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Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BP, DIS, JCG, MOS, POT, PSUN ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral by Pali Capital, which cited low expectations, new CEO experience, and compelling risk/reward for the upgrade.
  • RBC Capital raised Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) to Outperform from Sector Perform, based on increased visibility into wireless networking products.
  • J. Crew (NYSE: JCG) was upgraded to Hold from Underperform by Needham after the company reported better-than-expected Q2 report and guidance.
  • RBC Capital raised Lundin Mining (NYSE: LMC) to Outperform from Sector Perform, citing updated copper forecasts and valuation.
  • Netezza (NYSE: NZ) was upgraded to Buy from Accumulate by ThinkEquity.
  • Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) was raised to Overweight from Neutral by JPMorgan.
  • Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral by Goldman.
  • Network Engines (NASDAQ: NENG) was raised to Buy from Hold by Cantor.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BP, DIS, JCG, MOS, POT, PSUN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ALU, AMED, BIIB, CP, NZ, TWX ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Natixis expects Alcatel-Lucent's (NYSE: ALU) results to improve in 2H09, driven by the CDMA segment and completion of Lucent integration. Shares were upgraded to Buy from Reduce.
  • RBC Capital upgraded Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP) to Outperform from Sector Perform and raised its target to $67 from $49. The firm expects a return to "normalized" operating environment driven by Potash and MetCoal.
  • Credit Suisse upgraded Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE: AMG) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $69 from $64. The firm cites valuation, potential upside from 2H09 deals, and expectations for positive 2H09 flows for the upgrade.
  • Kennametal (NYSE: KMT) coverage was assumed with a Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • Cardinal Financial (NASDAQ: CFNL) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
  • General Maritime (NYSE: GMR) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ALU, AMED, BIIB, CP, NZ, TWX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BBY, DAI, FTE, LOGM, RIMM ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Citigroup upgraded National Fuel (NYSE: NFG) to Hold from Sell to reflect better than expected drilling results for the company's Marcellus shale assets. Citi raised its target on shares to $43 from $42.
  • Baird upgraded Netezza (NYSE: NZ) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $14 from $7 based on the company's new product announcement and potential revenue acceleration.
  • JPMorgan upgraded Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm finds the valuation attractive following Liberty's better than expected Q2 results and set a $13 price target on the stock.
  • Marlin Business (NASDAQ: MRLN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair.
  • Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) was upgraded to Sell from Conviction Sell at Goldman.
  • Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BBY, DAI, FTE, LOGM, RIMM ...

Analyst calls: NZ, CEG, WSM, CBT, ELN ...

Analyst upgrades:
  • Merriman upgraded shares of Netezza (NYSE: NZ) to Buy from Neutral following the company's solid Q2 results as they believe it is well-positioned for strong operating results heading into 2H09.
  • JP Morgan raised Cabot (NYS: CBT) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm expects 2009 to be a better year given lower raw material costs and higher contract prices.
  • JP Morgan also upgraded Royal Ahold (OTC: AHONY) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation.
  • Liberty International (OTC: LBYIY) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Deutsche Bank.
  • BMO Capital upgraded Royal Bank (NYSE: RY) to Market Perform from Underperform and Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO) to Outperform from Market Perform.
Analyst downgrades:
  • Jefferies downgraded shares of Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) to Underperform on Hold on concerns the company will come under increasing pressure to issue equity. The firm lowered its target to $60 from $71.
  • Thomas Weisel downgraded Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) to Market Weight from Overweight citing continued macro pressures.
  • Wachovia has concerns that Kayne Anderson's (NYSE: KED) book value will be pressured by its investment in ProPetro Services, trading losses associated with SemGroup, and negative developments at Quest Midstream. The firm cut shares of Kayne to Market Perform from Outperform.
  • Energy Conversion (NASDAQ: ENER) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Piper.
  • Deutsche Bank cut International Paper (NYSE: IP) and Domtar (NYSE: UFS) to Hold from Buy.
  • H&E Equipment (NASDAQ: HEES) was lowered at Credit Suisse to Neutral from Outperform.
Analyst initiations:
  • Morgan Stanley yesterday initiated Elan Corp (NYSE: ELN) with an Overweight rating. The firm sees a low-probability of a Tysabri withdrawal.
  • ThinkPanmure views On Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) as a nice turnaround story with opportunities for shares gains in notebooks and consumer gaming platforms. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $14 target.
  • Petrohawk Energy (NYSE: HK) was assumed with an Outperform rating at Morgan Keegan.
  • Regency Energy (NASDAQ: RGNC) was initiated at Merrill Lynch with a Neutral rating.

Earnings highlights: Wal-Mart, Lehman Bros., Take-Two, Ciena, Trina Solar and others

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

See also: Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., National Semiconductor, Dr Pepper, Guess and others

Also, continued real estate losses are expected to hurt the quarterly reports of banks such as like Wachovia (NYSE: WB), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and National City (NYSE: NCC). And Steven Mallas wonders why Playboy (NYSE: PLA) shares have tanked since its last earnings report.

Upcoming results to watch for include Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), and Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Netezza Corporation (NZ): Shares cycle in bullish 'flag'

Netezza Corporation (NYSE: NZ) provides data warehouse appliances. The company's Netezza Performance Server integrates database, server, and storage platforms in a purpose-built unit to enable detailed queries and analyses of stored data. The firm serves data-intensive enterprises in telecommunications, e-business, retailing, financial services, analytic services and healthcare. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a major customer. IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) are competitors.

Netezza surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of three cents and revenues of $39.6 million. Analysts had been expecting two cents and $36.2 million. Management also guided FY09 revenues to $172 million, versus consensus of $166.65 million. Needham subsequently reiterated its "buy" rating on the issue.

Continue reading Netezza Corporation (NZ): Shares cycle in bullish 'flag'

Analyst initiations: V, BEAT and MOT

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Visa, Cardionet and Motorola were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • RBC initiated Visa Inc (NYSE: V) with an Outperform based on margin expansion opportunities, the secular growth story towards electronic payments, lack of credit risk, and international opportunities. Piper started Visa with a Neutral rating. While the firm believes that Visa should generate long-term earnings growth and free cash flow, the firm thinks that Visa's valuation has increased the risk that strong earnings growth may not meet investors' expectations. However, the firm believes that Visa can still post strong results despite the U.S. consumer slowdown. Goldman initiated Visa with a Buy rating and $90 target and Morgan Stanley started shares with an Equal Weight rating and $75 target.
  • Citigroup rated Cardionet Inc (NASDAQ: BEAT) a Buy, citing favorable arrhythmia monitoring trends. The firm has a $26 target on Cardionet.
  • Motorola Inc (NYSE: MOT) was assumed with an Equal Weight rating and $75 target at Morgan Stanley on valuation.
OTHER INITIATIONS:

Earnings highlights: Revised forecasts for Merck, Comcast, Target, ConAgra

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

Also, Brian White looks at how loss of market share contributed to Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ: DELL) recent results. Both Douglas McIntyre and Jim Cramer mull the effect on the cable industries of Comcast Corp.'s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) lowered guidance. And Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is among retailers warning about earnings in the current quarter.

Upcoming results to watch for include: H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), and Lehman Bros. (NYSE: LEH).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Netezza Corp. (NZ) shares defining bullish 'pennant' pattern

Netezza Corporation (NYSE: NZ) provides data warehouse appliances. The company's Netezza Performance Server integrates database, server, and storage platforms in a purpose-built unit to enable detailed queries and analyses of stored data. The firm serves companies in telecommunications, e-business, retail, financial services, analytic services, government and healthcare. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a major customer. IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) are competitors.

Netezza surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q3 EPS of four cents and revenues of $33.4 million. Analysts had been expecting breakeven earnings and revenues of $29.4 million. The company had no outstanding debt at the end of the quarter. Management also guided FY08 revenues to about $120 million ($115.37M consensus) and FY09 revenues to about $160 million ($149.53M consensus). Needham subsequently reiterated its "buy" rating on the issue and boosted its price target to $19. NZ shares popped on the news and then moved into the initial stage of a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Continue reading Netezza Corp. (NZ) shares defining bullish 'pennant' pattern

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+30.6910,464.40
NASDAQ+6.872,176.05
S&P 500+4.981,110.63

Last updated: November 25, 2009: 06:46 PM

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