Analyst Upgrades

• Boeing (BA) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Alcoa (AA) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• BP (BP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• Office Depot (ODP) and Staples (SPLS) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• ON Semiconductor (ONNN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Kennametal (KMT) and Polyone (POL) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Airgas (ARG) to outperform from market perform at William Blair.
• EchoStar (SATS) to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.

Analyst Upgrades

• Yingli Green (YGE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• National Semiconductor (NSM) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• DuPont (DD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Blackboard (BBBB) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Kindred Healthcare (KND) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Peabody Energy (BTU) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Savvis (SVVS) to buy from neutral and InterActiveCorp (IACI) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Analyst Upgrades

• Research In Motion (RIMM) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Citigroup (C) to buy from hold at ISI Group.
• Integrated Silicon (ISSI) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Kinross Gold (KGC) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Analyst Upgrades

• Jefferies upgraded Computer Sciences (CSC) to buy from hold and raised its target to $53 from $47. The analyst said Computer Sciences' valuation has created one of the best LBO opportunities in several years and could provide a five year IRR of 25+%.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Comerica (CMA) to outperform from market perform, citing strength of the company's capital. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $43.
• RBC Capital upgraded Nokia (NOK) to outperform from sector perform and raised its price target to $14 from $12. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation, reduced execution risk on software development, and potential catalysts from new devices based on Symbian^3. RBS upgraded Nokia to buy from hold after the company named Stephen Elop as CEO.
• Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Moody's (MCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Investors pushed up call option prices in the electric utilities industry, and also pushed up put option prices in the management services industry today.

Any time the volatility skews above 1.00, it is an indication that calls are more expensive than puts. Typically, when calls are more expensive than puts, it means the demand for calls is greater than the demand for puts because investors believe the stock is going to rise in the future, and they want to take advantage of that movement by buying calls.

The opposite is also true. Any time a volatility skews below 1.00, it is an indication that puts are more expensive than calls.

Bullish Volatility Skews

Unisource Energy Corp. (UNS)---part of the Electric Utilities industry---came in at the top with a volatility skew of 1.15. This shouldn't be a surprise as UNS is up 7.37 percent for the past month.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to buy from hold on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm raised its target price on shares to $113 from $108.
• UBS upgraded General Dynamics (GD) to buy from neutral based on improved defense risk profile and stabilization in the business jet market. The firm raised its target to $80 from $70.
• FBR Capital upgraded SunTrust (STI) to outperform from market perform on expectations that regional banks will outperform the large money center banks in this environment. The firm raised its price target on shares to $28 from $22.
• SAP AG (SAP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Thomson Reuters (TRI) was raised to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Rosetta Resources (ROSE) was upgraded at Wells Fargo to outperform from market perform.

Analyst upgrades:

• Axys Tech (NASDAQ: AXYS) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Morgan Keegan on valuation.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded Cemex (NYSE: CX) to Neutral from Underperform following the company's refinancing announcement.
  
• Patni Computer (NYSE: PTI) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Analyst downgrades:

• Merriman downgraded Environmental Power (NASDAQ: EPG) to Neutral from Buy citing a lack of visibility into the company's capital raise and lowered their estimates to reflect a slippage in project schedules.
  
• Jefferies cut inVentiv Health (NASDAQ: VTIV) to Hold from Buy as they believe budget cuts at the company's client base make 2009 estimates too high. The firm lowered their target to $11 from $15.
  
• Oppenheimer downgraded RSC Holdings (NYSE: RRR) to Perform from Outperform to reflect the continued deterioration in non-residential construction and valuation following the recent rally.
• Smurfit-Stone (NASDAQ: SSCC) was lowered to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  
• Distribucion Y Servicio (NYSE: DYS) was downgraded to Sell from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  
• Key Energy (NYSE: KEG) was downgraded at SMH Capital to Neutral from Accumulate.

Analyst initiations:

• AECOM Technology (NYSE: ACM) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $34 target at Baird. The firm is positive on AECOM's diverse portfolio of services and global reach.
  
• Baird also initiated Checkpoint (NYSE: CKP) with a Neutral rating and $11 target, citing the weak macro environment.
  
• Thomas Weisel said Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) has little exposure to economically sensitive areas of healthcare and has a varied mix of products that provide a platform for sustainable organic growth. Shares were initiated with an Overweight rating.
• Piper Jaffray assumed CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) with a Neutral rating.
  
• BioMarin (NASDAQ: BMRN) was started at Stanford with a Hold rating.
  
• Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN) was initiated with an Equal Weight at First Analysis.

Analyst upgrades:

• Calyon upgraded major network carriers based on falling oil prices and capacity cuts. The analyst is positive over the next 12 months but cautious short-term given the uncertain economy, and volatile markets and oil prices. AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) and Delta Air (NYSE: DAL) were upgraded to Add from Neutral and UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) was raised to Neutral from Reduce.
• Ryanair (NASDAQ: RYAAY) was upgraded at Citigroup to Buy from Hold.
• Boardwalk Pipeline (NYSE: BWP) was raised to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cowen lifted Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) to Outperform from Neutral.
• JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Neutral from Underweight following the better-than-expected Q3 report.
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) to Outperform from Perform on valuation, the company's minimal exposure to economic conditions, and expectations for margin improvement and a rebound in organic growth.

Analyst downgrades:

• Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) and AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) were downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
• UBS downgraded Embarq (NYSE: EQ) to Neutral from Buy following the CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) merger announcement.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent weakness and expects positive seasonality in the second half of 2008.
  
• Gilat Satellite (NASDAQ: GILT) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair on valuation.
• Cott Corp (NYSE: COT) was raised at UBS to Neutral from Sell.
  
• EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Bernstein.
  
• Integra LifeSciencues (NASDAQ: IART) was raised to Buy from Hold at Argus.

Analyst downgrades:

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Marvell Tech (NASDAQ: MRVL) to Hold from Buy on HDD inventory concerns and share loss at Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) after checks indicated MRVL likely lost the design for the RIM Javelin to Freescale. The firm lowered their target to $15 from $22.
  
• Oppenheimer downgraded Integrated Device (NASDAQ: IDTI) to Perform from Outperform as they believe the upcoming Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) server memory transition will pressure shares for several quarters.
  
• Broadpoint downgraded shares of Healthaways (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Neutral from Buy as they see few near-term catalysts.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) Q1 earnings rose 20%, driven by cash-strapped bargain hunters.
• Borders Group Inc. (NYSE: BGP) narrowed its loss in the first quarter though same-store sales fell.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) Q3 profits climbed 32%, beating analysts' estimates.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) posted solid Q1 results that beat analysts' expectations (see the transcript).
• DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) Q1 earnings declined, hurt by weak same-store sales.
• H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) better-than-expected Q4 results sent the stock to a 52-week high.
• Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: IART) beat Q4 estimates and offered Q1 guidance.
• J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG) lowered its full-year forecast, leading to analyst downgrades.
• Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG) Q2 results beat expectations, and it raised its full-year guidance.
• Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF) posted record Q4 revenues but a bigger-than-expected loss.
• Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) Q1 profits beat estimates and led to analyst upgrades.
• Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) beat Q4 estimates and offered full-year guidance.
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) swung to a profit that was in line with analysts estimates.
• Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) Q1 revenues surged on new customers and demand in Asia.

Integra LifeSciences Holdings (NASDAQ: IART) is a regenerative medicine specialist. The firm develops, manufactures and markets surgical implants and medical instruments that are used in neurosurgery, extremity reconstruction, orthopedics and general surgery. Its biological implants, grafts, and wound dressings are based on a proprietary collagen matrix that becomes part of a patient's body and help it to generate new bone and tissue to replace damaged areas. The company's surgical instruments include ultrasonic surgical ablation systems and joint fixation devices used in neurosurgery and joint reconstruction. Integra has key strategic alliances with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) and Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZHM).

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 54 cents and revenues of $157.65 million. Analysts had been looking for 49 cents and $153.41 million. Management also guided Q1 EPS to 39-42 cents (40 cent consensus), Q1 revenues to $155 million or more ($151.1M consensus), Q2 EPS to 45-48 cents (45 cent consensus), Q2 revenues to $159-$164 million ($160.10M consensus) and FY08 EPS to $2.00-$2.15 ($2.04 consensus).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: SanDisk (SNDK), Indevus Pharmaceuticals (IDEV), Integra LifeSciences (IART) and Level 3 Communications (LVLT) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Cowen, as the firm believes it could face challenges in Q4 NAND flash memory demand given supply.

• Rodman & Renshaw initiated shares of Indevus (NASDAQ: IDEV) with a Market Outperform rating and $10 target. The firm believes Indevus Nebibo and Sanctura XR upcoming events provide an attractive entry point.

• Morgan Stanley initiated shares of Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) with an Equal Weight rating and $55 target, citing competitive risks from larger competitors.

• Shares of Level 3 Communications (NASDAQ: LVLT) were initiated at Raymond James with an Underperform rating, as the firm believes estimates will be difficult to achieve given high debt levels and free cash flow.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Cowen initiated shares of STEC Inc (NASDAQ: STEC) and Spansion (NASDAQ: SPSN) with Neutral ratings and shares of Silicon Motion Technology Corp (NASDAQ: SIMO) with an Outperform rating.

• Pacific Crest initiated shares of Universal Electronics (NASDAQ: UEIC) with a Sector Perform rating on valuation.

• Merrill Lynch started shares of FirstFed Financial (NYSE: FED) with a Sell rating.

• Goldman Sachs started shares of Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) with a Buy rating and $50 target.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).