• Citigroup upgraded Allergan (NYSE: AGN) to Buy from Hold to reflect increased estimates for Botox and its belief Latisse guidance looks conservative. The firm raised its target on shares to $57 from $45.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Texas Instruments (TXN) to Hold from Underperform after channel checks indicated business is strengthening. Jefferies believes Texas Instruments' September quarter guidance will come in better than expected and raised its target on shares to 23 from $16.
  
• FBR Capital upgraded Peabody Energy (BTU) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect "strong" long-term steel and steam demand trends from China and India. The firm raised its target on shares to $44 from $36.
  
• Elan Corp (ELN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  
• Affymetrix (AFFX) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• ASML Holding (ASML) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AGN, TXN, ELN, PALM, DOW

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AGN, TXN, ELN, PALM, DOW originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FranklinCovey (NYSE: FC) markets products designed to increase productivity, sales and communications in the workplace. The company recently posted 4Q and FY 2007 numbers that would have been impressive were it not for a $20.3 million reversal of deferred income tax asset valuations allowances which dramatically skewed the results. Thus, 4Q 2007 net income was $600,000, or $0.03 diluted EPS compared to $15 million or $0.70 diluted EPS in 4Q 2006. Nonetheless, gross profit increased, driven primarily by a $4.9 million increase in training and consulting services to businesses. This increase helped offset a $2.4 million decrease in consumer sales due to weaker demand at the retail level.

FranklinCovey is shifting more resources into training and consulting sales which have a higher gross profit margin than product sales. Faced with an 11% decline in retail store sales, the company closed two stores and is trying to convince more customers to shop for its products on the company's improved website.

FranklinCovey has now repurchased the remaining $37 million worth of preferred stock, but had to borrow money to do so. As a result, interest as well as operating expenses increased. The company sells helpful tools to increase organizational efficiency and productivity. It needs to take page from its own book and devote its resources to where they will be the most productive -- in corporate and online sales. Buy your FranklinCovey 2008 day planner from one of the company's retail locations while you still can.

FranklinCovey hit with $20 million income tax reversal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.