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Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MCRS, MU, KFT, CAKE

Analyst upgrades:
  • Jefferies upgraded MICROS Systems (NASDAQ:MCRS) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company's cost cutting is running ahead of Street expectations. The firm raised its target on shares to $25 from $18.
  • KeyBanc upgraded Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) to Buy from Hold. The analyst believes companies will beat EPS estimates given lower commodity costs, focus on cost controls, and reduced drag of inefficient, new restaurants on unit level margins. Additionally, they believe reduced mortgage payments from refinancing will incrementally help traffic.
  • Keefe Bruyette upgraded First Niagara (NASDAQ:FNFG) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation following the company's Q1 results. The firm raised its target price to $15.
  • American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
  • Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) was upgraded to Sector Performer from Sector Underperformer at CIBC and to Neutral from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.
  • Micron (NYSE:MU) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MCRS, MU, KFT, CAKE

Analyst calls: INTC, DT, ANF, RIMM, WFC, FITB, TDW, ROK ...

Analyst upgrades:
  • Piper upgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the company's strong competitive position and low valuation. The firm does not expect Intel to miss Q3 estimates.
  • Goldman upgraded shares of Deutsche Telecom (NYSE: DT) to Buy from Neutral and added the stock to the Conviction Buy List as they believe the dividend is well covered.
  • Wachovia upgraded Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation and potential near-term catalysts from hurricane-related activities.
  • Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Friedman Billings.
  • Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) was upgraded at JMP Securities to Outperform from Market Perform.
  • Baird lifted Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) to Neutral from Underperform.
Analyst downgrades:
  • Jefferies downgraded VCA Antech (NASDAQ: WOOF) to Underperform from Buy as they believe reduced consumer spending and rising unemployment levels will hurt the company's hospital and lab volumes in FY09. The company's target was lowered to $25 from $35.
  • Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Total System (NYSE: TSS) to Perform from Outperform to reflect the challenging macro environment and the customer portfolio risk from bank consolidation.

Continue reading Analyst calls: INTC, DT, ANF, RIMM, WFC, FITB, TDW, ROK ...

Market highlights for next week: Wal-Mart and Hewlett-Packard reporting

Monday, May 12
Tuesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 14
  • FCC Open Commission Meeting at 9:30am.
  • SEC Open Commission Meeting at 10:00am.
  • Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 10:30am.
  • Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week: Wal-Mart and Hewlett-Packard reporting

Analyst initiations: TWTC, VRGY and EAT

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Time Warner Telecom, Verigy and Brinker were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • Friedman Billings expects Time Warner Telecom (NASDAQ: TWTC) to post free cash flow growth above consensus expectations and believes carrier spending-concerns are overdone. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $20 target.
  • Oppenheimer initiated Verigy (NASDAQ: VRGY) with a Perform rating and $23 target, pointing to the company's tough year over year comps as PC unit growth slows in 2008 as well as its exposure to flash memory chips.
  • Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was assumed with a Neutral rating at Suntrust, as they expect Chili's to continue to be impacted by weak consumer spending.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
  • Baird assumed Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA) with an Outperform rating and $18 target.
  • Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF) was initiated at Jefferies with a Hold rating and $10-$11 target.
  • Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Morgan Keegan.

Market highlights for next week

Monday, March 3
Tuesday, March 4
  • PDUFA date for MGI Pharma's sNDA for Aloxi for Post-Operative Vomiting. Note that MGI was bought by Eisai Co., Ltd. (OTC: ESALY).
  • Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:00am.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week

Market highlights for next week: TiVo (TIVO), Novell (NOVL) to report

Monday August 27
Tuesday August 28
Wednesday August 29
  • TiVo Inc (NASDAQ: TIVO) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 5pm.
  • Novell Inc (NASDAQ: NOVL) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 5pm.
Thursday August 30
Friday August 31
  • Blyth Inc (NYSE: BTH) to hold Investor Q&A conference call at 2pm.

Analyst initiations: AKAM, BBBY, MFE and WSM

MOST NOTEWORTHY: VMware (VMW), Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Williams-Sonoma (WSM), Landstar System (LSTR) and Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) were the noteworthy initiations:
  • Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on VMware (NYSE: VMW) with a Neutral rating citing valuation.
  • Citigroup started Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) with a Hold rating, and cited the increasing competitive environment, slowing square footage growth and the weak housing market.
  • Citigroup started Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) with a Sell rating and said the company has an inventory glut that could lead to markdown risk, there is raw material price inflation, and the weak housing market remains a material risk.
  • Wachovia is cautious on Landstar System's (NASDAQ: LSTR) near-term growth rates and difficult end markets, starting shares with a Market Perform rating.
  • Deutsche is positive on the potential of Acadia Pharmaceutical's (NASDAQ: ACAD) ACP-103 in schizophrenia, starting shares with a Buy rating...
OTHER INITIATIONS:
  • Raymond James initiated Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) with an Outperform and resumed coverage of McAfee (NYSE: MFE) with an Outperform rating.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Market highlights for next week: Same Store Sales numbers due out

Monday March 5
  • Landstar Systems Inc (NASDAQ: LSTR) to hold Q1 mid-quarter update conference call at 2pm.
  • Federal Reserve St Louis Bank President William Poole to speak at 11am, Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to speak at 2pm.
Tuesday March 6
  • International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT), a "global company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines and systems products," to hold its annual shareholder meeting at 1pm.
Wednesday March 7
  • Saks Inc (NYSE: SKS) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 10am.
  • PDUFA date for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) Humira, a Tumor Necrosis Factor blocker, which is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis.
  • PDUFA date for Merck and Co Incs (NYSE: MRK) Janumet, a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.
Thursday March 8
  • Monthly Same Store Sales to be reported by Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), Aeropostale Inc (NYSE: ARO), Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS), Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (NASDAQ: PSUN), Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) Nordstrom Inc (NYSE: JWN) and J.C. Penney Co Inc (NYSE: JCP).
Friday March 9
  • PDUFA date for Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) Cymbalta, a treatment for depression.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-154.4810,309.92
NASDAQ-37.612,138.44
S&P 500-5.23240.62

Last updated: November 27, 2009: 03:26 PM

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