Analyst Upgrades

• Disney (DIS) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Pike Electric (PIKE) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Kindred Healthcare (KND) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• UBS (UBS) to hold from sell at Canaccord.
• Avery Dennison (AVY) and Take-Two (TTWO) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Mercer (MERC) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.

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

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) beat estimates on strong sales and higher profit margins.
• Baidu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) profit soared on strong revenue from online marketing.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) earnings and revenue surged in the fourth quarer.
• Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF) missed expectations on rising commodity costs and lower profit margins.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) posted better-than-expected profits as rising grain prices spurred demand.
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) posted solid results on cost savings and debt reduction.
• Insight Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: NSIT) beat expectations and raised its guidance.
• LECG (NASDAQ: XPRT) posted a net loss despite a slight increase in revenue in the fourth quarter.
• Loews Corp. (NYSE: LTR) missed estimates due to profit decline in its CNA Financial (NYSE: CNA) affiliate.
• Marsh & McLennan Inc. (NYSE: MMC) missed estimates on weakness in its insurance services business.
• Playboy Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: PLA) posted disappointing results on weakness in publishing and TV.
• Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) fourth-quarter and full-year results met estimates.
• Sierra Wireless Inc. (NASDAQ: SWIR) beat esimates on the launch of new product s.
• Taser International Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR) profits doubled, which was in line with expectations.
• Visteon Corp. (NYSE: VC) posted a fourth-quarter loss on restructuring costs and write-downs.
• Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WMI) beat espectations and offered 2008 guidance.
• Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (NYSE: WYN) earnings met expectations and were buoyed by lodging revenue.
• Zoltek Companies Inc. (NASDAQ: ZOLT) missed earnings estimates due to inventory buildup.

Upcoming results to watch for include Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX), Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI), MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM), JCPenney (NYSE: JCP), and Safeway (NYSE: SWY).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) is engaged in the development and marketing of wireless communications modems. Its products permit laptop computers, handheld mobile computing devices and vehicle-based systems to access wireless data and voice communications networks. Sierra's devices are used primarily by businesses and government organizations to enable their employees to connect with the Internet, e-mail, corporate intranets, remote databases, and computer-aided dispatch units. Customers include AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported Q4 EPS of 37 cents and revenues of $135.6 million. Analysts had been expecting 35 cents and $125.7 million. In discussing the solid quarter, the CEO pointed to the successful launch of new products. Management also guided Q1 EPS to 30 cents (28 cent consensus) and Q1 revenues to $136 million ($120.71M consensus). JMP Securities subsequently reiterated its "strong buy" recommendation.

As the nation and international markets move toward a world in which more information is available on mobile devices, look for Sierra Wireless to play an important role.

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) develops modems that enable PCs, notebook computers, and vehicles to communicate wirelessly.

Analysts really like Sierra's AirCard line of PC cards, which are designed for networks using the CDMA and GSM/GPRS wireless standards, and account for about 70% of the company's revenue.

Analysts also like the fact that Sierra was selected the most-preferred brand in wireless data cards segment, according to a poll by InfoTech. A solid North American client base adds to the mix. The Reuters F2008/F2009 EPS consensus estimates for SWIR are $1.39/$1.54.

The risks? Analysts are keeping an eye on Sierra's pricing decisions. Given competition, some price reductions could occur, but these must be minor to preserve SWIR's margins.

Stock Analysis: Sierra Wireless is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than 2 years should be rewarded from SWIR's shares. Sell / Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $8.

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.

Wireless modems connect people all over the world with mobile broadband networks that keep them in touch, informed, and productive from wherever they need to be. There is an outfit in Richmond, British Columbia that was instrumental in developing early wireless data devices and now its modems ship to some big name clients.

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) is engaged in the development and marketing of wireless communications modems. Its products permit laptop computers, handheld mobile computing devices and vehicle-based systems to access wireless data and voice communications networks. Sierra's devices are used primarily by businesses and government organizations to enable their employees to connect with the Internet, e-mail, corporate intranets, remote databases and computer-aided dispatch units. Customers include AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).