Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP) to outperform from sector perform with a $20 target. The firm thinks the units' valuation is compelling, while the company's proposed acquisition of assets is positive.
• Stifel upgraded First Horizon (FHN) to buy from hold based on valuation and its path towards normalized profitability. The firm has a $15 price target on the stock.
• KeyBanc upgraded Isle of Capri (ISLE) to buy from hold based on improved earnings growth and valuation. The firm has a $13 target on the stock.
• ATA Inc. (ATAI) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Buckeye Partners (BPL) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Sinopec (SNP) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ...

Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman Sachs upgraded BJ's Wholesale (BJ) to neutral from sell and has a $43 target on the stock. Note that private equity firm Green Equity took a 9.5% stake in the company. Shares were also upgraded at Jefferies to buy from hold.
• Stephens upgraded Covenant Transportation (CVTI) to overweight from equal weight after the company positively preannounced Q2 results. The firm raised its target for shares to $12 from $5.
• Leerink upgraded Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA) to outperform from market perform after the company signed a partnership deal with Eisai for U.S. commercialization rights to lorcaserin. The firm believes the deal removes a major concern and upped its target for shares to $6 from $5.
• Fortune Brands (FO) was upgraded to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• KeyBanc upgraded NiSource (NI) to buy from hold.
• Akzo Nobel (AKZOY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ARNA, ATLS, BJ, CTVI, FO, GRMN, IRET, NI, NS, SWN, VMI ...

Analyst Calls: ARNA, ATLS, BJ, CTVI, FO, GRMN, IRET, NI, NS, SWN, VMI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Energy prices are beginning to firm up again. And one opportunity we see in this sector is NuStar Energy (NS); there has been heavy insider buying here," says Mark Skousen.

In his High Income Alert, the advisor explains, "Insiders have purchased 622,000 shares of NuStar during the last six months. They have sold exactly none.

"Last month, for example, Director William Greehey of NuStar purchased 350,000 shares at $65.55, an investment of nearly $19.8 million. Directors Rodman Patton, Dan Hill and Jesse Bates have bought lately, too.

Continue reading NuStar (NS): Insiders Are Energized over Utility

NuStar (NS): Insiders Are Energized over Utility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What are the best buys among dividend-paying issues? In his Dividend Detective newsletter, Harry Domash focuses on for income-generating ideas for long-term investors.

Here, the advisor reviews some of his latest buys among master limited partnerships, preferreds and yield-oriented closed-end funds.

"Among energy partnerships, we're adding two new picks to the portfolio with a buy rating. First, NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS), currently yielding 8.4%, operates crude oil and refined product pipelines and associated facilities.

"NuStar recently acquired asphalt refining and terminal facilities, a business that's expected to boom once the government supported highway construction projects kick in.

Continue reading Dividend Detective's income favorites

Dividend Detective's income favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Cramer: Obama Hits the Right Notes, but Trouble Remains
• Banks Plagued by Capital Woes

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Banks are vital to the market's psyche

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Banks are vital to the market's psyche originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Sovereign Bancorp (NYSE: SOV) to Buy from Hold on their belief Sovereign will merge with Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) according to the terms on their October 13 agreement.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Hold from Underperform on valuation as they believe the capital infusion from Leonard Green limits downside risk. The company's target was raised to $11 from $9.50.
  
• Banc of America upgraded Max Capital (NASDAQ: MXGL) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, the company's strategic changes to lower earnings volatility and their belief it is well positioned to benefit from an improved P&C marketplace.
• Qimonda (NYSE: QI) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Cowen.
  
• Health Net (NYSE: HNT) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
  
• Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) was lifted to Market Perform from Underperform at Wachovia.

Continue reading Analyst calls: WFMI, SOV, STD, QI, NWS, ENS, GILD, ADBE

Analyst calls: WFMI, SOV, STD, QI, NWS, ENS, GILD, ADBE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS) is a publicly traded limited partnership, based in San Antonio, operating 9,063 miles of pipeline, 85 terminal facilities, four crude oil storage tank facilities and two asphalt refineries. The terminals offer pilotage, tug assistance and other ship services. The firm is one of the largest asphalt refiners and independent liquids terminal operators in the United States. It also operates facilities in the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. BP plc (NYSE: BP) is a major competitor

NuStar pleased investors late last month, when it announced that strong asphalt revenues were expected to generate Q3 earnings of at least $2.25 per share. The Street was looking for $1.55. The CEO noted that tight supply conditions were resulting in a significant increase in the margins for asphalt and intermediate products.

Continue reading NuStar Energy (NS): Shares form a bullish 'flag' pattern

NuStar Energy (NS): Shares form a bullish 'flag' pattern originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.