- Deutsche Bank upgraded Blackrock (NYSE: BLK) to Buy from Hold as it believes the BGI acquisition is becoming more accretive with the market rally and that the company's core trends are healthy. The firm raised its target on shares to $230 from $180.
- Citigroup upgraded Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) to Hold from Sell as it believes the risk/reward on shares is balanced based on 2010 estimates. Citi raised its target on shares to $89 from $75.
- Auriga upgraded Eclipsys (NASDAQ: ECLP) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's margin expansion initiatives will drive benefits in 2010 and 2011. The firm raised its target on shares to $24 from $16.
- Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) was upgraded to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel and to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
- Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
- CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
HGG posts
FeedAnalyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, BLK, BNI, CCL, JPM, PNC, UTX ...
The week in preview: DynCorp, Joy Global, Shanda and more
Much of the attention this week will no doubt be on how the impending General Motors (NYSE: GM) bankruptcy will shake out, as well as the usual economic concerns: Has the housing market bottomed? Will oil prices keep rising? Is the employment situation getting any better? And so on (see highlights of the economic calendar below).
What probably won't get much attention are quarterly earnings, as the earnings season for this quarter winds down. But there are a few reports that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for.
Continue reading The week in preview: DynCorp, Joy Global, Shanda and more
Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TGT, SWY, CSIQ, HOTT, MPEL, RIO, CPB, CVD and HGG
Analyst upgrades:- UBS upgraded Target (NYSE: TGT) to Buy from Neutral and raised its price target to $52 from $45 citing reduced inventories, some credit stability, and an improved back-to-school period.
- Credit Suisse said concerns regarding Safeway's (NYSE: SWY) price position are overblown and that earnings risk is limited. The firm upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral and raised the target price to $25 from $22.
- Oppenheimer upgraded Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Outperform from Perform as it believes the story is underappreciated following the recent sector rally. The firm has a $14 price target on the stock.
- CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) was upgraded to buy from Neutral at Goldman.
- Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
- Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at FTN Equity.
Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WTR, GIL, STT, EHTH, AKZOY, MEOH, UTHR and HGG
Analyst upgrades: - Janney Montgomery upgraded Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, viewing the recent weakness as a buying opportunity. The firm has a $19 target on the stock.
- UBS upgraded Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL) to Buy from Neutral due to customer Broder's improved liquidity and the improved outlook for margins.
- RBC Capital upgraded State Street (NYSE: STT) to Top Pick from Outperform and raised its target to $55 from $40. The analyst said the $2B capital raise addresses TCE ratio concerns and large unrealized losses in the investment portfolio.
- Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
- Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) was upgraded to Buy from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.
- M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.
Analyst initiations: PSYS, HGG and ULTA
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Psychiatric Solutions, hhgregg and Ulta Salon were today's noteworthy initiations:
- Stanford started Psychiatric Solutions (NASDAQ: PSYS) with a Buy rating and $46 target and believes the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point given the company's stable growth and fundamentally strong business.
- Oppenheimer initiated hhgregg (NYSE: HGG) with a Perform rating. The firm believes the company's TV business could become much more challenging while housing market weakness could continue to hinder appliance sales.
- Oppenheimer also assumed Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA) with an Outperform rating and $13 target. The firm believes the company's fundamentals are solid and sees potential upside to valuation.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
- Piper initiated Ormat Tech (NYSE: ORA) with a Neutral rating and $49 target and Raser Technologies (NYSE: RZ) with a Sell rating and $7 target.
- The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) was assumed at Roth Capital with a Hold rating and $27 target.
- Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $44 target at BMO Capital.
hhgregg (HGG): Share price cycles in bullish 'pennant' pattern
hhgregg (NYSE: HGG) is
a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home appliances and related services. The firm operates 97 southeastern and midwestern U.S. stores, under the names hhgregg and Fine Lines. It also operates a retail Web site. Offerings include notebook computers, televisions, DVD recorders, refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, freezers, washers, dryers and Serta mattresses. Competitors include Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Circuit City Stores (NYSE: CC) and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
The company pleased investors earlier in the month, when it reported solid Q4 results and offered FY09 EPS guidance in-line with the consensus Street view. Management attributed success to increased sales of higher-priced video and major appliance products. Plans call for opening 15 to 17 stores, during the new fiscal year.
Continue reading hhgregg (HGG): Share price cycles in bullish 'pennant' pattern
Analyst initiations: CSCO, NYX, NDAQ and COGI
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cisco Systems, NYSE Euronext, Nasdaq and Cognicase were today's noteworthy initiations:- Friedman Billings believes Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is well-positioned to take advantage of "Business 2.0" applications and to gain share in a slower economic environment. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $31 target.
- NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) and Nasdaq (NASDAQ: NDAQ) were assumed with a Neutral rating and $72 target and $44 target, respectively, at UBS. The firm cited increasing competition and moderating volumes.
- Deutsche Bank believes Cognicase (COGI) is one of the few carriers offering high-capacity commercial Internet access to enterprise customers at a discount to nearly all of its competitors. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $23 target.
Hhgregg (HGG): Share price advances through positive trading channel
Hhgregg (NYSE: HGG) is
a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home appliances and related services. The firm operates 85 southeastern and midwestern U.S. stores, under the names hhgregg and Fine Lines. It also operates a retail Web site. Offerings include notebook computers, televisions, DVD recorders, refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, freezers, washers, dryers and Serta mattresses. Competitors include Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) and Circuit City (NYSE: CC).
The company pleased investors earlier in the month, when it reported fiscal Q3 EPS of 45 cents and revenues of $390.4 million. Analysts had been expecting 40 cents and $389.9 million. Management also announced plans to open seven new stores in Q4 and guided FY08 EPS to $0.95-$1.03 ($1.00 consensus).
Continue reading Hhgregg (HGG): Share price advances through positive trading channel




