Pretend we're still living in the 1960s for a minute, and imagine someone warning of a monopoly on organic and natural food. Everyone around laughing and pointing... Now cut to 2007 and the headline in the Wall Street Journal: "The FTC plans to file a lawsuit to block Whole Foods' $365 million purchase of Wild Oats over antitrust concerns..."

From steel to sustainably-farmed wheatgrass, this is how far we've come in our ability to monopolize something. Way to go U.S. of A.!

For the record, I think the Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ: WFMI) acquisition of Wild Oats Markets (NASDAQ: OATS) is a good thing. There is a plentiful supply of organic and natural produce and other products available at both small local cooperatives and farmer's markets and large supermarket chains -- in my opinion, tofu makers are not going to be outrageously squeezed. They're providing their products to enough outlets that it's hard for me to believe Whole Foods (even were it an evil monopolistic type of corporation) would create any pricing pressure. The FTC's blockage is on concerns of anticompetitive forces; will local chains like New Seasons and little scrappy cooperatives end up getting squeezed out? I can't imagine. If anything, the entrance of bigger fish like Wal-Mart Stores, Inc (NYSE: WMT), Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) and Kroger (NYSE: KR) are far more likely to create problems for organic and natural food suppliers than the kinder, gentler (and much, much smaller) Whole Foods.

But that's just my opinion, and investors have sent the stock down quite a bit on the news, $1.54 or 3.6% to $40.15. As for me, I'm putting in a 'buy' order right now.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Alltel (AT), Exelon (EXC) and STMicroelectronics (STM) top today's extensive list of downgrades.

• Alltel Corp. (NYSE:AT) was downgraded at Robert W. Baird to Neutral from Outperform, citing lower EBITDA and valuation.
• Exelon Corp. (NYSE:EXC) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup. The move came on lower expectations for growth at their ComEd unit.
• STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) was downgraded at Robert W. Baird to Neutral from Outperform citing weak NOR flash trends.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Whole Foods Markets, Inc. (NYSE:WFMI) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Markets on valuation.
• Finally, Prudential downgraded Timberland Co. (NYSE:TBL) to Underweight from Neutral citing management comments of continued earnings pressure.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).