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

• American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) said its earnings report would not include a conference call.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) shares rose after it reaffirmed the 2009 outlook and forecast further growth.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) said its Q4 numbers tumbled despite cost-cutting efforts.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) posted strong Q2 results, though its cash flow was flat.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) reported better-than-expected Q2 results and forecast a return to profitability.
• Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) revenue surged in Q1 and its narrower loss beat expectations.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded Talbots (NYSE: TLB) to Outperform from Market Perform as it believes the company's inventory and SG&A control should help earnings and the stock's risk/reward is compelling at current levels. The firm raised its target on shares to $7 from $5.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Human Genome (NASDAQ: HGSI) to Buy from Accumulate to reflect higher assumptions for the company's Lupus treatment Benlysta. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $18.
• KeyBanc upgraded Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) to Buy from Hold based on valuation, improving fundamentals, and stable capital position. The firm has a $17 target on the stock.
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
• BioScrip (NASDAQ: BIOS) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

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.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Buy from Neutral but lowered its target to $42 from $45 following the solid Q4 report. The firm expects Dollar Tree's cost containment to continue. JP Morgan upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as it believes the recent pullback is overdone and the company set achievable FY09 guidance. The firm has a $43 target on the stock.
  
• JP Morgan also upgraded Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as they find the stock oversold at current levels.
  
• KeyBanc upgraded Nordson (NASDAQ: NDSN) to Hold from Underweight based on valuation, strong balance sheet and cost reductions, and a solid track record of execution.
• Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at HSBC.
  
• Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
  
• Carter's (NYSE: CRI) was upgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.

Despite large and growing declines in both the commercial and residential real estate markets, one part of the real estate sector is having a good year. Self-storage companies, which are often structured as REITs, are posting some good numbers. Face it, American's have way too much stuff and not enough space to store it at home. Americans move, go away to college, get divorced, join the military and/or lose their homes in foreclosure with alarming regularity. All of these life events require short-term storage. According to a survey in Investment News, self-storage REITs have generated total returns of 20% or more YTD. This compares very favorably with the 5% or more drop in the S&P 500 stock index YTD.

A snapshot of the sector shows four of the largest self-storage companies on the upswing. Sovran Storage Incorporated (NYSE: SSS) at $40.88 is up 1.95% YTD. Most other self-storage REITs have more impressive returns. Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) at $15.11, up 6.90% YTD. Public Storage Incorporated (NYSE: PSA) at $83.55 is one of the most expensive self-storage stocks. It is up 7.59% YTD. The bargain in the self-storage sector is U Store It Trust (NYSE: YSI). At $11.54 the stock is up a whopping 28.82% YTD. Investors should call around to self-storage companies in their areas. Chances are they will not find many vacant units.

Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that operates 651 self-storage properties in 33 states and Washington, D.C. The company's properties consist of approximately 448,000 units and 47 million square feet, rented by over 330,000 individual tenants. In addition to on-site management and storage supplies, many of the firm's facilities feature monitored video surveillance and alarm-equipped units. Extra Space Storage is the second largest operator of self-storage in the United States.

The firm pleased investors earlier in the week, when it announced Q1 funds from operations of 28 cents per share and revenues of $65.7 million. Analysts had been expecting 25 cents and $60.6 million. Management also guided Q2 FFO to 30-31 cents per share (29 cent consensus) and FY08 FFO to $1.23-$1.27 per share ($1.19 consensus).

From time to time, many of us discover that we have accumulated more stuff than we can store. Should parting with assorted treasures not be an option, there is a firm in Salt Lake City that has the answer.

Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that owns or operates 641 self-storage properties in 32 states and Washington, D.C. The company's properties consist of more than 430,000 units and 46 million square feet, rented by over 300,000 individual tenants. In addition to on-site management and storage supplies, many of the firm's storage facilities feature monitored video surveillance and alarm-equipped units. Extra Space Storage is the second largest operator of self storage in the United States.

The firm pleased investors about a month ago, when it announced Q4 funds from operations of $0.26 per share and revenues of $52.2 million. Analysts had been expecting $0.24 and $48.5 million. Management also guided Q1 FFO to 23-25 cents per share (24 cent consensus) and FY07 FFO to $1.06-$1.12 per share ($1.04 consensus). Merrill Lynch subsequently upgraded the shares from "neutral" to "buy". The news kept the issue cycling through a positive five-week trading channel. The price is currently consolidating near the base of that channel, where oversold Momentum, CCI, Stochastic and MACD technical parameters suggest the potential for a rise back toward the top. The approximate correspondence of the stock's 50-day moving average to the base of the channel backs the rebound notion.

Altogether, brokers now recommend the shares with two "strong buys", one "buy" and four "holds". The EXR Price to Book ratio (1.89), Net Income Growth rate ($6.7M vs -$0.2M) and Operating Margin (30.24%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutions own about 94 percent of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P U.S. REIT Composite. Over the past twelve months, it has traded between $14.40 and $20.55. A stop-loss of $16.50 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.