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

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) said its Q3 profit declined despite the popularity of Guitar Hero.
• Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) said Q3 revenue surged and its offered impressive cash flow numbers.
• Boston Beer Co. Inc. (NYSE: SAM) easily beat Q3 earnings estimates and raised its full-year guidance.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) lower Q1 results topped estimates and sent shares higher.
• Cognizant Technology Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: CTSH) was upgraded following its strong Q3 results.
• Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) received an analyst's upgrade following the Q3 results.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded Overseas Shipholding (NYSE: OSG) to Outperform from Market Perform following the Q3 results as it believes the worst quarters are behind the company. The firm raised its target on shares to $48 from $35.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) to Hold from Sell following the Q3 results to reflect the company's lower costs. The firm raised its target on shares to $22 from $18.
• RBC Capital upgraded Enbridge (NYSE: EEQ) to Sector Perform from Underperform after the company's partnership produced significantly higher than expected DCF. In addition, the firm raised its price target by $5 per unit to $46 to reflect an improved distribution schedule and more favorable debt leverage.
• Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• BioForm Medical (NASDAQ: BFRM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect improving credit trends following the July monthly data. The firm raised its target price on shares to $37.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Corning (NYSE: GLW) to Outperform from Perform as it believes 2010 estimates are achievable and concerns over falling LCD demand are overdone. The firm set a $19 price target on the stock.
• JPMorgan upgraded International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation and expectations domestic replacement orders will pick up. The firm has a $23 price target on shares.
• Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Pali Capital.
• Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Mechel Steel (NYSE: MTL) was upgraded to Neutral from Reduce at Nomura.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) to Market Perform from Underperform following the company's in-line quarter and extended buyback. The firm raised its target price on shares to $103 from $98.
• Merriman upgraded Cree (NASDAQ: CREE) to Buy from Neutral after transitioning coverage of the stock as it believes HB-LED chips are gaining momentum and that the company can top its recently raised guidance.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Glatfelter (NYSE: GLT) to Buy from Hold following the company's Q2 results due to falling net debt levels and valuation. The firm raised its target on shares to $14 from $8.
• Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Baird.
• Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Unit Corp. (NYSE: UNT) was upgraded to Buy from Sell at Jesup & Lamont.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded Amdocs (NYSE: DOX) to Outperform from Perform on expectations the company is gaining momentum following recent contract wins. The firm set a $27 price target on the stock.
• FBR Capital upgraded Starwood Hotels (NYSE: HOT) to Market Perform from Underperform after raising the Lodging sector to Overweight from Neutral. The firm cites improving demand data, potential foreign exchange benefits, and continued asset sales for the upgrade and raised its target price on Starwood to $19 from $14.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) to Buy from Neutral. The firm expects Goldman to beat Q2 estimates due favorable trading and underwriting conditions. The firm raised estimates and increased its price target to $175 from $144.
• Jefferies (NYSE: JEF) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Pali Capital.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Ciena (NASDAQ: CIEN) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at JMP Securities.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Lukoil, ENI SpA and Meritage were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Lukoil (OTC: LUKOY) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the company's oil production, refineries and gas stations outside of Russia are not priced into shares.
  
• ABN Amro raised ENI SpA (NYSE: E) to Hold from Sell after a meeting with management.
  
• Meritage (NYSE: MTH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS on strong results.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Morgan Stanley upgraded Corporate Executive (NASDAQ: EXBD) to Equal Weight from Underweight.
  
• Trico Marine Services (NASDAQ: TRMA) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman.
  
• Holly Corp. (NYSE: HOC) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at BMO Capital.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Kindred Healthcare, Five Star Quality, Corporate Executive Board, Deckers Outdoor and Discover were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Kindred Healthcare Inc (NYSE: KND) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe the risk/reward is attractive given good near-term earnings visibility and reasonable prospects for legislation to remove a significant reimbursement overhang.
• The firm also upgraded Five Star Quality Inc (AMEX: FVE) to Buy from Hold following a meeting with management, to reflect the company's improving occupancy and better cost controls.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of The Corporate Executive Board Company (NASDAQ: EXBD) to Buy from Hold as they believe the company is positioned for strong growth in 2008.
• Nollenberger upgraded shares of Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ: DECK) to Buy from Neutral, as they believe the UGG brand will continue to outperform expectations both domestically and internationally.
• Discover Financial Services LLC (NYSE: DFS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Calyon on valuation.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• HSBC raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd (NYSE: TSM) to Overweight from Neutral.
• Banc of America upgraded Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) to Buy from Neutral.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Merrill Lynch.
• Deutsche Bank upped General Mills Inc (NYSE: GIS) to Buy from Hold.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Encore Energy, Corporate Executive Board, FTI Consulting and Great Lakes Dredge were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Stanford believes shares of Encore Energy Partners LP (NYSE: ENP) are reasonably valued, and started shares with a Hold rating and $20.50 target.
• The Corporate Executive Board Company (NASDAQ: EXBD) was initiated with a Neutral at Baird, as they have concerns regarding the slowing economy near-term.
• Baird also started shares of FTI Consulting Inc (NYSE: FCN) with an Outperform rating and a $64 target, as they believe the company is well-positioned for continued strong growth driven by positive macro demand and specific company drivers.
• Banc of America initiated Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation (NASDAQ: GLDD) with a Neutral rating and $10 target. The firm believes near-term visibility is closed by an unsettled Army Corps/domestic funding policy and is looking for a more attractive valuation.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Jefferies initiated Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc (NYSE: BJ) with Buy ratings and a $58 target and $46 target and shares of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) with Hold ratings and a $62-$65 target and $66-$69 target, respectively.
• Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Wachovia.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Rudolph Technologies, Inc (RTEC), DirecTV Group, Inc (DTV), EchoStar Communications (DISH) and Legacy Reserves LP (LGCY) were today's more noteworthy initiations:

• AG Edwards started Rudolph Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: RTEC) with a Buy rating, believing Rudolph's acquisition of August Technologies created additional market opportunities and recommends investors to build positions at these levels to participate in future growth.

• Stifel initiated DirecTV Group, Inc (NYSE: DTV) with a Buy rating and $28 target and EchoStar Communications (NASDAQ: DISH) with a Hold rating and $45 target. The firm prefers DirectTV to EchoStar given DirectTV's faster growing Latin America division, coming HD advantage, and greater likelihood of buybacks and views a merger between DISH & DTV as possible longer-term.

• Legacy Reserves (NASDAQ: LGCY) was started with a Buy rating at Oppenheimer, expecting Legacy to grow through acquisitions.
  

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• CIBC initiated FTI Consulting, Inc (NYSE: FCN) and Advisory Board Co (NASDAQ: ABCO) with Sector Outperformer ratings, and a $45 target and $62 target, respectively, and Resources Connection, Inc (NASDAQ: RECN) and Corporate Executive Board Co (NASDAQ: EXBD) with Sector Performer ratings.

• Chiquita Brands International, Inc (NYSE: CQB) was initiated with a Buy rating at Morgan Joseph.

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