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.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• B. Riley assumed Schiff Nutrition (NYSE:WNI) with a Buy rating and $7.75 target. The firm believes downside is limited given the company's balance sheet and cash flows and sees opportunity for market share gains.
  
• Morgan Stanley initiated Siemens (NYSE:SI) with an Overweight rating and is positive on the company's revenue diversification and planned headcount reductions.
  
• Stanford believes Priceline.com (NASDAQ:PCLN) is positioned to benefit as consumers shift to the Internet and the company's bargain prices to make travel plans. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $140 target.

• Bank of America initiated Novellus (NASDAQ:NVLS) with a Sell rating, Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) and KLA-Tencor (NASDAQ:KLAC) with Buy ratings and Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) with a Neutral rating.
  
• ThinkPanmure assumed Smart Balance (NASDAQ:SMBL) with a Buy rating and $10 target.

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

• America's Car-Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) beat estimates by closing underperforming branches.
• Aristotle Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTL) fourth-quarter revenue edged up while earnings slipped.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) fourth-quarter profit plunged on bond insurance related write-downs.
• Boston Beer Co. Inc. (NYSE: SAM) fourth-quarter profit more than doubled as drinkers switch to craft beers.
• CAI International Inc. (NYSE: CAP) beat expectations fourth quarter and raised its guidance.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) offered encouraging guidance for the full year and long term.
• Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSL) beat estimates for the fourth quarter.
• Flow International Corp. (NASDAQ: FLOW) beat expectations, sending shares up sharply.
• Gehl Co. (NASDAQ: GEHL) fourth-quarter profit fell but beat expectations due to international growth.
• J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG) raised its full-year outlook, sending shares higher.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) beat fourth-quarter expectations though profit slumped due to inflation.
• Maidenform Brands Inc. (NYSE: MFB) beat fourth quarter estimates due to sourcing initiatives.
• Smart Balance Inc. (NASDAQ: SMBL) nearly doubled its fourth-quarter loss despite strong revenue growth.
• Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) posted a narrower-than-expected first-quarter loss.
• WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP) cut its first-quarter and full-year forecasts on higher expenses.

Both large-screen motion picture systems company Imax Corp. (NASDAQ: IMAX) and health food distributor Smart Balance Inc. (NASDAQ: SMBL) reported today widening losses in the fourth-quarter.

For the period that ended December 31, Toronto-based Imax reported a loss of $10.1 million, or 25 cents per share, compared with a loss of $9.2 million, or 23 cents per share, in the previous year. Excluding one-time charges, Imax's quarterly loss was 21 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected a loss of 13 cents per share. Fourth quarter revenue declined 12% to $32.3 million, largely on lower equipment and product sales.

Imax reported an annual loss of $26.9 million, or 67 cents per share, compared with a loss of $16.8 million, or 42 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts had expected a loss of 42 cents per share. Full-year revenue dropped 9% to $115.8 million.

Smart-Balance's quarterly loss totaled $48.5 million, or $1.41 per share, from $11.1 million, or 77 cents per share in the prior year. Revenue grew 26% from the year-ago quarter to $50.7 million, helped by higher prices and higher demand for Smart Balance spreads, peanut butter, cooking oil, and mayonnaise.

For the year, the company's net loss grew to $101.7 million, or $4.12 per share, from $13.8 million, or 96 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts had expected a loss of 80 cents per share. Revenue grew 28% to $175.6 million.

While Imax fell only about 1.8% to close at $6.62, Smart Balance fell more than 15% to close at $5.65, after hitting a new 52-week low of $5.48 in afternoon trading.

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup initiated Smart Balance (NASDAQ: SMBL) with a Hold rating and $9 target, as they believe success of the company's new products is not a foregone conclusion and prefers to wait for increased visibility before becoming more positive on the name.
  
• JP Morgan believes Cascal NV (NYSE: HOO) will leverage its global scale and expertise in water infrastructure markets to drive 25% annual EPS growth through 2010. The firm has an Overweight rating on the stock.
  
• Ashland (NYSE: ASH) was started with a Positive rating as Susquehanna, as they are positive on ASH's earnings power. The firm views shares as a compelling risk/reward opportunity.

• Broadpoint assumed SuccessFactors (NASDAQ: SFSF) with a Strong Buy rating and $12 target.
  
• Morgan Stanley initiated Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) with an Equal Weight rating and $40 target.
  
• RBC Capital started Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL) with a Sector Perform rating and $80 target.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies finds Ariad Pharma (NASDAQ:ARIA) compelling as they believe the market potential for deforolimus in cancer is being underappreciated. Jeffieries initiated Ariad with a Buy rating and $8 target.
  
• B. Riley assumed coverage of FNB Corp. NYSE:FNB) with a Neutral rating and $15 target and sees limited viable lending opportunities in the current economic environment.
  
• Wachovia initiated Fortune Brands (NYSE:FO) with an Outperform rating and is positive on the company's position in Spirits. The firm believes its Home business is weighted towards the less cyclical remodels business.

• William Blair initiated Smart Balance (NASDAQ:SMBL) with a Market Perform rating.
  
• Wachovia started PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) and Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD) with Market Perform ratings.