the allegations made by Barry Minkow/Fraud Discovery Institute are unfounded and has an $11 target on shares.
- Merriman upgraded Nautilus Group (NYSE:NLS) to Neutral from Sell after meeting with management to reflect increased optimism on the company's turnaround.
- Baird upgraded Leap Wireless (NYSE:LEAP) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation and strong subscriber trends.
- Transocean (NYSE:RIG) was added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
- Pearson PLC (NYSE:PSO) was raised to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
- Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN) was lifted to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
- JP Morgan downgraded Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ:BBBY) to Underweight from Neutral and lowered their target to $20 from $26 as they believe potential benefits from the Linens' N Things closing are being overstated and that the risk/reward is unfavorable at current levels.
- Keefe Bruyette downgraded Citizens Republic (NASDAQ:CRBC) to Market Perform from Outperform and cut their target to $3 from $7 to reflect the company's lower capital position.
- UBS downgraded Energizer (NYSE:ENR) to Sell from Neutral and lowered their target to $40 from $48 citing signs of a battery price war, Wal-Mart's (NYSE:WMT) reduction in space allocation, and the company's cuts in investment.
- Chevron (NYSE:CVX) was removed from Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
- MetroPCS (NYSE:PCS) was lowered to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital.
- Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) was cut to Sell from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
- Global Hunter believes Pep Boys (NYSE:PBY) is well-positioned to benefit from increased demand for replacement parts and maintenance services as new car purchases are deferred. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $5.50 target.
- Jefferies started Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:SNY) with an Underperform rating and sees downside risk to the stock from the potential introduction of Lovenox generics in the U.S.
- Merriman assumed Alter Nrg (NYSE:ANRGF) with a Neutral rating and recommends waiting on the sidelines pending increased visibility on the company's gasification projects.
- JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) was re-initiated with a Buy rating at Goldman. Shares were also added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
- Hudson City Bancorp (NYSE:HCBK) was assumed with an Overweight rating and $15 target at Barclays.
- DG FastChannel (NASDAQ:DGIT) was initiated at BWS Financial with a Strong Buy rating and $30 target.
Analyst initiations: SonicWALL, DG FastChannel, Thomson Reuters
MOST NOTEWORTHY: SonicWALL, DG FastChannel and Thomson Reuters were today's noteworthy initiations:
- B. Riley believes SonicWALL's (NASDAQ: SNWL) long-term outlook should benefit as the company specifically targets the SMB IT security market and is increasing its focus on the Asian and Latin American markets. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $14 target.
- Merriman started DG FastChannel (NASDAQ: DGIT) with a Buy rating and believes the recent closing of the Vyvx acquisition and anticipated closing of the Enliven acquisition could create positive catalysts for the stock.
- Citigroup assumed Thomson Reuters (NASDAQ: TRIN) with a Hold rating. The firm finds the valuation full at current levels and prefers to wait for a better entry point.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
- Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA) was initiated with an Overweight rating and $26 target at Thomas Weisel.
- William Blair assumed Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) with an Outperform rating.
- Longtop Financial (NYSE: LFT) was started at Oppenheimer with an Outperform rating and $25 target.
The top 25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years: DG Fast Channel (DGIT)
The NEXT and last company in my on-going series of the top 25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years is DG Fast Channel (NASDAQ: DGIT). DGIT is headquartered in Irving, Texas and has a current market capitalization of $350 million. DGIT is emerging as one of the go-to companies in the internet advertising world.
DG Fast Channel is a leading provider of digitally distributed marketing services to advertising agencies, broadcasters and general advertisers including printed media. The company employs a web based user interface for more than 5,000 advertisers and ad agencies to up-load digitally, either via satellite or cable Internet- radio, television and Internet commercials. The company services over 4,000 television and cable destinations and also over 10,000 radio outlets.
Continue reading The top 25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years: DG Fast Channel (DGIT)
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