Analyst Upgrades

• Akamai (AKAM) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Aetna (AET) to Outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Hot Topic (HOTT) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Colonial Properties (CLP) upgraded to Outperform from market perform at FBR Capital and to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Altera (ALTR) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• American Reprographics (ARC), CarMax (KMX) and American Campus (ACC) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Zebra Tech (ZBRA) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• IMAX (IMAX) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Basic Energy (BAS) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Mednax (MD) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• UTi Worldwide (UTIW) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

"In only a few years, 3-D will have a third of the TV market and a sizable chunk of the box office. I have no doubt that this will be one of the 'Next Big Things'," suggests Andy Obermueller.

The editor of Game-Changing Stocks explains, "Here, I review the overall market as well as the four best stock plays in the sector. I see each of these stocks as having serious growth potential as 3-D technology takes off.

"3-D functionality is becoming increasingly available on many high-end TVs. Last year was the first year that 3-D TVs were available; manufacturers sold 3.2 million 3-D sets vs. 247 million HDTVs.

Analyst Upgrades

• Home Depot (HD) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Delta Air Lines (DAL) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Heico (HEI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• MB Financial (MBFI) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Oshkosh (OSK) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Volterra (VLTR) and Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Ascena Retail Group (ASNA) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Cytec Industries (CYT) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

IMAX (IMAX) finished 2010 with a wild trading day. With a little over two-and-a-half hours to go before the market bell, I had noticed that the stock was up an incredible 15.6% to $31.05. On heavy volume. Yes, heavy volume, on the last day of the year.

What was the reason? There was some speculation about a buyout. StreetInisder.com had reported that Sony (SNE) was possibly interested in buying the business. Disney (DIS) was also mentioned as a potential acquirer.

The last trading day of 2010 seems to indicate that traders are committed to maintaining the solid gains of the past year. Volume was light with fewer than 1 billion shares traded by early afternoon. Oil prices pushed back to over $91/barrel, and gold has also risen more than 1%, to around $1,420/ounce. The dollar gained a bit of strength to the euro, but continues its slide against the Japanese yen.

Here are the numbers for late afternoon trading today:

Dow Jones 11,577.51 +7.80 (0.07%)
S&P 500 1,257.64 -0.24 (-0.02%)
Nasdaq 2,652.87 -10.11 (-0.38%)

"2011 will be about growth stocks that are growing because they have unique products or services driven by customer demand," says small cap specialist Jim Oberweis, Jr.

The money manager and editor of The Oberweis Report explains, "Indeed, we think that investors will pay an increasing premium for growth when year-over-year increases become more difficult to find. Here our favorite issues that fit this bill.

"Our research indicates P/Es for small-cap growth stocks remain modestly below-average, but substantially higher than 2008 crisis levels and well within the "normal" range.

IMAX (IMAX) has been a wonderful stock to own. Admit it, you wish you had this one displayed on your broker's positions page (I know I do). On Friday, it closed at $21.65, not far from the new 52-week high of $21.95, which was reached during the intraday session. The one-year chart is an amazing image to behold for a couple reasons. First, there is the simple matter of the uptrend. Second, the stock already experienced a pullback before breaking through to fresh heights.

However, this brings to mind a valid concern: is the stock now a sell? Has it gone too far? You can't help but ask such questions. In fact, Theflyonthewall reported Friday that Craig-Hallum issued a downgrade on the shares. On the other hand, Theflyonthewall also mentioned some good news from Wedbush: that firm raised its rating for the theater entity.

Option traders appear to be setting up for a bullish move on iShares Barclays 7 to 10 Year Treasury (IEF). Traders plowed into 4,342 new call option contracts -- 3.33 times the average volume -- on the stock on Wednesday. And we know that traders were eager to get into this trade because 99% of the trades came in on the ask price.

It looks like traders are trying to get into these Treasuries ahead of the Fed, just in case it moves ahead with more quantitative easing. The ETF closed Wednesday at $97.39, down 0.17% during the past month.

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

• Coinstar Inc. (CSTR) shares surged following stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings driven by DVD rentals.
• Humana Inc. (HUM) shares traded lower despite the report of better-than-expected earnings for Q1.
• IMAX Corp. (IMAX) reported strong Q1 results that easily topped consensus estimates, but shares declined.
• Kellogg Co. (K) topped Q1 earnings expectations and announced a share buyback program.
• Office Depot Inc. (ODP) Q1 earnings fell short of consensus estimates and same-store sales declined.

Everyone dreams of making it big in Hollywood (hey, I wouldn't mind selling a screenplay or two). Such a goal is elusive. You can, however, trade stocks associated with the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown. Let's look at the earnings reports of two businesses involved in motion pictures that were released on Thursday.

IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is famous for its 3D-theater technology. It's also been notable lately for its stock. Like a solid script, the one-year chart tells a good story. The shares have risen mightily over the last twelve months, fighting their way to victory by defeating all the Wall Street bears (I admit, I've been bearish on the company in the past) and basking in the triumphant glory of new 52-week highs.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue and offered rosy guidance.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) higher Q4 earnings matched analysts' estimates, but shares rose afterward.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (ANN) swung to a profit in Q4 even though same-store sales dropped; shares fell.
• Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) received an analyst's upgrade following its Q4 results and guidance for the full year.
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) posted strong Q4 earnings even though same-store sales were flat.

IMAX (IMAX) issued its Q4 report yesterday. The stock was slightly weak after the market digested the earnings release: it ended the session down 1%. I'm not sure, though, if traders should give up on the stock just yet.

On an adjusted basis, the company behind the big, theatrical 3D format made 20 cents per diluted share. In the previous year's similar quarter, a loss of 22 cents per diluted share was booked. Awesome improvement. As for the analysts, they simply couldn't keep up with the momentum. According to Earnings.com, they were expecting something closer to 6 cents for the income figure.