Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB) to Outperform from Market Perform as they find AB's risk/reward attractive given its attractive long-term business model. Wachovia upgraded Watson Pharma (NYSE: WPI) and Teva Pharma (NASDAQ: TEVA) to Outperform from Market Perform citing valuations and positive drivers for generics that include patent expirations and market share expansion.
• UBS raised Lloyds TSB Group (NYSE: LYG) to Neutral from Sell on expected pricing power following the HBOS (OTC: HBOOY) acquisition.
• Otter Tail (NASDAQ: OTTR) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• GFI Group (NASDAQ: GFIG) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
• Merrill upgraded Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI) to Neutral from Underperform.

• JP Morgan downgraded shares of Lloyds TSB Group to Underweight from Neutral on capital concerns and believes the HBOS acquisition is not in the best interest of shareholders.
• Stephens downgraded Universal Truckload (NASDAQ: UACL) to Equal Weight from Overweight on valuation and concerns about a slowdown in the flatbed sector. The firm's target remains $28.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AB, WPI, TEVA, LYG, UACL, NTAP, SIMO, BRCM ...

Analyst calls: AB, WPI, TEVA, LYG, UACL, NTAP, SIMO, BRCM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It really did not matter what happened in the broader market. Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) and Lehman (NYSE: LEH) were dismantled by the credit crisis. There are still plenty of questions about whether either will make it. Both stocks hit multi-year lows.

DJIA 11,268.92 +0.34%
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52-Week Lows

Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) traded up after raising guidance for earnings in the coming quarter, and said it was reaffirming its Fiscal earnings because the benefits of lower fuel prices were being offset by a weak economy and therefore weaker orders. Shares were up 3.8% in the final minutes of trade.

GFI Group (NASDAQ: GFIG) traded down over 25% after the firm announced its negotiations with Tullet Prebon have fallen apart and no merger is going to take place. As the firm is active in OTC derivative contracts and as the number of players is rapidly sinking, the value is perceived as far less on a go-it-alone strategy.

Continue reading Closing bell: Dow ends with gains; LEH, WM, SIRI, TXN all fall apart

Closing bell: Dow ends with gains; LEH, WM, SIRI, TXN all fall apart originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR) to Outperform from Perform on valuation and increased comfort with the company's outlook after meeting with management.
  
• Deutsche Bank raised Covidien (NYSE: COV) to Buy from Hold on the company's solid execution and ongoing restructuring, which they believe will drive EPS higher. The firm raised its target to $63 from $51.
• Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• American Eagle (NYSE: AEO) was lifted to Buy from Neutral at Banc of America.
  
• Goldman raised Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Neutral from Sell.

Analyst downgrades:

Continue reading Analyst calls: AAPL, BAC, MRK, NOK, YUM . . .

Analyst calls: AAPL, BAC, MRK, NOK, YUM . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: GFI Group, Wells Fargo and Cirrus Logic were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Goldman downgraded GFI Group Inc (NASDAQ: GFIG) to Neutral from Buy following the company's announcement that credit chief, Donal Fewer, left the company to go to a rival firm and that about two dozen brokers may defect to follow him.
• Oppenheimer cut Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) to Underperform from Perform as they believe the company is under-reserved by at least $4.5B and that there is significant room for multiple contraction.
• Cirrus Logic Inc (NASDAQ: CRUS) was downgraded at Jefferies to Hold from Buy on valuation, as they believe the risk/reward is no longer favorable at current levels.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Baird cut Ryder System Inc (NYSE: R) to Neutral from Outperform.
• Caterpillar Incorporated (NYSE: CAT) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia and to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
• Goldman removed Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE: RCL) from its Conviction Buy List.

Analyst downgrades: GFI Group, Wells Fargo, Cirrus Logic originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.