Unlike France, the United States did not build nearly enough nuclear power plants in the last two decades of the 20th century to accommodate its power needs, and it will spend the next two decades playing catch-up, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for Entergy Corp. (ETR), first recommended on May 12, 2009, at a price of $74.31.

Entergy, the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S. (30,000 megawatts) will be a part of that mix, with its regulated utilities likely to register average earnings per share growth of 5% to 7% over the next three years. Meanwhile, the planned spin-off of its non-utility-regulated nuclear business, called Enexus, holds the promise of even stronger revenue and earnings growth. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for ETR are $6.37 to $6.70.

Rare is the day I'll sell an electric power generation play, particularly nuclear power. Unlike France, the United States frittered away an opportunity to create a 21st century power generation system 30 years ago, and it will now play catch-up for 20 years, and nuclear will be a part of the solution.

Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR), the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S., will be a part of that mix. It is performing as expected, which is why I'm reiterating my Buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on May 12, 2009 at a price of $74.31.

One of the U.S.'s colossal energy policy mistakes was the nation's failure to fully-develop nuclear power technology for electricity in the second half of the twentieth century. Thankfully, it looks like the nation is recommitting to nuclear power, and Entergy should benefit.

Like the U.S. economy, Entergy (NYSE: ETR), the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S., is performing well below potential, but expect that to change, relatively soon.

Analyst upgrades:

• Baird expects Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) to benefit from industry consolidation and the eventual recovery. Shares were upgraded to Neutral from Underperform.
  
• Jefferies upgraded SPSS Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSS) to Buy from Hold on valuation and believes the company's cost cuts will be positive for EPS. The company's target was lowered to $28 from $29.
  
• Banc of America upgraded shares of Entergy (NYSE: ETR) to Buy from Neutral on valuation and believes the company is unlikely to spin-off Enexus by year-end. They believe a spin-off in 2009 or no spin at all suggests a higher share price from current levels. The company's target was raised to $104 from $101.50.
• AMN Healthcare (NYSE: AMN) was upgraded to hold from Sell at Citigroup.
  
• Argus upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Hold from Sell.
  
• Transdigm Group (NYSE: TDG) was lifted to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Analyst downgrades:

While other earnings may have disappointed last week, the news was good for oil giant ConocoPhilips (NYSE: COP). In what some took as a good sign for big oil, the Houston-based company reported that third quarter net income surged 41% year over year to $3.39 per share, and that revenue also surged 52% to $70 billion. We'll see whether the good news extends to other petroleum giants scheduled to report quarterly results this week.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are looking for BP (NYSE: BP) profits to have grown 43.2% in the most recent quarter to $2.34 per share on revenue of $109.7 billion, and Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) to post earnings up 39.4% to $3.25 per share on revenue of $86.8 billion. Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO), ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM), and Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) likewise are expected to report higher net income of $2.33 per share (sales of $23.4 billion), $2.40 per share (sales of $131.4 billion), and $2.65 per share, respectively. Even Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) is expected to post earnings slightly higher to $1.46 per share (sales of $36.4 billion), despite the effects of Hurricane Ike. Among these companies, only BP and Valero beat earnings expectations in the previous quarter. Not surprisingly, analysts on average recommend buying all except Valero, and shares of all of these companies have recently hit 52-week lows.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: UAL Corp, WPP Group, Aventine Renewable and VeraSun Energy were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• JP Morgan upgraded UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) to Overweight from Neutral based on valuation and expectations for the company to make a capital announcement on next week's conference call.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of WPP Group (NASDAQ: WPPGY) to Buy from Hold as they believe the company's diversification will lead to low earnings volatility.
  
• UBS upgraded Aventine Renewable (NYSE: AVR) and VeraSun Energy (NYSE: VSE) to Buy from Neutral based on expectations for margin improvements following recent corn price declines.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan and to Neutral from Underperform at Merrill.
  
• Wachovia raised Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Entergy (NYSE: ETR) was lifted to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: SRS Labs, Tennant and Entergy were today's noteworthy initiations:

• B. Riley initiated SRS Labs (NASDAQ: SRSL) with a Neutral rating and $7 target. The firm believes expectations for Q2 and FY08 may be high as the company ramps marketing spend in the face of difficult macro economic conditions.
  
• Jefferies assumed Tennant (NYSE: TNC) with a Hold rating and $32 target which reflects their macro economic outlook for end markets in North America and Western Europe.
  
• Wachovia is positive on Entergy's (NYSE: ETR) shareholder-friendly management, strong financial position, and leverage to favorable wholesale power market trends. Shares were initiated with an Outperform rating.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• ThinkPanmure initiated Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT) with a Source of Funds rating and $8 target.
  
• Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) was started with a Buy rating and $61 target at Citigroup.
  
• HSBC assumed Spreadtrum (NASDAQ: SPRD) with an Overweight rating.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Pfizer, Dell, Quest Diagnostics, and Societe Generale were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Lehman upgraded Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to Equal Weight from Underweight on valuation.
  
• Friedman Billings raised Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) to Outperform from Market Perform, citing expectations for improved margins next quarter, and valuation.
  
• Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral by Credit Suisse, which cited valuation.
  
• Lehman upgraded shares of Societe Generale (OTC: SCGLY) to Overweight from Underweight to reflect a potential takeover by BNP Paribas and limited downside.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Bayer (OTC: BAYRY) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight by Lehman.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was upgraded to Hold from Sell by Citigroup.
• Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) was raised to Buy from Hold by Deutsche Bank.
• UBS raised Entergy (NYSE: ETR) to Buy from Neutral.

Roger Conrad is among the advisory industry's leading expert on utilities. Here's a look at the latest featured growth stock in his The Utiliity Forecaster -- Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR).

"Two years ago, Entergy Corp's regulated utility business was literally in ruins. The core New Orleans subsidiary as well as units in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, faced billions in repair costs, and thousands of customers lost their homes.

"However, Entergy stayed on its feet for one reason: a portfolio of well-run nuclear power plants-the nation's second largest-that ran at 90 percent-plus capacity while wholesale electricity prices surged.

"With utility operations recovered, third quarter earnings surged 27.8% and are set for another 20% next year. Management shared some of that bounty by hiking dividends 38.9% in 2007. This year, shareholders will get more cash as well as a 50% interest in the company's five unregulated nuclear plants.

Crude oil's upward arc continues. The price of natural gas, while cheaper than oil, seems to track oil's move higher. Meanwhile, coal, while substantially cheaper as a fuel for electricity generation, still rates as a dirty fuel, despite the use of moderately-cleaner coal-fired generation technologies. And renewable energy sources, while gaining momentum, are not a present-day or near-term solution.

An option left to meet the U.S.'s growing energy needs? The above suggests that nuclear power will play a larger role, and among the nuclear plays, Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is worth a look.

Entergy is an amplified energy play, of sorts. For those seeking immediate cash, there's Entergy's healthy $3 annual dividend. But for those who want more than a typical utility stock, there's the company's present nuclear power operations, and its prospects for significantly larger nuclear power operations, moving forward. Entergy closed Tuesday down 61 cents to $123.54.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Verisign (VRSN) and Entergy (ETR) led a light upgrade list Monday morning as the Dow and Nasdaq moved higher in early trading.

• Lehman upgraded VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) to Overweight from Equal Weight, saying it expects the company's upcoming restructuring and pending sale of the Jamba ringtone business to result in improving prospects for 2007 and investor sentiment.
• BMO Capital upgraded Entergy Corp. (NYSE:ETR) to Outperform from Market Perform, target to $110, indicating that its earnings will accelerate over the next four years.
• Wachovia upgraded Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESRX) to Outperform from Market Perform, citing the recent sell-off, which the firm believes is overdone; it has a $74-$82 valuation range for ESRX.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Merrill Lynch upgraded Unilver (NYSE:UN) to Neutral from Sell, saying the recent quarter represented the first signs of recovery.
• Finally, First Albany upgraded Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIOX) to Strong Buy from Buy, target to $10, citing Q3 results and price weakness.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).