Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) to buy from hold based on valuation. The firm keeps a $39 target on the stock.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Kenexa (KNXA) to overweight from neutral, citing a strengthening of trends for the company. The firm has a $29 price target on the stock.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Gaylord Entertainment (GET) to buy from neutral on expectations the company will benefit from strong trends in 2011. The firm raised its target for shares to $35 from $32.50.
• MeadWestvaco (MWV) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• EADS (EADSY) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Mohawk (MHK) to overweight from neutral. The firm finds shares attractive following their recent underperformance and has a positive outlook for the building products space in 2010. JPMorgan has a $53.50 price target on the stock.
• Stephens upgraded Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX) to overweight from equal weight to reflect improving volume trends and the upcoming move of the company's Transport division from Japan to Guam, which it believes will serve as a positive catalyst. Stephens raised its target price on shares to $41 from $26.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Unum Group (UNM) to buy from hold as it believes an acceleration of growth and potential buybacks could serve as positive catalysts. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $25.
• News Corp. (NWS) was raised to neutral from sell at Pali Capital.
• CA Inc. (CA) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Pactiv (PTV) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Comprehensive insurance coverage involves disability income protection, as well as life and hospitalization considerations. There is a Chattanooga firm that is a particular specialist in that vital disability arena.

Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) is the largest provider of group and individual disability income protection insurance in the United States and the United Kingdom. The firm also has a portfolio of other products, including long-term care insurance, life insurance, employer and employee-paid group benefits, and disability management services. Unum helps protect more than 25 million working people and their families. Competitors include Aetna (NYSE: AET), Aflac (NYSE: AFL), American International Group (NYSE: AIG) and Cigna (NYSE: CI).

The firm pleased investors earlier in the month, when it reported Q1 EPS of 50 cents (ex-items). Analysts had been expecting 45 cents. Management also guided FY07 EPS to $1.91-$1.95, versus consensus of $1.86. The CEO noted that he was particularly encouraged by continued improvement in the group income protection line of business. Shares popped on the news and subsequently moved into a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with two "strong buys," six "holds" and five "sells." The UNM Price to Sales ratio (0.89), Price to Book ratio (1.27), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (6.94), EPS Growth rate (21.95%) and Revenue per Employee ($949.17k) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $16.15 and $28.20. A stop-loss of $23.60 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

The markets moved up mildly through yesterday's session to close with small gains, even though crude oil futures climbed 5% after reports of possible Saudi Oil cuts. Recreational goods along with independent oil and gas stocks were up while major airlines and consumer services stocks were down.

Align Technology Inc (NASDAQ:ALGN) jumped up $2.92 (21%) to $16.69 after topping forecasts. UnumProvident (NYSE:UNM) was up $2.09 (10.5%) to $22.02.

The NYSE had volume of 2.6 billion shares traded with 2,331 issues advancing while 970 declined for a gain of 66.84 points to close at 9,206.39. On the NASDAQ, 1.8 billion shares were traded, 1,840 stocks advanced and 1,195 declined for a loss of 7.55 points closing at 2,448.64.

Yesterday's list of most active stocks included Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) down $0.05 to close at $30.48, Motorola (NYSE: MOT) up $1.27 to $19.58 and Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ:SUNW) up $0.08 to $6.43. Investors traded Microsoft shares heavily after it launched the consumer versions of Windows Vista.

Today's put/call option volume ratio was a neutral 0.83 with 2.8 million puts and 3.4 million calls trading hands. Options on General Electric (NYSE:GE) were particularly active with the March $37.50 puts (GEOS) trading over 28,000 contracts. Options on Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) were active with the February 25 calls (DLQBE) trading over 22,000 contracts.

Looking at today's market action there are a number of economic reports due including GDP, Construction Spending, and EIA Petroleum Status report. Investors will also be reading the latest FED notes coming out at 2:15 PM EST. Stocks to watch tomorrow include Altria (NYSE:MO) and Boeing (NYSE: BA) both of which will be reporting earnings.

Kevin Kersten is an analyst with InvestorsObserver. DISCLOSURE NOTE: Mr. Kersten owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.