It goes without saying that I favor the electric power generation sector, and among them, fewer are steadier than Connecticut-based Northeast Utilities (NU), hence I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company, first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $21.48.

Don't look for mega revenue growth or gargantuan customer gains with NU, just predictable, steady earnings growth, evenly split between the company's generating/distribution business and its transmission business; look for the company's transmission sector to play an increasing role in revenue growth, moving forward. NU serves about 1.9 million customers, primarily in Connecticut, but also in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Rare is the day I'll sell an electric power generation play. I'm reiterating my Buy rating for Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU), first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $21.48.

NU's business model is low-risk -- its electric unit primarily serves customers (1.9 million in all) in land-of-steady-habits Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and offers above-average total return, with only a modest downside risk. In this investing environment, that's impressive.

Readers of this space know that one of the preferred sectors is the electric power generation sector.

And the sector is favored for a reason that may not be obvious to all. Electricity via wind, solar, and nuclear generation is likely to play a large role in energy as climate change reduction, then elimination, becomes a societal goal. Electricity also remains a potential propulsion source for cars, particularly once oil resumes its inevitable climb. And with the above in mind, electric power generator Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) is worth a review.

Analyst upgrades:

• Argus upgraded CBRL Group (NASDAQ: CBRL) to Buy from Hold as it believes increased efficiency at Cracker Barrel will help to boost restaurant traffic and same-store sales. The firm has a $33 target on shares.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's blood-thinning drug Effient is on track for a Q2 U.S. launch. The firm raised its price target on shares to $41 from $36.
  
• Needham upgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Buy from Hold after recent channel checks suggested Intel's PC OEM orders are tracking better than expected. The firm expects Intel to keep prices and product mix stable, enabling margins to recover in Q2. Needham has an $18 target on INTC shares.
• SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) was raised at Jefferies to Buy from Hold.
  
• Taleo (NASDAQ: TLEO) was lifted to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Washington Post, Harvest Natural, Memc Electronic Materials and Boston Private Financial were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO to Buy from Hold to reflect the company's exposure to the counter-cyclical education division.
• Jefferies upgraded shares of Harvest Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: HNR) to Buy from Hold and raised their target to $17 from $11 after the company received final approval in the conversion to a mixed company. They note that conversion clears the way for renewed investment.
• Friedman Billings added Memc Electronic Materials Inc (NYSE: WFR) to its Top Picks List following its Q3 report and guidance as "solar wafer contracts," not including spot poly, are expected to increase from 15% of the total to 35%-40% in CY08 and greater than 50% in CY09.
• William Blair raised its rating on Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: BPFH) to Outperform from Market Perform after the better-than-expected Q3 results.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Goldman added Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) to its Conviction Buy List.
• NTT DoCoMo Inc (NYSE: DCM) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Citigroup and to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Cardinal Health Incorporated (NYSE: CAH) to Outperform from Neutral.
• Merrill upgraded Coca-Cola Femsa SA (NYSE: KOF) and Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) to Buy from Neutral.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Applix, Time Warner, Apple and Level 3 Communications were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Applix Inc (NASDAQ: APLX) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at First Albany and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey following the acquisition by Cognos Inc (NASDAQ: COGN).
• Time Warner Inc (NYSE: TWX) was downgrade to Neutral from Buy at Pali Capital. The firm has lost faith in Time Warner's executive management team and Board of Directors and feels the outlook for AOL is concerning.
• Gabelli downgraded Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares to Hold from Buy on iPhone concerns and valuation as they view the iPhone price cut as an indication that sales are not living up to management's expectations.
• Buckingham Research downgraded shares of Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) to Underperform from Neutral citing deterioration in demand for some key products.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• SL Green Realty (NYSE: SLG) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Lehman Brothers.
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Volkswagen AG (OTC: VLKAY) to Sell from Hold.
• Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
  
• JP Morgan downgraded Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) to Neutral from Overweight.
• Goldman Sachs downgraded Radiation Therapy Services Inc (NASDAQ: RTSX) to Neutral from Buy.