Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: VPRT, EV, HPT, NRG, GTE, BNHNA, VAR, ITRI and FARO

Laurie Pasternack — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Analyst upgrades:

Citigroup upgraded Vistaprint (VPRT) to buy from hold on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm also raised its price target on the stock to $62 from $55.
Fox-Pitt upgraded Eaton Vance (EV) to outperform from in line citing strong fundamentals. The firm raised its target to $36 from $34.
Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Hospitality Properties (HPT) to buy from hold citing valuation and expected cash dividend in 2010. The firm has a $22 target on the stock.
The Advisory Board (ABCO) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at First Analysis.
Technip (TKPPY) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
Jefferies upgraded Energy XXI (EXXI) to hold from underperform and raised its target to $2 from $1.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: HOT, GOOG, WPI, LYG ...

Laurie Pasternack — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:55:00 EST

Analyst upgrades:

Baird upgraded Starwood Hotels (NYSE: HOT), Host Hotels (NYSE: HST) and Marriott (NYSE: MAR) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation and indications that negative sentiment has reached a bottom.
Citigroup upgraded Torchmark (NYSE: TMK) to Buy from Hold as they find the valuation attractive and think management can grow earnings and book value in 2009/2010. Despite upgrading, the firm lowered their target price to $37 from $45.
ASM International (NASDAQ: ASMI) was added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) was upgraded at Natixis to Buy from Hold.