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Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AOL, DG, NYT, POT, SLB, SNDK, XOM, YHOO ...

Eric Buscemi — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST

Analyst Upgrades

Barclays upgraded Schlumberger (SLB) to overweight from equal weight based on its deep management team, financial strength and increased exploration activity. The firm raised its target to $73 from $64.
ThinkEquity upgraded SanDisk (SNDK) to buy from hold based on expectations for a solid 2010 with better NAND pricing trends, leaner channel inventories and lack of new fabs slated in 2010, among other reasons. The firm has a $35 target on the stock.
Keefe Bruyette upgraded Pinnacle Financial (PNFP) to outperform from market perform, citing the company's strong management and balance sheet. The firm has a $16.50 price target on the stock.
Watson Pharma (WPI) was raised to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
New York Times (NYT) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Wells Fargo.
Tenet Healthcare (THC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.

Eric Buscemi — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:31:00 EST

Analyst upgrades:

UBS upgraded Safeway (NYSE:SWY) to Buy from Neutral based on valuation.
AthroCare (NASDAQ:ARTC) was raised to Neutral from Negative at Susquehanna on valuation.
BT Group (NYSE:BT) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP) was upgraded at Goldman to Buy from Neutral.
China Mobile (NYSE:CHL) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

Analyst downgrades:

Jefferies downgraded shares of Albany Molecular (NASDAQ:AMRI) to Underperform from Hold on concerns regarding the company's exposure to small biopharma as their checks suggest biopharmaceutical companies that rely on the capital markets to fund operations are cutting back significantly on R&D projects. The firm lowered their target to $8 from $10.
Baird downgraded Sirona Dental (NASDAQ:SIRO) to Neutral from Outperform and lowered their target to $15 from $21 due to lack of catalysts and better options in dental.
Stephens cut Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG) to Equal Weight from Overweight on the expectation that weaker volumes will lead to pricing pressure. The firm lowered their target to $24 from $36.
Teco Energy (NYSE:TE) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at KeyBanc.
RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ:RFMD) was lowered to Underperform from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
Energy Conversion (NASDAQ:ENER) was cut to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Laurie Pasternack — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Pioneer Natural, Genomic Health and Alphatec were today's noteworthy upgrades:

Citigroup upgraded shares of Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE: PXD) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent weakness.
Genomic Health Inc (NASDAQ: GHDX) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital, as they believe momentum for the company's Oncotype Dx test is building based on inclusion in new clinical guidelines and expanded reimbursement.
Alphatec Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: ATEC) was upgraded to Buy from Source of Funds at Think Equity, citing the new CEO's efforts to overhaul the company, which has positioned it for growth.

OTHER UPGRADES:

Intercontinental Exchange Inc (NYSE: ICE) was added to JP Morgan's Focus List.
Banc of America upgraded Sirona Dental Systems Inc (NASDAQ: SIRO) to Buy from Neutral.
Baird upgraded CommVault Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CVLT) to Outperform from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: PXD, GHDX and ATEC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.