Analyst Upgrades

• Wunderlich upgraded Granite Construction (GVA) to buy from hold, citing valuation and expected positive catalysts in 2011. The firm has a $29 price target for shares.
• Jefferies upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (WX) to buy from hold following the Q2 report, citing continued strength in China-based lab services growth. The firm has an $18 target on shares.
• BMO Capital upgraded Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) to outperform from market perform following capital structure actions. The firm has a $20 price target on the stock.
• Energizer (ENR) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Cephalon (CEPH) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Dycom (DY) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.

A telecommunications provider is only as good as the infrastructure that supports it. There is an outfit in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida that backs up some of the best.

Dycom Industries (NYSE: DY) is a North American contractor, specializing in infrastructure support for the telecommunications industry. The firm designs, builds and maintains cable systems for local and long-distance phone companies and cable TV operators. It also provides wiring services to corporate and government clients and conducts underground utility location surveys. AT&T (NYSE: T), Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) account for about two-thirds of sales.

The firm surprised the Street last week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 35 cents and revenues of $317.3 million. Analysts had been expecting 32 cents and $308.2 million. Management also guided Q1 EPS to 31-37 cents (33 cent consensus) and Q1 revenues to $310-330 million ($311.90M consensus). Management saw clear evidence of improving organic revenue growth and operating margin expansion in Q4 and expected the trend to continue in the intermediate term.