• Jefferies upgraded Quicksilver (NYSE: KWK) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company has many options to resolve its liquidity crisis. The firm expects shares to move towards its $10 NAV estimate and raised its target price to $10 from $7.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) to Hold from Sell following the Q1 results as the company's margins are holding up better than previously thought. The firm raised its target price on shares to $31 from $21.
  
• Deutsche Bank also upgraded Universal Health (NYSE: UHS) following the company's better than expected Q1 results. Shares were lifted to Buy from Hold and the firm raised its target on the stock to $60 from $45.
• Barclays (NYSE: BCS) was raised to Buy from Reduce at Nomura.
  
• Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH) was lifted to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
  
• CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) was upgraded at Goldman to Conviction Buy from Buy.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: KWK, BCS, CVS, BAC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: KWK, BCS, CVS, BAC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• JMP Securities upgraded Vertex Pharma (NASDAQ: VRTX) to Outperform from Market Perform following better-than-expected interim data for telaprevir.
  
• Lazard Capital upgraded shares of Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) to Buy from Hold on valuation after their physician survey indicated solid sales growth in the company's MS franchise.
  
• Calyon upgraded Data Domain (NASDAQ: DDUP) to Add from Neutral based on positive channel checks and valuation.
• Goldman added Buckeye GP (NYSE: BGH) to the Conviction Buy List.
  
• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) was upgraded to Hold from Sell and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) was raised to Hold from Reduce at WestLB.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Cowen Group (NASDAQ: COWN) to OUtperform from Market Perform.

• Deutsche Bank downgraded shares of Lloyds TSB Group (NYSE: LYG) to Sell from Hold as they believe loan loss risk will outweigh synergies from the acquisition of HBOS (HBOOY).
  
• Citigroup downgraded shares of National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP) to Hold from Buy and removed the stock from the Top Picks Live List after the company announced July and August revenues and said pressure continues. The firm lowered their target to $20 from $28.

Continue reading Analyst calls: BIIB, ALU, LYG, MAR, HOT, JCP, MYL, CBS ...

Analyst calls: BIIB, ALU, LYG, MAR, HOT, JCP, MYL, CBS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Lehman downgraded Tronox (NYSE: TRX) to Underweight from Equal Weight citing increased costs in freight, process, and energy costs, and end market weakness.
  
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Willis Group (NYSE: WSH) to Hold from Buy as they believe the acquisition of Hilb, Rogal and Hobbs (NYSE: HRH) will limit margins and stock upside through 2009. Citigroup lowered their target price to $36 from $40.
  
• Morgan Keegan downgraded Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV) to Market Perform from Outperfrom citing concerns related to potential losses to the construction and development portfolio and a likely dividend cut.

• Tween Brands (NASDAQ: TWB) and Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) were downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Friedman Billings.
  
• Jefferies cut Asset Acceptance (NASDAQ: AACC) to Underperform from Hold.
  
• Merill downgraded Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH) to Underperform from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: TRX, WSH, SNV, TWB, GYMB, AACC, OEH originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Dick's Sporting (NYSE: DKS) to Buy from Hold based on valuation, margin expansion and increased visibility.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) was raised to Buy from Hold at WestLB on valuation following yesterday's sell-off. The firm feels investors need to look beyond 2008.
• Lehman upgraded shares of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Equal Weight from Underweight as they believe earnings momentum will be seen in the near-term.

• UBS upgraded Nova Chemical (NYSE: NCX) and Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH) to Buy from Neutral.
• Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Goldman upgraded AON Corp. (NYSE: AOC) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: DKS, ERIC and DT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.