MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Suntrust initiated ProAssurance (NYSE:PRA) with a Buy rating and $66 target and said the company has a strong position in the Midwest and Southeastern markets where it targets solo practitioners and small groups, where competition is less intense.
  
• Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH) was assumed with a Buy rating and $20 target at UBS, as they are positive on the company's diversified business mix.
  
• Baird is believes Interstate Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:IHR) will leverage its operating experience through its growing ownership portfolio and views valuation as attractive. The firm started shares with an Outperform rating.

• Merrill initiated Allscripts (NASDAQ:MDRX) with a Neutral rating.
  
• JMP Securities initiated Chimera Investment (NYSE:CIM) with a Market Perform rating.
  
• Bear initiated Cosan (NYSE:an) with an Outperform rating.

Analyst initiations: PRA, SAH and IHR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.