MOST NOTEWORTHY: GTX Inc, Akeena Solar and NexMed were today's noteworthy initiations:
Rodman & Renshaw is positive on GTX Inc's (NASDAQ: GTXI) opportunity for Acapodene in prostate cancer and Ostarine for muscle wasting. The firm started shares with an Outperform rating and $22 target.
Akeena Solar (NASDAQ: AKNS) was initiated with a Buy rating at Merriman. The firm believes the company is positioned to generate a high margin recurring revenue stream through the licensing of its Andalay proprietary rack mounting system.
Roth Capital expects NexMed's (NASDAQ: NEXM) Phase III data for its antifungal Lamisil, expected in mid-2008, to be positive. The firm, which started NexMed with a Buy rating and $2.50 target, said early clinical data demonstrated a roughly 7-8X improvement in fungal reductions versus the competitive topical formulation sold as Penlac. The analyst said Phase III trial will admittedly have a different end point, but this data makes them bullish.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Micrus Endovascular and Acorda Therapeutics were today's noteworthy initiations:
Jefferies expects the quality gap between Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) and its peers will become more apparent in a weakening consumer environment. The firm started shares with a Buy rating and $110 target.
Micrus Endovascular (NASDAQ: MEND) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $20 target at Barrington, citing the company's strong product line, improving salesforce, leading market share position and their expectation for continued strong transition from clipping to coiling.
Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR) was assumed with an Overweight rating at JP Morgan, as they believe the company's Fampridine-SR for multiple sclerosis is a $500M + opportunity
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Stanford initiated Mariner Energy (NYSE: ME) with a Buy rating and $35 target.