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Analyst upgrades 9-10-07: U.S. food industry, MYL, AGP and ISLE

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The U.S. food industry, Mylan Labs, Amerigroup and Isle of Capri were today's noteworthy upgrades:
  • BMO Capital upgraded the U.S. food industry sector to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect the group's defensive nature, the recent valuation contraction, and predictable earnings growth. General Mills (NYSE: GIS) is the firm's top pick in packaged food, and they raised Kellogg Company's (NYSE: K) target to $59 and Kraft Foods' (NYSE: KFT) to $36.
  • Credit Suisse upgraded Mylan Laboratories (NYSE: MYL) to Outperform Underperform, as the firm believes investors are "too negative" on the Merck transaction. The firm said the company is well-positioned long-term to be a leader in the global generics industry.
  • Credit Suisse also upgraded shares of Amerigroup Corporation (NYSE: AGP) to Outperform from Underperform, as they believe the company is poised for better than expected margin improvement in 2007 and 2008.
  • Isle of Capri Casinos Inc's (NASDAQ: ISLE) rating was upped to Buy from Hold at Morgan Joseph, citing indications of progress in the company's turnaround.
OTHER UPGRADES:

Market highlights for next week: MRK's Vioxx trial to start in Illinois court

Monday September 10
Tuesday September 11
Wednesday September 12
Thursday September 13 Friday September 14

Analyst downgrades 6-19-07: AV, BEAS, CCE and YRCW

MOST NOTEWORTHY: YRC Worldwide (YRCW), BEA Systems (BEAS), Isle of Capri Casinos (ISLE), Assured Guaranty Ltd (AGO) and Avaya (AV) were today's more noteworthy downgrades:
  • Wachovia downgraded YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) to Market Perform from Outperform citing the challenging LTL freight environment and continued integration issues.
  • UBS downgraded shares of BEA Systems (NASDAQ: BEAS) to Neutral from Buy on valuation as they believe expectations for a takeover or investor activism is already priced into shares.
  • Matrix believes Isle of Capri (NASDAQ: ISLE) is expensive on a performance-adjusted basis and recommends investors sell shares into the recent rally, downgrading shares to Sell from Hold.
  • JMP Securities downgraded Avaya (NYSE: AV) to Market Perform from Strong Buy, as the firm doesn't expect a superior offer to the Silver Lake/TPG bid...
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
  • Morgan Stanley downgraded Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  • Morgan Keegan downgraded Inter-Tel Inc (NASDAQ: INTL) to Market Perform from Outperform.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst upgrades 4-09-07: ConAgra Foods, Dell and Ryland Group upgraded today

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Today's noteworthy upgrades include ConAgra Foods, Inc (CAG), Dell Inc (DELL), Ryland Group, Inc (RYL) and Volterra Semiconductor Corp (VLTR).
  • Prudential upgraded shares of ConAgra Foods Inc (NYSE: CAG) to Neutral from Underweight with a $26 target on valuation.
  • Pacific Crest upgraded shares of Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) to Outperform from Sector Perform as the firm believes new management, new products and supply chain cost realignments could boost operating margins.
  • Ryland Group, Inc (NYSE: RYL) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Unterberg upgraded shares of Volterra Semiconductor (NASDAQ: VLTR) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation.
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • Friedman Billings upgraded Peabody Energy Corp (NYSE: BTU) to Outperform from Market Perform based on lack of CAPP exposure, growth profile, rising international demand and certain benefits from the scrubber trend.
  • JP Morgan upgraded shares of Cincinnati Bell Inc (NYSE: CBB) to Overweight from Neutral, as the firm believes higher capex is reflected in the valuation and FCF should recover in 2008.
  • Sandler upgraded First Charter Corp (NASDAQ: FCTR) to Buy from Hold based on valuation.
  • Brean Murray has increased confidence in the success of Isle of Capri Casinos' (NASDAQ: ISLE) Isle casino, soon to open at Pompapno Park, and the considerable option value that should be embedded in shares related to a Florida gaming bill which would loosen restrictions on gaming at pari-mutual facilities. The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Hold on the news.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Pogo Producing Co (NYSE: PPP) to Hold from Sell to reflect the likelihood of corporate action over the near term, most likely the sale of the company in whole or in parts.
  • Merill Lynch upgraded Janus Capital Group Inc (NYSE: JNS) and Calamos Asset Management, Inc (NASDAQ: CLMS) to Buy from Neutral.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-17.2410,433.71
NASDAQ-6.832,169.18
S&P 500-0.591,105.65

Last updated: November 25, 2009: 09:20 AM

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