Analyst Upgrades

• SuperValu (SVU) to buy from hold at Hapoalim.
• Constellation Energy (CEG) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Doral Financial (DRL) to neutral from sell and ABB (ABB) to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.

Analyst Downgrades

• American Eagle (AEO) to neutral from buy at SunTrust.
• Tenet Healthcare (THC) to market perform from outperform at Wells Fargo.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEO, BK, HTGC, KFN, PLD, STT, SVU, THC, VPHM ...

Analyst Calls: AEO, BK, HTGC, KFN, PLD, STT, SVU, THC, VPHM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Ending the Week on a Positive (GE, GMCR, EPCT, TJX, THC, YOKU)

Closing Bell: Ending the Week on a Positive (GE, GMCR, EPCT, TJX, THC, YOKU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Option Traders Buying ProLogis Calls and LAN Airlines Puts

Option Traders Buying ProLogis Calls and LAN Airlines Puts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Novell Tops Bullish Volatility Skews; Wisconsin Energy Tops Bearish

Novell Tops Bullish Volatility Skews; Wisconsin Energy Tops Bearish originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Tenet Healthcare in Bidding War to Acquire Healthscope

Tenet Healthcare in Bidding War to Acquire Healthscope originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded JPMorgan (JPM) to buy from neutral and has a $50 price target on the stock. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Morgan Joseph upgraded Deere (DE) to buy from hold, citing strong U.S. demand for combines and tractors, favorable fundamentals in Brazil, and expectations for improved domestic construction-equipment demand. The firm has a $75 price target on the stock.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Venoco (VQ) to outperform from market perform to reflect increased confidence in the company's Monterey Shale potential.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Tenet Healthcare (THC) was upgraded to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Agnico-Eagle (AEM) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZO, CCL, CSIQ, DE, GSK, JPM, NILE, RCL, RL, THC, VQ ...

Analyst Calls: AZO, CCL, CSIQ, DE, GSK, JPM, NILE, RCL, RL, THC, VQ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ...

Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

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

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AOL, DG, NYT, POT, SLB, SNDK, XOM, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) reported that Q3 revenue was flat while earnings and cash flow declined.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings, helped by healthy gross margins.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) posted better-than-expected Q3 earnings with modest revenue growth.
• Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF) Q3 revenue missed estimates but earnings came in better than expected.
• Expeditors International of Washington Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPD) traded lower after its Q3 earnings miss.
• Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) beat earnings estimates in the week after the Google Navigation launch.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: CBS, Comcast, News Corp., Time Warner, UBS, Viacom ...

Earnings highlights: CBS, Comcast, News Corp., Time Warner, UBS, Viacom ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While the debate over health care reform rages on, hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) said Tuesday it swung to a loss in the third quarter, one day after health insurer Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) posted a 65% jump in its third-quarter profit.

Tenet said it lost $3 million, or a penny per share. That compares with a profit of $104 million, or 22 cents per share, a year earlier. But, Tenet reported a one-time gain of $140 million a year ago after selling investments.

Continue reading Tenet Healthcare swings to a Q3 loss; Humana profit jumps 65%

Tenet Healthcare swings to a Q3 loss; Humana profit jumps 65% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP) to Outperform from Market Perform as it believes the issuance of new common stock in exchange for outstanding preferred and trust preferred stock is a net positive. The firm has a $3.50 target on the stock.
• Merriman upgraded Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) to Buy from Neutral as if finds the currrent valuation compelling and believes the company should directly benefit from improving IT budgets. The firm thinks fair value is in the $9.11-$11.13 range.
• Kaufman Bros. upgraded Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) to Buy from Hold after its proprietary survey indicated the company is well positioned longer term. The firm finds the valuation on shares attractive at current levels and raised its target price to $53 from $48.
• Taleo (NASDAQ: TLEO) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Janney Montgomery.
• Boardwalk Pipeline (BWP) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Lloyds Banking (NYSE: LYG) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at RBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, CI, DIS, GPS, NFLX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, CI, DIS, GPS, NFLX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Baird upgraded Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $6 from $5 based on cost trends, valuation, and expectations the company can beat expectations over the next six months.
• Oppenheimer upgraded E-House (NYSE: EJ) to Outperform from Perform following the company's better-than-expected Q2 results. The firm has a price target of $27 on shares.
• JPMorgan upgraded Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) to Overweight from Neutral and has a $33 target on the stock. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade following the recent underperformance and expects the company's margins to expand as demand rebounds.
• Citigroup (NYSE: C) was upgraded to Buy from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Taubman Centers (NYSE: TCO) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Buy at Goldman.
• First Niagara (NASDAQ: FNFG) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Janney Montgomery.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMGN, AVY, C, FMCN, THC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMGN, AVY, C, FMCN, THC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded Sonus Networks (NASDAQ: SONS) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they find the risk/reward compelling at current levels. Jefferies has a $2 target on the stock.
  
• Dresdner upgraded HSBC (NYSE: HBC) to Buy from hold on valuation as they believe the dividend cut is fully priced in at current levels.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) to Neutral from Underweight on valuation as they recommend short positions take profits at current levels.
• Kellogg (K) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  
• RPM, Inc (NYSE: RPM) and Valspar (NYSE: VAL) were upgraded at KeyBanc to Buy from Hold.
  
• Omnicare (NYSE: OCR) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

• Jefferies downgraded Dune Energy (AXE: DNE) to Underperform from Hold to reflect weak commodity prices and the company's reduced financial flexibility. The firm lowered its target price to 10c from 30c.
• Baird downgraded NeuStar (NYSE: NSR) to Neutral from Outperform and lowered their target to $20 from $22 based on 2009 revenue concerns and the CFO's departure.
  
• UBS cut Viacom (NYSE: VIA) to Neutral from Buy and lowered its target to $18 from $27. The firm believes advertising declines will be worst than expected and that Film expectations are too high.
• Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) was lowered to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
  
• Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) and Tenet Healthcare (THC) were downgraded at Barclays to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  
• Cynosure (NASDAQ: CYNO) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.

• Keefe Bruyette believes Blackstone's (NYSE: BX) operating results and cash flow generation are likely to remain depressed well into 2009 given the weakening economy. The firm started shares with a Market Perform rating and $6 target.
  
• Oppenheimer views Brinks (NYSE: BCO) as a pure-play secure logistics company and feels it is well positioned to take advantage of a recent decline in acquisition prices. The firm has an Outperform rating and $32 target on the stock.
• Kellogg (NYSE: K) was initiated with a Buy rating and $52 target at Janney Montgomery.
• Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) was started at Barclays with an Equal Weight rating.
• Medco Health (NYSE: MHS) was initiated with a Market Perform rating and $59 target at Bernstein.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SONS, HBC, BKS, VIA, GG, K ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Barclays upgraded the Integrated Oil sector to Positive from Neutral citing valuations. Note that Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight based on valuation.
  
• After Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) reported that its 1H08 sales increased more than 200%, Stanford thinks that Force Protection could be poised for several new opportunities in 2009 and they believe the company's risk is already priced into the stock; the firm raised Force Protection to Hold from Sell.
  
• Cowen expects eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH) to benefit from the steady decline in employer-sponsored health insurance offered by small businesses and reduced regulatory risk, among other reasons. The firm upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral.
• Allied Capital (NYSE: ALD) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at BMO Capital.
  
• Caris upgraded Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ: CKEC) to Above Average from Average.
  
• International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE: IFF) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst calls: XOM, PHG, THC, BSX, CCI, ALD . . .

Analyst calls: XOM, PHG, THC, BSX, CCI, ALD . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) earnings prospects may have encouraged the machinist union to strike.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) Q3 results and weak guidance led shares to a new 52-week low.
• Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) lowered its Q3 earnings guidance below previous and analysts' forecasts.
• Dollar Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: DLLR) beat Q4 estimates and posted record 2008 results.
• Ericsson Telephone Co. (NASDAQ: ERIC) was downgraded because it could miss Q3 earnings expectations.
• Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL) topped Q3 expectations due to robust aerospace and defense markets.
• Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG) posted strong Q3 results due to a sharp increase in orders.
• Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) backed away somewhat from its previous 2008 earnings guidance.
• Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) earnings prospects for the next several quarters led to an analyst downgrade.
• MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR) mid quarter update warned of declining demand for chips.
• Navistar International Corp. (NYSE: NAV) was upgraded following a strong Q3 report.
• New York Times Co. (NYSE: NYT) ongoing losses haven't diminished Rupert Murdoch's interest in it.
• Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) warned that it would miss earnings estimates due in part to weak sales.
• Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: SNDA) better-than-expected Q2 led to an analyst upgrade.
• Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) Q2 earnings slipped while revenues rose, beating expectations.
• Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) Q3 results soared but cut its Q4 guidance.
• Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) was upgraded on its prospects for beating expectations.
• Terex Corp. (NYSE: TEX) warned that earnings for Q3 and Q4 would be lower than estimates.
• Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) posted better-than-expected Q2 results and offered full-year guidance.
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) reported its fourth straight quarterly loss, but it was smaller than expected.

Also, Jim Cramer discusses a decline in earnings resulting from a collapse of oil and oil services.

Upcoming quarterly reports include Korn/Ferry (NYSE: KFY), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), and Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., Take-Two, Tiffany, Staples, Kraft, Corning and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Goldman upgraded shares of BP Plc (NYSE: BP) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point.
  
• VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse citing its acquisition platform and international growth. The company's target was increased to $100 from $88.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Buy from Hold and increased its target to $8.50 from $7 to reflect increased confidence in the company's ability to beat expectations over the next 12 months and reduce its net debt.
• US Steel (NYSE: X) was raised to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.
  
• United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) was upgraded at UBS to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades:

Continue reading Analyst calls: BP, HD, SOLR, UTX, X, VOD . . .

Analyst calls: BP, HD, SOLR, UTX, X, VOD . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In this series, we take a look at the 25 stocks on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) that have turned in the worst performance during the past decade -- what went wrong, and what happens next.

Former hippies might notice that the ticker symbol for Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is also the acronym for the active compound in marijuana, but this apparent inattention to detail is likely the least of the company's concerns. When Tenet was formed in 1995, it was born out of a merger between American Medical International and scandal-plagued National Medical Enterprises. Executives at the newly reborn healthcare services company hoped that its new name would help erase any unpleasant investor associations with its previous incarnation.

What went wrong? At number 19 on our list of SPX losers, THC shed 73% of its value during the 10-year period ending June 30, 2008. Prior to a stomach-churning sell-off in the fall of 2002, the shares were entrenched in a near-vertical uptrend that peaked at $52.50. It seems that a seedy healthcare services company by any other name ...

October 2002 marked the stock's peak, as well as the beginning of its steep descent. First, the company reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that surpassed analysts' estimates by 2 cents per share. A few weeks later, Tenet was named co-defendant in a lawsuit filed by the widow of a man who'd accepted an artificial heart, which she alleged "stripped him of his human dignity." This relatively minor suit, worth just $100,000, wouldn't break THC -- but it nonetheless heralded the beginning of the end. Toward the end of the month, the shares tumbled sharply after an analyst downgraded Tenet and warned that it was too dependent on Medicare reimbursements from the government.

Continue reading Worst 10-year performers: Medicare fraud accusations catch up with Tenet Healthcare

Worst 10-year performers: Medicare fraud accusations catch up with Tenet Healthcare originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks to consider under $10 from CNBC

Stocks to consider under $10 from CNBC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Lehman upgraded shares of BP Plc (NYSE:BP) to Equal Weight from Underweight on valuation and positive benefits from the company's TNK joint venture in Russia.
  
• Lehman also upgraded Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC) to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing increased confidence the company can meet guidance following the company's analyst day.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) to Outperform from Market Perform as they believe flow trends have improved.

• Goldman added Allied Waste (NYSE:AW) to its Conviction Buy List.
  
• China Unicom (NYSE:CHU) and China Netcom (NYSE:CN) were raised to Hold from Sell at Deutsche Bank.
  
• UBS upgraded Ryland (NYSE:RYL) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: BP, THC and BEN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear upgraded Overseas Shipholding Group (NYSE: OSG) to Outperform from Peer Perform following its Q4 results, citing seasonal strength.
  
• Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) was upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies after quarterly operating trends showed signs of stabilization.
  
• Goldman raised Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX) to Buy from Neutral and added shares to their Conviction Buy List as they find the valuation attractive at current levels.

• UBS raised Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Goldman added El Paso Pipeline Partners (NYSE: EPB) to its Conviction Buy List.
  
• Royal Ahold (OTC: AHONY) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

Analyst upgrades: Overseas Shipholding, Tenet Healthcare, Luxottica originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.