MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded both Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) and Valero (NYSE: VLO) to Buy from Hold, as they believe both companies will benefit from the collapse of ethanol prices since refiners are mainly supplied under term contracts struck above current levels.
  
• Merrill upgraded shares of UBS (NYSE: UBS) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the company's lack of exposure to fixed income.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) to Outperform from Neutral citing improved performance prospects.
  
• Supertex (NASDAQ: SUPX) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Oppenheimer. The firm expects a rebound in all business segments, Medical is entering a seasonally strong September quarter, and notes Motorola (NYSE: MOT) shipments are growing.

• CIBC upgraded Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer.
  
• Suntrust upgraded American Reprographics (NYSE: ARP) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Dover Downs (NYSE: DDE) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: SUN, VLO, UBS, LEH and SUPX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merrill downgraded shares of Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) to Sell from Neutral on expectations net flows will slow and pressure shares due to bank loan outflows and closed-end fund sales.

• Keybanc downgraded Dover Downs (NYSE: DDE) to Hold from Buy due to expectations of significant movement in the Maryland state legislature regarding the issue of slot machine legalization, which could pressure shares.

• Meruelo Maddux (NASDAQ: MMPI) was cut to Sell from Neutral at UBS based on tightening credit markets.

• Friedman Billings downgraded shares of Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) to Underperform from Market Perform on this morning's acquisition of First Charter Corp...

• Alliant Techsys (NASDAQ: ATK) was cut to Market Weight from Overweight at Thomas Weisel.

• National Semi (NYSE: NSM) was removed from Goldman's Favorites Value List.

• Matrix downgraded Woodward Governor (NASDAQ: WGOV) to Hold from Buy.

Analyst downgrades: ATK, EV, FITB and NSM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Deutsche Bank raised Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) to Hold from Sell with a $5.40 target based on the belief the company will meet 2007 expectations.

• General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) was upgraded at Merrill Lynch to Buy from Sell based on increased confidence the company will leverage its liquidity and legacy assets, specifically its pension, to drive positive changes.

• MasterCard inc (NYSE: MA) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan on valuation.

• Prudential upgraded Brinker Int'l Inc (NYSE: EAT) to Overweight from Neutral.

• Following the company's strong Q4 report, Piper Jaffray upgraded shares of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd ADS (NASDAQ: SNDA) to Outperform from Market Perform with a $29 target, citing improved fundamentals and increased confidence in the come-stay-play model, among other reasons.

• Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment (NYSE: DDE) moved to Hold from Sell at Stifel Nicolaus, citing valuation.

• Prudential raised HealthNet Inc (NYSE: HNT) to Neutral from Underweight, with a $52 target.

• 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) was raised to Buy from Hold with an $86 target at Soleil Securities following last nights $7B buyback announcement, which the firm believes will act as a positive catalyst.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Applebee's Int'l Inc (NASDAQ: APPB) to Peer Perform from Underperform following the company's announcement that it hired a financial adviser to explore strategic alternatives.

• Credit Suisse upgraded Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) to Outperform from Neutral, with a $37 target.

Analyst upgrades 2-13-07: start your engines, General Motors upgraded to Buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.