Analyst Upgrades

• Deere (DE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• American Eagle (AEO) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• FedEx (FDX) and Shaw (SJR) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Superior Energy (SPN) and Rowan Cos. (RDC) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Tesoro (TSO) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Mechel (MTL) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• SunPower (SPWRA), LDK Solar (LDK) and First Solar (FSLR) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Ford (F) to buy from hold and raised its price target to $19.50 from $14.50, citing positive demand trends, sustainable market share gains and strong cash flow.
• BMO Capital upgraded MGM Resorts (MGM) to outperform from market perform with an $18 target, citing stabilizing metrics in Las Vegas.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded TRW Automotive (TRW) to buy from hold, citing better-than-expected production trends, and raised its price target for shares to $52 from $39.
• Dr. Reddy's Labs (RDY) was upgraded to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Pulte Group (PHM) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS and $8.50 price target.
• Vodafone (VOD) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Nomura.

Analyst upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) to Buy from Hold on valuation as it views the risk/reward as favorable at current levels. Deutsche raised its target price to $41.50 from $38.
  
• FBR Capigal upgraded Charlotte Russe (NASDAQ:CHIC) to Outperform from Market Perform following the company's Q2 results on expectations merchandise improvements and cost-cutting efforts will drive continued margin expansion. The firm raised its target on shares to $15 from $10.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Fidelity National (NYS:FIS) to Outperform from Perform as it believes the Metavante (MV) acquisition makes strategic sense and the stock's risk/reward is favorable. The firm's target price is $25.
• First American (NYSE:FAF) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• Nokia (NYSE:NOK) was raised to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
  
• Parker-Hannifin NYSE:(PH) was lifted at Wachovia to Outperform from Market Perform.

It doesn't take a Harvard mathematician or a Wall Street investment banker to realize we're in the era of high energy prices.

One way to compensate for the increased energy cost: consider an investment in an oil/oil services company whose fortunes are directly linked to the world's most vital commodity -- oil. With this in mind, Superior Energy is worth a review.

Superior Energy Services (NYSE: SPN) provides specialized oil field services to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Gulf Coast. The company also sells and rents oil/gas well drill equipment and tools on four continents.

In general, analysts like SPN's rental tools and intervention services businesses, and the fact that SPN's services help oil/gas companies maintain production during seasonal down periods, which anesthetizes SPN somewhat from commodity price volatility.

Further, international expansion opportunities are promising: analysts say additional SPN expansion abroad will lessen the earnings impact of a downturn in key Gulf of Mexico operations. The Reuters F2008/F2009 EPS consensus estimates for SPN are $4.09/$4.84.

The risks? Reduced demand for SPN's production-oriented services and/or a large, sustained decline in energy prices, particularly oil, would hurt SPN's results. Don't look for the latter anytime soon.

The First Call mean rating for SPN is: Buy. [5 firms.] Mean 2008 target: $60. [high: $66, low: $56.]

Stock Analysis: Superior Energy Services is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than two years should be rewarded from SPN's shares. Sell/Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $38.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

Readers of this space know that one argument forwarded here is that in the era of elevated energy prices the oil/natural gas services sector is likely to remain strong for the foreseeable future, barring the discovery of cheap, widely-available alternative energy. And among oil/natural gas services companies, Superior Energy Services is worth a review.

Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: SPN) provides specialized oil field services to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Gulf Coast. The company also sells and rents oil/gas well drill equipment and tools on four continents.

In general, analysts like SPN's rental tools and intervention services businesses, and the fact that SPN's services help oil/gas companies maintain production during seasonal down periods, which anesthetizes SPN somewhat from commodity price volatility.

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKNS): A recent licensing deal is still pushing shares up. It hit 52-week high of $15.65 against period low of $2.97.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NASDAQ: TEVA): TEVA recently got an FDA green light on new generic nausea drug. It's up to $49.08 from 52-week low of $30.81.

Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: SPN): Superior won a major contract to repair Gulf drill rigs. It jumped to $44.70 from 52-week low of $28.20.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON): Monsanto posted outstanding financial results. It traded up up to $123 from 52-week low of $49.10.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY): The market is mad for energy stocks. This one climbed up to $80.93 from 52-week low of $42.06.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) is reportedly attempting to tighten its financial reporting procedures, the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported. The auto maker is under investigation by the SEC and a federal grand jury for its accounting of transactions as far back as 2000.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is in talks with India's Reliance Industries for a joint venture that would enable Dow to reduce its exposure to commodity products and gain access to cheaper raw materials. Indian newspapers report that a deal could lead to a full takeover by Reliance.

OTHER PAPERS:

• According to the Korea Economic Daily, citing an unnamed Posco ADS (NYSE: PKX) executive, a senior Arcelor Mittal Steel Company (NYSE: MT) executive expressed interest in Posco's merger plans. Posco denied the report, saying "There was no discussion on issues related to M&A when the Mittal executive met Posco CEO last month," according to the Economic Times.
• The Independent reported that Imperial Tobacco Group plc (NYSE: ITY) has made a GBP7.6B bid for the Franco-Spanish tobacco company Altadis. The private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is also reported to have interest in acquiring Altadis. An Imperial-Altadis merger could derail a hostile bid by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
  
• BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section mentioned Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE: NEM), CB Richard Ellis Group Inc (NYSE: CBG) and Superior Energy Services Inc (NYSE: SPN) positively.
• Which gold producer will shine brightest? Newmont Mining "is the one," says Vincent Carrino, Chief of Brookhaven Capital Management, which has loaded up on its stock.
  
• Douglas Roberts at Channel Capital Research Institute doesn't see the Fed cutting rates soon, and hence he likes CB Richard Ellis Group.
• Superior Energy Services aims to be everything to oil-and-gas explorers in the Gulf of Mexico, and in most cases it is. "Superior can't keep up with the tremendous demand for its repair and recovery services, which will provide strong growth through the end of the decade," says Martin Sass, CEO of MDSass, which owns a 1.2% stake.