Continue reading Closing Bell: As Bulls Meet Skeptics (PALM, SIRI, CRM, CCE, KO, LAMR)

Closing Bell: As Bulls Meet Skeptics (PALM, SIRI, CRM, CCE, KO, LAMR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman believes Synthesis Energy Systems Inc (NASDAQ: SYMX) is well-positioned as it begins to leverage its exclusive global license for U-GAS technology and commences the deployment of its coal-to-methanol production facilities in China. The firm started shares with a Buy rating.
• Lamar Advertising Company (NASDAQ: LAMR) was initiated with a Buy rating and $51 target at Jefferies, as they believe shares are oversold at current levels.
• William Blair believes Urban Outfitters Inc (NASDAQ: URBN) will benefit from both strong sales and a steep margin recovery in the coming two years. The firm assumed coverage of Urban with an Outperform rating.

• Lehman started United Rentals Inc (NYSE: URI) with an Equal Weight rating and $22 target.
• Credit Suisse assumed coverage of Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX) with a Neutral rating.
• EPIQ Systems Inc (NASDAQ: EPIQ) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Wachovia.

Analyst initiations: Synthesis Energy, Lamar Advertising, Urban Outfitters originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Goldman Sachs downgraded the Semiconductor Production Equipment sector to Cautious from Neutral, citing expectations for weakness in NAND and DRAM in 2007; the firm also downgraded Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD), Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) and Credence Systems (NASDAQ: CMOS) to Sell from Neutral.

• General Motors (NYSE: GM) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Bank of America, telling clients it expects market share for the first-half of 2007 to be lower, along with a sharp fourth-quarter decline in new product volume due to overpricing.

• ThinkEquity also downgraded Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) to Sell from Buy with a $15 target, as they believe inventory in the channel is building and prices are falling; furthermore, the broker believes Advanced Micro has little opportunity of meeting the high expectations for margins it set on its recent analyst day.

• Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) was downgraded to Sell from Hold with a $34 target at Citigroup citing valuation that reflects aggressive long-term operating margins.

• Wachovia downgraded shares of Cox Radio 'A' (NYSE: CXR) to Underperform from Market Perform and recommended investors to swap out of Cox and into their top 2007 picks: Lamar Advertising 'A' (NASDAQ: LAMR) or Entravision Communication 'A' (NYSE: EVC).

Analyst downgrades 1-3-07: General Motors, Advanced Micro get cut originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer goes old media with Lamar billboards originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Video Game-makers and Apple (APPL) top today's list of initiations:

• Oppenheimer initiated THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and Activision Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) with Buy ratings and Electronics Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) with a Neutral rating and $60 target.
• Caris initiated Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) with an Above Average rating and $100 target; the firm considers Apple "a winner" in the consumer electronics space and sees two key catalysts for 2007: the iPhone and a wider-screen video iPod.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• American Tech initiated Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ENDP) with a Buy, and believes that Endo is positioned to benefit from both market share gains and overall market growth.
• RBC capital Markets initiated Restoration Hardware Inc. (NASDAQ:RSTO) with an Outperform rating and $12 target, saying that Restoration has reinvented its core brand and has multiple revenue growth opportunities.
• Jefferies believes Lamar Advertising Co. (NASDAQ:LAMR) digital transformation is driving higher revenues and expanding margins and initiated it with a Buy rating and $73 target.

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

Analyst initiations 12-7-06: Apple initiated with Above Average originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.