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.

"Industrials stocks focus on the manufacturing, transport and construction of physical goods and heavy infrastructure," says Elliott Gue.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "The best in the sector share one key trait: powerful leverage to a global economic recovery led by growth in the emerging markets and renewed spending on basic infrastructure across the developed world. The S&P 500 Industrials has outperformed the broader market by 20% during the past year."

Continue reading ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains

ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"It is estimated that countries around the world are set to spend between $25 and $30 trillion of fresh infrastructure investment over the next two decades," says Keith Fitz-Gerald.

In his The Money Map Report, he explains, "As the de facto global leader providing all things related to power and automation technology, ABB Ltd. (ABB) is poised to potentially ride a 20-year wave of extraordinary profits."

Continue reading ABB (ABB): Decades of Growth for Infrastructure Leader

ABB (ABB): Decades of Growth for Infrastructure Leader originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"President Obama has stated that he's been studying Roosevelt's first 100 days and the way out of the current economic mess will look a lot like the New Deal," says David Fessler.

The advisory panelist for The Oxford Club explains, "Seventy-five years after Roosevelt's inauguration, I think we will soon see President Obama get the ball rolling on his version of the New Deal, focused on two very specific areas: energy and infrastructure." Here, he looks at stocks poised to benefit.

"Saving energy will be one of his first initiatives. It's what will give us the quickest bang for our buck. Better insulation in homes, programmable thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, more fuel-efficient cars, energy management systems for use in larger-scale commercial buildings and beefed-up public transportation are just a few of the ways to save energy.

"The government will likely offer attractive tax incentives to rally support. So who stands to prosper from such initiatives?

"Big blue-chip companies, like Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), maker of insulated glass and building insulation; General Electric (NYSE: GE), manufacturer of wind turbines, energy control and infrastructure products; and Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI), maker of energy management systems (for buildings and vehicles) and hybrid vehicle batteries.

Continue reading Energy savers: Betting on Obama's new New Deal

Energy savers: Betting on Obama's new New Deal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"One theme that already seems likely to dominate the playbook for the Obama team is 'infrastructure plus' -- encompassing alternative energy, the environment, and health care," says Patrick DeSouza.

The contributing editor to Steven Leeb's The Complete Investor explains, "These priorities will translate into tremendous opportunities for well-situated firms in these areas." Here are some ideas:

"The Obama Administration is likely to link infrastructure with specific policy priorities such as alternative energies and environmental protection.

"In this way, it can launch public work ventures that create jobs while simultaneously fulfilling campaign promises to tackle climate change and resource degradation. Companies with crossover appeal-a foot in both infrastructure and environmental businesses- are the ones to look at.

"Fluor (NYSE: FLR) and General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- which are already holdings in our growth model portfolio -- both fit this bill, with diversified product lines that range from large-scale infrastructure engineering projects to alternative energy infrastructure to renewable power.

Continue reading Obama team targets infrastructure

Obama team targets infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The world is focused on an infrastructure buildout, and one of the best ways to capture that trend is with Zurich-based infrastructure giant ABB (NYSE: ABB)," says Keith Fitz-Gerald.

In The Money Map Report, he explains, "We've been recommending the stock throughout this crisis; and while its up 50% off its low, we believe the best is still to come."

"Chances are you'll be hearing a lot of talk about it in the years to come as governments around the world initiate massive domestic fixed asset programs to create jobs, and improve critical services such as power distribution.

"President-elect Obama is focused on infrastructure while China's $586 billion stimulus package is also aimed at infrastructure building.

"World leaders recognize that the one thing they need, that they can't afford to lose, and that their people can't do without, is power. And lots of it. And one of the best ways to capture that is with Zurich-based ABB.

Continue reading ABB (ABB): Power play on infrastructure buildout

ABB (ABB): Power play on infrastructure buildout originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Warren Buffett Proves He's Human
• Detroit Pleads for $25B in Federal Aid

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Shaw is actually cheap

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Shaw is actually cheap originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Q. Allan, how can investors protect themselves should the financial crisis in the US result in prolonged bear markets around the world?

A. Studies have shown the majority of returns from the stock market have been concentrated over a relatively few days, so it is important to have some exposure. My experience, though, has shown bear markets last longer than you think. Asset allocation is particularly important and I would increase cash from my bond allocation rather than from my stocks. Now is the time to buy really high-quality stocks at attractive prices, those that have sustainable advantages, or what Morningstar calls "moats."

Morningstar borrowed the concept of a moat from Warren Buffett. Just as a moat around a castle protected the castle from invaders, a company's moat protects the firm from competition. Moats can be generated from being the low-cost producer; having intangible assets, such as patents or other unique intellectual property; and high switching costs that make it uneconomical to change to another product or service. All of these improve a firm's ability to compete as well as earn returns above its cost of capital.

Continue reading Global Q&A: Investing During a Global Crisis

Global Q&A: Investing During a Global Crisis originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE:MT) to Buy from Hold, as they believe the company's supplies of iron ore are likely to give it a comparative advantage over competitors.
  
• OmniVision (NASDAQ:OVTI) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird. The firm said valuation already reflects a slowdown in the China mobile phone market and April quarter seasonality.
  
• ABB (NYSE:ABB) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at HSBC after good earnings from Siemens (NYSE:SI).

• Merrill upgraded Lukoil (LUKOY) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• JP Morgan raised Assured Guaranty (NYSE:AGO) to buy from Overweight.
  
• Piper upgraded Sunpower (NASDAQ:SPWR) and Compuware (NASDAQ:CPWR) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: MT, OVTI and ABB originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading ABB Ltd. (ABB) is electrifying the world

ABB Ltd. (ABB) is electrifying the world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear Stearns upgraded shares of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Outperform from Peer Perform, with a $36 target, after the quarterly results as they believe revenue growth is sustainable and diversified. Bear expects Cisco to benefit from significant new product cycles over the next two years and believes investments in emerging markets are beginning to pay off.
  

• Merriman upgraded Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the improved outlook at their top customer, Cisco.

• Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Stifel, as the firm expects shares to remain range bound.

• Pali Capital raised shares of Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) to Buy from Neutral with a $55 target on valuation as they believe the bad news is already priced in.

• Cascade (NYSE: CAE) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Rodman & Renshaw on valuation.

• Warner Music (NYSE: WMG) was upgraded to Buy from Sell with a $13 target at Citigroup.

• Citigroup also upgraded shares of Copa Holdings (NYSE: CPA) to Buy from Hold with a $71 target.

• Baird upgraded shares of Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) to Outperform from Neutral on valuation.

• Computer Sciences (NYSE: CSC) was raised to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies on valuation and improvement in bookings.

• Morgan Stanley upgraded ABB Ltd (NYSE: ABB) to Overweight from Equal Weight.

Analyst upgrades 8-08-07: BBY, CSCO, THC and WMG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer finishes up his European stock picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Another Cramer pick in Europe: Siemens AG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.