Time and again SAP (SAP) has announced that its in-memory is a disruptive technology, which speeds up data storage and retrieval to unprecedented speeds. Traditionally SAP competes with Oracle (ORCL), Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce.com (CRM) and IBM (IBM) in the applications software market.

We maintain a $64.85 price estimate for SAP stock, which is about 15% higher than market price.

IBM (IBM) sells middleware software and technology services such as outsourcing and integration to large and medium-sized businesses worldwide, and competes with firms like Oracle (ORCL) and Red Hat (RHT). IBM is also among the global leaders in business systems and competes with hardware vendors like HP (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) in the server market, as well as storage firms like EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP) in the storage market.

Analyst Upgrades

• Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Boston Scientific (BSX) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Windstream (WIN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Expeditors (EXPD) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• A123 Systems (AONE) to neutral from underperform and Chesapeake Midstream (CHKM) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AvalonBay (AVB) to outperform from neutral and Post Properties (PPS) to neutral from underperform at Cowen.

We recently held a discussion with SAP (SAP) about the company's growth prospects, highlighting opportunities in on-premise, on-demand and enterprise mobile software markets (on-device). On-demand is a fast growth market, in which SAP competes with players like Salesforce.com (CRF), Oracle (ORCL) and Microsoft (MSFT).

We also discussed the prospects of in-memory technology and its potential advantages over traditional relational database technology, like competitor Oracle's Exadata machines.

It seems that cloud computing, which uses the Net to deliver applications, is a new trend. But some of the leaders have been in business for more than a decade. One is NetSuite (N). The company develops enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, which helps companies manage inventory, payroll and other key financial functions.

And NetSuite continues to see traction. In its latest earnings report, revenues increased 21% to $52.1 million. For the year, revenues came to $193.1 million. Operating income was $3.5 million for fourth quarter.

Technology giant Hewlett Packard Company (HPQ) will be reporting its fiscal fourth quarter results following the market close Monday, with analysts expecting to see earnings of $1.27 per share.

During the same period last year, the company had earnings of $1.14 per share.

There will definitely be a lot of attention paid to the company's quarterly report, but that does not have so much to do with the company's figures as it does with the company's new CEO, Leo Apotheker.

Analyst Upgrades

• Qualcomm (QCOM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• JPMorgan upgraded Allegheny Tech (ATI) to overweight from neutral.
• NetApp (NTAP) was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Estee Lauder (EL) was upgraded to perform from underperform at Oppenheimer.
• Citigroup upgraded Suntech (STP) to hold from sell.

For the past few years, the shares of SAP (SAP) have had little direction. While the company has solid cash flows and a massive customer base, the growth ramp has stalled. Of course, SAP is not alone. Other tech giants like Cisco (CSCO), Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT) have faced the same problem.

Yet, according to Bloomberg.com, SAP thinks it can rev things up again. How? Yes, the opportunity is China.

The mainstream media is overflowing with hyperventilating bears preaching about a depression. All fear-mongering aside, we see two very positive developments in the U.S. economy: retail and corporate spending.

1. Retail Spending

The International Council of Shopping Centers has announced that retail sales expanded at the highest pace since September 2006. Luxury retailers posted an eye-popping 8% rise in sales. Seems like consumption is our culture. Some people think the U.S. consumer has changed. Personally, I would never bet against the DNA of a tribe ... and ours is shopping. As my brother Derek said, "In the Great Depression we had bread lines. Now, there are Apple (AAPL) iPhone 4 lines." That is a mind-blowing distinction.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Varian Semi (VARI) to buy from hold following the company's Q2 results and raised its target for shares to $42 from $27.
• Baird upgraded CommScope (CTV) to outperform from neutral following the Q1 report, citing improved visibility and growth. The firm raised its price target to $39 from $28.
• Needham upgraded Build-A-Bear Workshop (BBW) to strong buy from buy. The firm is more positive on the stock following the company's Q1 results and keeps a $13 price target.
• Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Wynn Resorts (WYNN) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• UBS (UBS) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.