Mindray Medical (MR - option chain) shares are rising today after the Chinese medical devices company announced preliminary 2010 results, saying it now expects fiscal-2010 revenues to come in at $703 million, up from a previous forecast of $700 million. Analysts have forecast 2010 revenue of $703.56 million. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on MR.

MR opened this morning at $28.05. So far today the stock has hit a low of $28.02 and a high of $29.04. As of 12:15, MR is trading at $28.25 up $1.20 (4.4%). The chart for MR looks neutral and S&P gives MR a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Analyst Upgrades

• RightNow (RNOW) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Vivo Participacoes (VIV) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Genesis Energy (GEL) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Analyst Downgrades

• First Community (FCBC) and WesBanco (WSBC) to hold from buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
• Dresser Rand (DRC) to neutral from buy at Global Hunter.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo believes Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) da Vinci procedures remain under penetrated and that consensus estimates are too low. The firm upgraded shares to outperform from market perform and raised its valuation range to $340 to $360.
• Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Westamerica (WABC) to buy from hold due to the company's FDIC-assisted acquisition of Sonoma Bank and what the firm sees as Westamerica's defensive nature. The firm set a $62 target on the stock.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Corning (GLW) to outperform from perform based on valuation and the belief that downward revisions have peaked. The firm has a $20 target on the stock.
• Quality Systems (QSII) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• OpenTable (OPEN) and Windstream (WIN) were upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman believes EOG Resources (EOG) can regain its premium multiple given its ability to find new horizontal liquids resource plays. The firm upgraded shares to conviction buy from buy and has a $129 price target on the stock.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Macerich (MAC) to buy from hold following the company's Q2 results and raised its target for shares to $47 from $45.
• Needham upgraded QuinStreet (QNST) to strong buy from buy, citing the strong Q4 report and valuation, and has a $20 target on the stock.
• Macy's (M) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Whole Foods (WFMI) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Texas Instruments (TXN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.

"We believe many outstanding buying opportunities are available among these undervalued foreign stocks; we screened the Zacks, Investors Business Daily, S&P and Value Line databases to find foreign companies with rapidly growing earnings," says J. Royden Ward.

The editor of Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Letter explains, "We believe these six companies offer excellent appreciation potential at reasonable prices: Lululemon Athletica (LULU), Mindray Medical (MR), Potash (POT), Seagate Technology (STX), Silver Wheaton (SLW) and Telefonica SA (TEF)."

"The Manning & Napier World Opportunities fund-rated five stars by Morningstar and ranked in the top one percentile for the past 10-year stretch-is a large-cap foreign blend fund that invests mainly in developed countries, particularly in Western Europe; thus its increasingly hefty stake in the relatively small Chinese technology company Mindray Medical International (MR), one of just two Chinese stocks it owns, is striking," suggests Stephen Leeb.

The editor of The Complete Investor explains, "The fund began accumulating Mindray shares in 2009's second quarter; as of November it owned 2.5 million shares, representing a 1.6 % weighting.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Mindray Medical International Limited (MR), a China-based medical devices firm, is our top investment idea for the coming year," says Alan Newman.

In his CrossCurrents newsletter, he notes, "The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and is one of many Chinese companies now specializing in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices worldwide.

Those surprised by the market's strength in recent weeks should be even more impressed with the rebound in China, where both their market and economy have proven among the most resilient in the world.

Global specialist Nicholas Vardy adds, "While the US markets are rising, Asian stocks are on fire." ETF expert Paul Tracy adds, "China funds have screamed to the top of the performance charts."

In large part, this strength is due to the country's stimulus program. Tracy points out, "To combat the sagging global economy, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao orchestrated a massive 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package.

This post is part of a special report, Global advisors look to China.

"Bull markets are born in the pits of despair; from current low stock prices and low PE valuations, the gains over the coming 5 to 10 years could be truly spectacular," says Tom Bishop.

In his BI Research, the small cap growth specialist looks at two stocks that are based in China and set to benefit from China's stimulus program: energy efficiency play, SmartHeat (NASDAQ: HEAT) and medical diagnostics firm, Mindray Medical (NYSE: MR).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Vale, Allos Therapeutics and Torchmark were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Lehman believes Vale (NYSE:RIO) is well-positioned to benefit from rising steel demand in emerging economies. The firm started shares with an Overweight rating and $45 target.
  
• Citigroup initiated Allos Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ALTH) with a Buy rating and $11 target and believes the company's lead drug PDX is likely to be the first FDA approved agent for peripheral T cell lymphoma.
  
• Friedman Billings expects Torchmark's (NYSE:TMK) sales to get back on track given increased recruiting, ongoing management initiatives, and the potential demise of Medicare Advantage. Shares were assumed with an Outperform rating and $72 target.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Baird initiated Navigant Consulting (NYSE:NCI) with an Outperform rating and $24 target.
  
• KeyBanc assumed Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE:IR) with a Buy rating and $49 target.
  
• Mindray Medical (NYSE:MR) and China Medical (NASDAQ:CMED) were initiated with Overweight ratings and targets of $50 and $54, respectively, at Morgan Stanley.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) Q2 profits declined on a glut of flash memory chips.
• Bally Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BYI) beat Q3 expectations and offered full-year guidance.
• Barclay's (NYSE: BCS) reported a big Q1 loss on credit-related write-downs.
• Constant Contact Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCT) saw big increases in Q1 revenues and in its customer base.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Q2 profits rose on international demand, but results just missed estimates.
• Fluor Corp.'s (NYSE: FLR) strong Q1 results are a signal for the energy sector, says Jim Cramer.
• Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) Q1 loss widened on the housing slump, but not as much as forecast.
• IndyMac Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: IMB) narrowed its loss but predicted it wouldn't see a profit in 2008.
• LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Q1 earnings topped forecasts and it raised its outlook.
• MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) reported a larger-than-expected Q1 loss due to write-downs.
• Mindray Medical International Ltd. (NYSE: MR) beat Q1 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) Q2 earnings were in line with analysts' expectations.
• ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: ONNN) beat Q1 expectations and raised its Q2 revenue forecast.
• RealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK) beat Q1 estimates and announced share buybacks and a spin off.
• Salary.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SLRY) missed Q1 forecasts, leading to analysts' downgrades.
• Sykes Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: SYKE) beat Q1 estimates and raised its Q2 and full-year forecast.
• Syniverse Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SVR) beat Q1 expectations on strength in "messaging and mobil data."
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) warned of lower Q2 profits and more "challenging times" ahead.
• Website Pros Inc. (NASDAQ: WSPI) reported flat earnings despite soaring revenues and operating income.

Mindray Medical International (NYSE: MR) is a Chinese manufacturer of medical equipment. It offers a variety of patient monitoring devices, diagnostic laboratory instruments and ultrasound imaging systems to clinics, hospitals and other health care providers in China and abroad. Mindray is headquartered in Shenzhen and operates sales/service offices in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 23 cents and revenues of $89.3 million. Analysts had been looking for 19 cents and $84.4 million. The CEO attributed success in the quarter to a high level of international activity and more the forty percent growth in domestic sales. Management also guided FY08 revenues to $560-$580 million ($454.88M consensus).

It's been tough for healthcare IPOs. But in the case of the debut of Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) (ticker info unavailable at posting), things are certainly more upbeat. The stock is up about 19% in today's heavy trading.

Masimo develops non-invasive patient monitoring products to improve patient care. The systems involve circuit boards and reusable sensors as well as sophisticated software.

Because of the effectiveness of the technology, Masimo has had lots of traction with customers. For example, the company's worldwide installed base is about 399,000 units. Masimo also has major OEM agreements with companies like GE Medical Systems, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), Philips Medical Systems and Mindray Medical International (NYSE: MR).

Last year, Masimo posted revenues of $155.1 million. In fact, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has been 41.6% over the past four years. The company is also profitable

Lead underwriters of the deal included Piper Jaffray, Deutsche Bank Securities, and Citi.

The prospectus is located at the SEC website. Also, if you want to see more recent IPO pricings, click here.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.