Analyst upgrades:

• Janney Montgomery upgraded Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, viewing the recent weakness as a buying opportunity. The firm has a $19 target on the stock.
• UBS upgraded Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL) to Buy from Neutral due to customer Broder's improved liquidity and the improved outlook for margins.
• RBC Capital upgraded State Street (NYSE: STT) to Top Pick from Outperform and raised its target to $55 from $40. The analyst said the $2B capital raise addresses TCE ratio concerns and large unrealized losses in the investment portfolio.
• Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
• Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) was upgraded to Buy from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.
• M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WTR, GIL, STT, EHTH, AKZOY, MEOH, UTHR and HGG

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WTR, GIL, STT, EHTH, AKZOY, MEOH, UTHR and HGG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In The Oberweis Report, growth expert Jim Oberweis. Jr. sees upside for risk-oriented investors in two diagnostics firms: Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) and Thoratec (NASDAQ: THOR).

"Myriad develops molecular diagnostic products focused in the area of predictive caner diagnostics. It currently sells five genetic tests (and just recently announced the launch of a 6th test in December) focused on cancer and women's health.

"The bulk of their revenues currently come from their BRACAnalysis test for breast cancer. This test is the only one of its kind available to detect a faulty version of BRAC genes in women, which has been linked to significantly increased chances of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

Continue reading Diagnostics duo: Myriad (MYGN) and Thoratec (THOR)

Diagnostics duo: Myriad (MYGN) and Thoratec (THOR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Health care has long been considered a recession-resistant business. Given the current economic challenges, it's little surprise that in our survey of favorite stocks for the coming year, a number of leading advisors turned to this classic defensive sector.

In this year's Top Stock Picks from 75 advisors report, we found an intriguing group of medical-related stocks, from speculation in emerging biotech to well-established pharmaceutical firms, and from medical products makers to medical services firms focused on increasing health care efficiency and early disease detection.

Mike Cintolo, editor of The Cabot Market Letter, thinks Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) could be a "big winner in 2009," The company is a lead in the new field of cancer predisposition testing. For Mike's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Myriad Genetics.

Chuck Carlson, editor of The DRIP Investor, sees both quality and potential in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). For Chuck's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Continue reading Drug and health care stocks: The right prescription for 2009

Drug and health care stocks: The right prescription for 2009 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• DJIA 11,338.78 (-7.73)
• S&P500 1,279.21 (+0.83)
• NASDAQ 2,292.98 (-22.65)
• 10YR T-Note 3.979% (-0.011%)
• TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bulls win small victory; Bears win 3 quarters in a row

Closing Bell: Bulls win small victory; Bears win 3 quarters in a row originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ:MYGN) is recently down $5.48 to $42.25 in pre-open trading. MYGN's Flurizan, a treatment for Alzheimer's diseases, had negative Phase 3 results. RBC Capital has a 12-month forward target of $37 on MYGN. MYGN July option implied volatility of 102 was above its 26-week average of 71 according to Track Data, suggesting larger July price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update; Myriad Genetics volatility Elevated into disappointing Alzheimer's data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) is recently up $1.52 to $48.15.

MYGN's Flurizan, a treatment for Alzheimer's diseases is expected release top-line results in late soon.

MYGN call option volume of 8,246 contracts compares to put volume of 3,437 contracts. MYGN July option implied volatility is at 118; August is at 92; above its 26-week average of 68 according to Track Data, suggesting larger July price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Myriad Genetics July volatility at 118 into Alzheimer's data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Small Cap BioTech sector top today's small list of initiations.

• The Bank of America initiated five companies within the Small Cap BioTech sector:
• Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), Array BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY), Nuvelo, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVO) and Keryx BioPharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:KERX) with Buy ratings
• and Dendreon Corp (NASDAQ:DNDN) with a Neutral rating.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) was resumed with a Market Perform at Wachovia on valuation
• and Century Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTY) was initiated with a Hold at Morgan Joseph on valuation.

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

Analyst initiations 11-2-06: Small Cap BioTech sector initiated originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.