The stock of cutting-edge natural gas engine manufacturer Westport Innovations (WPRT), which I first wrote about on March 19, 2010 at a price of $15.43, has meandered in a $15-17 range for about nine, save one dip to $14.20, but that in no way changes the bullish evaluation in this neck of the woods.

Note: I consider Westport to be a high-risk stock not suitable for low-risk/moderate-risk investors.

Westport develops high-performance internal combustion engines and fuel systems that run on natural gas, biomethane, and hydrogen.

Further, the view from here argues that WPRT is on to something regarding transportation fuel. Could the modern world be on the verge of a paradigm shift as it relates to truck fuel? Westport argues it's on the cutting edge of a structural change in transportation fuel use.

Cutting-edge gas engine manufacturer Westport Innovations (WPRT), which I first wrote about on March 19, 2010, at a price of $15.43, has seen its shares meander near $15 to $17 for the past six months, but that in no way detracts from the promising long-term view.

Note: I consider Westport to be a high-risk stock not suitable for low-risk/moderate-risk investors.

Westport develops high-performance internal combustion engines and fuel systems that run on natural gas, biomethane, and hydrogen.

Analyst Upgrades

• State Street (STT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Roth Capital upgraded Intel (INTC), Marvell Technology (MRVL) and Nvidia (NVDA) to buy from neutral.
• Bebe Stores (BEBE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.
• W&T Offshore (WTI) was upgraded to buy from accumulate at Global Hunter.
• Citigroup upgraded International Rectifier (IRF) and Timberland (TBL) to hold from sell.
• Watson Pharma (WPI) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Atmel (ATML) was upgraded to strong buy from buy at Needham.
• Ashford Hospitality (AHT) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Oppenheimer upgraded MetroPCS (PCS) to outperform from perform.

I first wrote about Westport Innovations (WPRT) on March 19, 2010, at a price of $15.43. Its shares have meandered for the past threes months, but I still like the shares. Here's why.

(Note: I consider Westport to be a high-risk stock not suitable for low-risk/moderate-risk investors.)

Westport develops high-performance internal combustion engine and fuel systems that run on natural gas, biomethane, and hydrogen.

If you are looking for clues to tell you which stocks have a good chance of increasing in value, you might want to watch what insiders are doing. After all, talk is cheap, but when insiders put their own money on the line, you should sit up and take note.

Westport Innovations Inc. (WPRT) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending July 9 as insiders snapped up 500,000 shares of company stock at a market value of $9,280,046. During the past six months, insiders have increased their overall holdings in the company by 160.45% and now own 12.67% of WPRT stock.

As the United States and BP Plc (BP) struggle to plug the largest off-shore oil leak and spill in modern U.S. history, perhaps policymakers will take another look at alternate fuels, such as natural gas. And if they do, Westport Innovations (WPRT), which I first wrote about on March 19, 2010, at a price of $15.43, stands to benefit.

Westport develops high-performance internal combustion engine and fuel systems that run on natural gas, biomethane, and hydrogen.

Note: I consider Westport to be a high-risk stock not suitable for low-risk/moderate-risk investors.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Cisco (CSCO) to buy from hold, citing the company's improving strategic position in data centers.
• Blue Nile (NILE) was raised to buy from hold by Citigroup due to the recent pullback in shares.
• DuPont Fabros (DFT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS, which said that said fundamentals in the data center space have been improving.
• Baird upgraded Sterling Bancshares (SBIB) to neutral from underperform based on valuation.
• Goldman Sachs upgraded Bristol-Myers (BMY) to buy from neutral.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) was raised to conviction buy from buy by Goldman.
• Jefferies upgraded Celgene (CELG) to buy from hold.

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities upgraded Boston Properties (BXP) to outperform from market perform and has an $89 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on near-term catalysts that include, the potential start of 1msf of development in Midtown, investments, and selection as 1 World Trade Center project manager.
• Baird upgraded Bucyrus (BUCY) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation and an a more favorable view of the Terex Mining acquisition. The firm has an $83 price target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Warner Chilcott (WCRX) to buy from hold and has a $30 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and conservative guidance.
• AmeriCredit (ACF) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Rio Tinto (RTP) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.

Readers of this space know that the investment tack preferred here tilts toward demonstrated business models. But every once in a while, an exception is made, Westport Innovations (WPRT) is one, and is worth a review.

Note: I consider Westport to be a high-risk stock not suitable for low-risk/moderate-risk investors.

Westport is hoping is it on the cutting edge of a structural change in transportation fuel use. Already common as a fuel for home heat, electric power generation, and for commercial use, natural gas' next hurdle -- perhaps its biggest hurdle -- concerns its use as a vehicle fuel. True, we're seeing more and more natural gas buses on America's roads, but that's just a smidgen of vehicle fuel consumption.

Readers of this space know that the preferred public policy has stance has the United States moving away from first dependency on oil imports, then dependency on oil, period.

And the reason is obvious enough: as convenient as oil has been, it's created havoc for the U.S. economy, via series of oil shocks. Hence, yours truly is always in search of that breakthrough, universal, accessible, affordable energy form that will final break oil's grip on the United States energy system. That breakthrough energy form has not appeared yet, but one that may contend for that title is natural gas.