Analyst Upgrades

• Barclays upgraded Western Digital (WDC) to overweight from equal weight.
• LDK Solar (LDK) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• Legg Mason (LM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Agilent (A) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Dean Foods (DF) to outperform from market perform and Developers Diversified (DDR) to market perform from underperform.
• Deutsche Bank also upgraded Developers Diversified, to buy from hold.
• Northrop Grumman (NOC) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• MYR Group (MYRG) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: A, CQB, DDR, DF, LDK, NOC, RIMM, S, STRA, TTM, WDC ...

Analyst Calls: A, CQB, DDR, DF, LDK, NOC, RIMM, S, STRA, TTM, WDC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Allscripts (MDRX) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and potential synergies from the company's pending merger with Eclipsys (ECLP). The firm upped its target price for shares to $20 from $19.
• SunTrust upgraded Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) to buy from neutral based on completion of its turnaround plan, stabilizing end markets and favorable comparisons. The firm has a $25 price target on the stock.
• Morgan Joseph upgraded C.R. Bard (BCR) to buy from hold based on valuation and upside to estimates from the share buyback program. The firm has a $97 price target on the stock.
• Shire (SHPGY) was upgraded to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.
• Onyx Pharma (ONXX) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• AvalonBay (AVB) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AVB, BCR, CREE, DAI, HRB, HSP, MDRX, NANO, NWL ...

Analyst Calls: AVB, BCR, CREE, DAI, HRB, HSP, MDRX, NANO, NWL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Drug Trial Fails

Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Drug Trial Fails originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Ball (NYSE: BLL) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $45 from $41 as they believe recent capacity closures will be positive for beverage can operating rates.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) to Buy from Hold on valuation and the company's plans to preserve cash.
• ThinkPanmure upgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Accumulate from Sell and raised its target to $17 from $12 citing trough earnings in 2009 and lowered expectations.
• Viacom B (NYSE: VIA.B) was added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
  
• Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Onyx Pharma (NASDAQ: ONXX) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst calls: RTP, INTC, VIA.B, TEF, BRCD, JBL, ERIC, CEPH ...

Analyst calls: RTP, INTC, VIA.B, TEF, BRCD, JBL, ERIC, CEPH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Intermune (NASDAQ: ITMN) closed at $13.41. ITMN-191/R7128 combination data in January 2009. ITMN's Pirfenidone (inhibits collagen synthesis) data is expected in Q1 of 2009. Robert Baird has a Neutral rating on ITMN. ITMN January option implied volatility is at 189; April is at 175; above its 26-week average of 136 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Onyx Pharma (NASDAQ: ONXX), a developer of cancer therapies, closed at $30.09. ONXX was raised to Overweight verses Neutral at JPMorgan. ONXX January option implied volatility of 76 is above its 26-week average of 69 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

OSI Pharma (NASDAQ: OSIP), a developer of cancer therapies, closed at $33.16. OSIP January option implied volatility is at 78, July is at 60. OSIP average option implied volatility over the last 26-weeks is 67 according to Track Data, suggesting larger near term risk with less outer month risk.

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

Options Update: Intermune volatility elevated into January results (ITMN, ONXX, OSIP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Can cancer drugs help pharma sales?

Can cancer drugs help pharma sales? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 May 2008 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors frequently like to chase "hot stocks." While not based on fundamentals, momentum investing does sometimes work as stocks that are "working today" frequently "work tomorrow" as well.

So, as 2008 is 1/6th done, it's time to look back at the highfliers from 2007 and see where they're trading today. As usual, the analysts at Bespoke Investment Group have some good data and charts for us.

In a post, titled "How the Best Have Done," Bespoke analyzes the best performing U.S. stocks of 2007 and tracks them into 2008. The results:

• First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), 2007's best performer, is down 21.86% year to date. See BloggingStock's Aaron Katsman's article on why he shorted this stock into the New Year.
  
• The second best, Onyx Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX), is down 49.51%.

While some solar stocks are down big in 2008 after a huge run-up in 2007, the big winners are heavily concentrated in materials, agriculture, and energy. BPZ Resources Inc. (AMEX: BZP) is the stock on the list that has done the best in 2008 -- rising another 44% so far this year.

Zack Miller is the managing editor of IsraelNewsletter.com and a former equity analyst for a leading multinational hedge fund.

'Hot' stocks: From the leader board to the doghouse originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Onyx Pharma (NASDAQ: ONXX) is recently is down $9.23 to $35.70 in pre-open trading.

ONXX and its partner Bayer halted Phase 3 trials of Nexavar and after the company reported a larger than expected Q4 loss.

ONXX overall option implied volatility of 63 is above its 26-week average of 57 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

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

Option update: Onyx Pharma volatility elevated into 20% pre-open sell off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Onyx Pharmaceuticals is finding new ways to treat cancer

Onyx Pharmaceuticals is finding new ways to treat cancer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: ONXX), a developer of cancer therapies, were up $2.40 to $51.75 in pre-open trading. ONXX released Q3 Nexavar sales of $105 million, beating Street expectations. Wachovia says, "With the ONXX/Bayer Nexavar joint venture touching profitability two quarters earlier than anticipated, we believe Street expectations for a Bayer acquisition of ONXX." ONXX has projected the next key clinical event will be in the 2nd half of 2008 for Phase 3 non-small cell lung cancer. ONXX over all option implied volatility of 58 is near its 26-week average of 55 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.

[Update: ONXX shares were recently (12:05 p.m.) up $9.02, or 18.28% to $58.37.]

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

Option update: Onyx Pharma volatility elevated with rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wall Street's equity market offers a modest plate this week, with three IPOs and four Secondaries on the docket.

Those deals tentatively scheduled to price include:

IPOs:

Tuesday

• Aldabra 2 Acquisition (ALL.U), a 30M-share IPO for this business finance company. Lazard is the lead manager. Filing price: $10.00
• Sterlite Industries (SLT), a 125M-share IPO for this India-based metals company. Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are the lead managers. Filing price: $13.85.

Thursday

• Care Investment Trust (CRE), an 18.75M-share IPO for this business finance company. Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch are the lead managers. Filing range: $15.00-$17.00.

Continue reading IPO & secondary preview -- Week of June 18, 2007

IPO & secondary preview -- Week of June 18, 2007 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer's ASCO biotech picks, and how to handle Apple originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Credit Suisse upgraded the cable and satellite sector to Market Weight based on cable's solid long-term strategic position, attractive valuations and expectations that new industry that new industry consolidation will continue. Additionally, the firm upgraded Mediacom Communications Corp (NASDAQ: MCCC) to Outperform from Market Perform and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) to Outperform from Underperform.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan, as the firm believes the company has reached an inflection point following the company's plans to cut capital expenditure by around $2.5B and return $15B to shareholders through a buyback program. Wachovia upgraded shares of Wal-Mart to Outperform from Market Perform citing management's plans to slow U.S. store growth, reduce cap-ex and increase share buybacks. Morgan Stanley upgraded Wal-Mart to Overweight from Equal Weight and to Overweight from Neutral at HSBC.
  
• Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC World Markets to reflect optimism on the company's product portfolio and margin progress. They believe the company's focus on margins and not share should lead to a higher long-term margin model.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) to Outperform from Peer Perform, citing attractive risk/reward, shares of Universal Health Services Inc. (NYSE: UHS) to Peer Perform from Underperform based on expected near-term upside to estimates and Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX) to Outperform from Peer Perform.
• Merrill Lynch upgraded shares of Moody's Corp. (NYSE: MCO) to Neutral from Sell and shares of Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE: MBT) to Buy from Neutral.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded shares of NaviSite Inc. (NASDAQ: NAVI) to Overweight from Neutral citing valuation.

Analyst upgrades 6-4-07: Wal-Mart's quad upgrade, MOT, SIRI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Genentech ... no longer cuts it at ASCO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX up 1.17 to 10.44.

Applied Materials Inc.-(NASDAQ:AMAT) option prices suggests risk levels below average into EPS.

Applied Materials is expected to report EPS of .27 cents tonight after the close. Stifel Nicolaus has a buy rating with a $23 price target on Applied Materials. AMAT February straddle is priced at .85 above its theoretical value of .47 cents. Applied Materials March option implied volatility of 32 is near its 26-week average of 30 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Nvidia Corporation -(NASDAQ:NVDA) option prices suggests risk levels are flat into EPS & Outlook

Nvidia, a designer, developer and marketer of graphic processing units, is expected to report EPS of .42 cents tonight. American Technology Research says "Nvidia is very well positioned entering in 2007 given its favorable exposure to the PC segment entering a large upgrade cycle, favorable exposure to the gaming segment with PS3 ready to ship high volume, and increasing share in the consumer mobile segment." Nvidia February straddle is priced at $2.15, above its theoretical value of 41.49. NVDA March option implied volatility of 45 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting reduced risk levels after EPS.

Option volume leaders today were: Alcoa (NYSE:AA), Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ), AK Steel (NYSE:AKS), RadioShack Corp. (NYSE:RSH), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) and Onyx Pharma (NASDAQ:ONXX).

Daily Option Update - February 13, 2007 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Following the acquisition by Tenaris SA ADS (NYSE: TS), Hydril Corp (HASDAQ: HYDL) was downgraded by Lehman Brothers to Underweight from Overweight, to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns and to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.

• Circuit City Stores (NYSE: CC) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy on valuation at Goldman Sachs.

• Merrill Lynch downgraded Ford Motor Corp (NYSE: F) to Sell from Neutral citing the recent strength of its shares.

• Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) was taken down to Hold from Buy on valuation.

• Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc (NASDAQ: MFLX) was downgraded to Strong Sell from Strong Buy at Matrix USA, as the firm believes strong competition is eroding sales growth.

• Hansen Natural Corp (NASDAQ: HANS) was downgraded by both Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan to Neutral from Buy on valuation.

• Citigroup cut Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc (NYSE: CCE) to Hold from Buy citing the difficult CSD environment, especially relative to Buy-rated Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG). The firm considers Pepsi Bottling to be better-positioned than Coca-Cola Enterprises.

• Freidman Billings downgraded Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ONXX) to Underperform from Market Perform on valuation.

Analyst downgrades 2-13-07: Ford, Circuit City and Alcoa downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer notes WMG as the worst earnings report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Nokia (NOK) and Pfizer (PFE) topped today's list of downgrades.

• Prudential downgraded Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) to Neutral from Overweight to reflect what they believe will be a slowing of the handset market in 2007, as well as the company's pending legal battle with Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM).
• Following the unexpected halt of Torcetrapib, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was downgraded by a multitude of companies: At Lehman, to Underweight from Overweight; at JP Morgan, to Neural from Overweight; at Merrill Lynch, to Neutral from Buy; and at Morgan Stanley, to Equal Weight from Overweight.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ONXX) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Prudential following the failure of their Phase III melanoma trial.
• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Markets; the firm expects limited near-term revenue momentum from integration risks and internal/external uncertainties.
• ThinkEquity downgraded Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:NVLS) to Accumulate from Buy, as they believe Novellus is no longer deeply undervalued and only expects a gradual margin expansion from here.

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

Analyst downgrades 12-4-06: Pfizer's quad downgrade originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Onyx Pharmaceuticals (ONXX) and CommVault (CVLT) top the list of today's initiations.

• Citigroup started Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONXX) with a Hold rating and $22 target as the broker expects shares to be range bound until clarity is given into the company's cancer indications. A bunch firms initiated recent IPO CommVault Systems this morning, including IPO managers First Boston and Goldman Sachs.
• Goldman started shares of CommVault Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVLT) with a Buy and $21 target, and added shares to its prestigious Conviction Buy List, as they expect the company to benefit from relationships with DELL and HDS. First Boston is more lukewarm on the name, starting shares with a Neutral rating and the same target of $21. Other firms' imitating the stock this morning was Merrill Lynch with a Buy, and Thomas Weisel and RBC Capital with Outperform ratings.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Caris initiated three retail names this morning: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEOS), Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD) and Men's Wearhouse, Inc. (NYSE:MW). The broker favors Limited and Men's Wearhouse with Above Average ratings, thinking inventory and cost management can bring margin expansion. Caris is less excited about American Eagle, starting shares with an Average rating, believing shares are fairly valued at current levels.

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

Analyst initiations 11-1-06: CommVault initiated by four firms originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.