MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies assumed coverage of International Game Tech (NYSE: IGT) with a Buy rating and $47 target citing an attractive risk/reward.

• Big 5 Sporting Goods (NASDAQ: BGFV) was started with a Sector Performer rating and $33 target at CIBC, expecting shares to be driven by an operating margin recover and improving cash flows.

• CVS/Caremark Corp (NYSE: CVS) was reinstated with an Overweight rating at Lehman Brothers and resumed with an Overweight rating at Morgan Stanley.

• JP Morgan believes the rough environment, growing competition and valuation warrants IHOP Corp (NYSE: IHP) to start with a Neutral rating.

• B. Riley initiated shares of United Online, Inc (NASDAQ: UNTD) with a Buy rating and $18 target.

• Bear Stearns started T-3 Energy Services, Inc (NASDAQ: TTES) with an Outperform rating and $32 target.

• Morgan Stanley initiated shares of Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: VNDA) with an Overweight rating and $29 target.

• American Technology initiated shares of Bankrate, Inc (NASDAQ: RATE) with a Buy rating and $48 target.

• Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ALTU) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $20 fair value estimate at Leerink Swann.

Analyst initiations 4-30-07: BGFV, CVS, IGT, IHP and RATE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Prudential initiated the Gaming sector with a Favorable rating,
  
• They initiated Boyd Gaming Corp (NYSE: BYD), Town Sports International Holdings (NASDAQ: CLUB), Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ: PENN), Shuffle Master Inc (NASDAQ: SHFL), Steiner Leisure Ltd (NASDAQ: STNR) and Great Wolf Resorts Inc (NASDAQ: WOLF) with Outperform ratings.
  
• Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA), MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) and WMS Industries Inc (NYSE: WMS) were initiated with Neutral ratings.
• Underweight ratings were given to International Game Tech (NYSE: IGT), Isle of Capri Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ISLE), Life Time Fitness Inc (NYSE: LTM), Pinnacle Entertainment Inc (NYSE: PNK) and Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc (NASDAQ: TRMP).

• UBS initiated CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) with a Buy rating and $38 target, citing valuation, dividends and buybacks.

• Nollenberger believes International Rectifier Corp (NYSE: IRF) is the way to play the trend for energy efficiency, initiating the company with a Buy rating and $60 target.

• Goldman Sachs resumed coverage of AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) with a Buy rating and Level 3 Communications inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) with a Neutral rating.

• Stanford started EDO Corp (NYSE: EDO) with a Hold rating and $25 target; the firm believes EDO can be a turnaround story in 2007, but they recommend investors to stay on the sidelines until after Q4 earnings given their concerns over the quarter and guidance.

Analyst initiations 1-26-07: Prudential is Favorable on gaming originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: International Game Tech (IGT), Cephalon (CEPH) and CVS Corp (CVS) top today's list of upgrades.

• International Game Tech (NYSE:IGT) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Soleil and to Outperform from Peer Perform at Bear Stearns. Both firms cited valuation as the reason.
• Cephalon, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEPH) was upgraded to Strong Buy from Buy at First Albany following the news that the company was granted a composition of matter patent covering Nuvigil by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
• CVS Corp (NYSE:CVS) was added to Goldman Sachs Americas Conviction Buy List based on valuation.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• American Tech upgraded EDO Corp (NYSE:EDO) to Hold from Sell based on valuation.
• Dean Foods Company (NYSE:DF) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at A.G. Edwards based on valuation.
• Finally, Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ:BRCM) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Raymond James.

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

Analyst upgrades 11-8-06: Int'l Game Tech, Cephalon, CVS upgraded originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.