- Credit Suisse upgraded Motorola (NYSE: MOT) to Outperform from Neutral after the close Monday. The firm believes Motorola's devices segment will approach breakeven in 2010 while operating margins in nonhandset segments will expand, and that a break-up story will reemerge. Credit Suisse raised its target on shares to $9.50 from $7.
- UBS upgraded BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) to Buy from Neutral. The firm cites BHP's leverage to iron ore, coking coal, copper, and oil for its upgrade after raising its commodity price forecasts.
- Merriman upgraded Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) to Buy from Neutral to reflect higher met coal price forecasts. The firm believes Chinese demand is strong and has a target range of $66-$72 on the stock.
- Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL) was upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.
- Coach (NYSE: COH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
FFBC posts
FeedAnalyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AIG, COH, LMT, MOT, MVL, NOK, RTN ...
Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AIG, COH, LMT, MOT, MVL, NOK, RTN ...
Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: EMS, DT, SPSS, CELG ...
Analyst upgrades:- Stephens upgraded Emergency Medical Services (NYSE: EMS) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation as they believe shares are undervalued at current levels. The firm has a $42 target on the stock.
- Deutsche Bank upgraded Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Buy from Hold ahead of the company's earnings report as they expect the results to provide confidence in the dividend.
- Baird upgraded CoPart (NASDAQ: CPRT) to Outperform from Neutral due to the defensive nature of the salvage auction market, strong balance sheet, and potential growth beyond salvage and outside the U.S.
- First Financial (NASDAQ: FFBC) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
- GPC Biotech (NASDAQ: GPCB) was upgraded at Piper Jaffray to Neutral from Sell.
- Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: EMS, DT, SPSS, CELG ...
Analyst downgrades: FFBC, TZIX and GE
MOST NOTEWORTHY: First Financial, TriZetto and General Electric were today's noteworthy downgrades:- Keefe Bruyette downgraded shares of First Financial (NASDAQ: FFBC) to Underperform from Market Perform on valuation, as they believe the stock trades at a premium to the group despite limited upside to normalized earnings and near term revenue headwinds.
- TriZetto (NASDAQ:TZIX) was cut at Jefferies to Hold from Buy based on Friday's go-private announcement, as they view the $22 deal price as fair.
- General Electric (NYSE: GE) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns and to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer following the company's earnings miss and reduced guidance.




