Analyst upgrades:

• Stephens upgraded Emergency Medical Services (NYSE: EMS) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation as they believe shares are undervalued at current levels. The firm has a $42 target on the stock.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Buy from Hold ahead of the company's earnings report as they expect the results to provide confidence in the dividend.
  
• Baird upgraded CoPart (NASDAQ: CPRT) to Outperform from Neutral due to the defensive nature of the salvage auction market, strong balance sheet, and potential growth beyond salvage and outside the U.S.
• First Financial (NASDAQ: FFBC) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• GPC Biotech (NASDAQ: GPCB) was upgraded at Piper Jaffray to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Lukoil, ENI SpA and Meritage were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Lukoil (OTC: LUKOY) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the company's oil production, refineries and gas stations outside of Russia are not priced into shares.
  
• ABN Amro raised ENI SpA (NYSE: E) to Hold from Sell after a meeting with management.
  
• Meritage (NYSE: MTH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS on strong results.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Morgan Stanley upgraded Corporate Executive (NASDAQ: EXBD) to Equal Weight from Underweight.
  
• Trico Marine Services (NASDAQ: TRMA) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman.
  
• Holly Corp. (NYSE: HOC) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at BMO Capital.

Even though tomorrow is a holiday in the U.S., there are a handful of companies planning to report quarterly earnings nonetheless. Perhaps some may be trying to keep a low profile; others may simply not be concerned with the American holiday schedule. Regardless, here's a quick peek at some of those companies, with the consensus earnings per share estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial compared to the previous quarter and year-ago quarter, the share price at the close on Friday (with charts behind the links), and consensus recommedations.

• Constellation Energy Partners (NYSE: CEP). Est. EPS: .48; Prev. Q.: .31; Yr-ago: .51; Shares: $19.63; Rec.: Strong buy.
• Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings (NYSE: FSR). Est. EPS: .66; Prev. Q.: .68; Shares: $13.19; Rec.: Hold.
• Natco Group Inc. (NYSE: NTG). Est. EPS: .69; Prev. Q.: .63; Yr-ago: .57; Shares: $44.46; Rec.: Buy.
• PharMerica Corp. (NYSE: PMC). Est. EPS: .08; Prev. Q.: .06; Shares: $13.86; Rec.: Hold.
• Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE: STC). Est. EPS: -.04; Prev. Q.: -.79; Yr-ago: .59; Shares: $32.49; Rec.: Hold.
• Trico Marine Services Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMA). Est. EPS: .77; Prev. Q.: .87; Yr-ago: 1.07; Shares: $31.92; Rec.: Buy.

UPDATED: Constellation reported .13 EPS; Flagstone reported .60 EPS; Natco reported .66 EPS; PharMerica reported .09 EPS; Stewart reported -1.74 EPS; and Trico Marine reported 2.08 EPS.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: UBS AG, Commerzbank , Trico Marine Services, Optimal Group and Mediacom were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation, as they believe the risk/reward is now attractive.
• Commerzbank AG (OTC: CRZBY) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley, as they believe the company has eliminated much of the uncertainty on asset quality.
• Jefferies upgraded shares of Trico Marine Services Inc (NASDAQ: TRMA) to Buy from Hold and raised their target to $46 from $40 to reflect the growth potential brought on by the company's purchase of Active Subsea ASA.
• B. Riley raised its rating on Optimal Group Inc (NASDAQ: OPMR) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the company's proven management team, acquisition of WowWee and strong balance sheet.
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Mediacom Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: MCCC) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent pullback, as they now think the stock is oversold. Citigroup thinks Mediacom will generate free cash in 2008 and they like the pace of buybacks.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) to Buy from Hold.
• UBS upgraded UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Wachovia raised Performance Food Group Company (NASDAQ: PFGC) to Outperform from Market Perform.