Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) higher Q3 earnings topped expectations but revenue was in line.
• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, but shares sold off.
• Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ATI) was downgraded on concerns about its Q4 guidance.
• Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) shares fell after it posted a deeper-than-expected quarterly loss.
• Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) fell victim to profit taking despite reporting better-than-expected earnings.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) better-than-expected Q3 earnings sent shares higher, despite a decline in revenue.

"The company has been around for more than 120 years. It currently operates in more than 130 countries, selling hundreds of products, including Ultane (an inhaled anesthetic), the anti-infective Biaxin XL, and TriCor and Niaspan to manage cholesterol.

"However, Abbott's biggest growth driver is Humira, a blockbuster drug that targets autoimmune disorders. The drug has received FDA approval to treat a number of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abbott Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: ABT) first-quarter profit soared on overseas demand for Humira.
• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) posted a bigger-than-expected loss, its sixth straight.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) posted better-than-expected first-quarter results on strength overseas.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) first-quarter profit soared on strong demand for grain, ethanol, and coal.
• eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) beat first-quarter expectations but the outlook was uninspiring.
• Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) first-quarter profit soared 42%, beating Wall Street estimates.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) first-quarter earnings slipped but exceeded expectations.
• Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) beat first-quarter estimates and offered a disappointing outlook.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT) missed first-quarter estimates on rising fuel prices.
• Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) first-quarter profit missed expectations and it warned of a coming decline.
• Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) first-quarter profits fell and missed analysts' expectations.
• Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS) lowered its second-quarter outlook.
• Royal Philips Electronics posted a bigger-than-expected fall in profit on weak North America TV sales.
• Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW) beat earnings estimates but shareholders were not impressed.
• Xerox Corp. (NYSE: XRX) posted a first-quarter loss that matched analysts' estimates.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Abbott Lab, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Micromet were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Wachovia upgraded Abbott Lab (NYSE: ABT) to Outperform from Market Perform as they believe their earlier concerns have been addressed. Past concerns included the potential for a negative outcome from the FDA panel on Xience and slowing prescription growth of lead drug Humira.
  
• Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) were raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette citing recent government actions to stabilize the mortgage markets.
  
• Micromet (NASDAQ: MITI) was upgraded at RBC Capital to Outperform from Sector Perform as they expect positive data for its lead candidate, MT103, by year-end.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• ThinkEquity raised Atheros Comm (NASDAQ: ATHR) to Buy from Accumulate.
  
• Goldman upgraded US Steel (NYSE: X) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• General Electric (NYSE: GE) was upgraded at Merrill to Buy from Neutral.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Abbott Labs, Barclays, SanDisk, Mission West Properties and Texas Instruments were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Wachovia downgraded shares of Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) to Market Perform from Outperform reflect several challenges to the company's key franchises. In particular, Wachovia cites the potential delay of the drug-eluting stent Xience launch in the U.S. and decelerating growth of Humira.
  
• ABN Amro downgraded shares of Barclays (NYSE: BCS) to Hold from Buy to reflect the capital markets, lower UK bank non-interest income and higher bad debts.
  
• Oppenheimer downgraded shares of SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) to Neutral from Buy as they expect many of the advantages that drove shares to unwind in Q4 and into 1H08.
  
• Mission West Properties (NYSE: MSW) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel, as they now believe the possibility of a sale is 50%/50% and could be pushed back to 1H08.
  
• Think Equity downgraded shares of Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to Source of Funds from Accumulate as they believe competition could hinder Q4 and 2008 growth for wireless.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Citigroup downgraded Xyratex Ltd (NASDAQ: XRTX) and Valueclick (NASDAQ: VCLK) to Hold from Buy.
  
• Piper downgraded Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ: NDAQ) to Market Perform from Outperform.
  
• Lehman downgraded Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp (NYSE: BNI) to Equal Weight from Overweight and CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) to Underweight from Equal Weight.
  
• UBS downgraded Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) to Neutral from Buy.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC), UAL Corp (UAUA), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Darden Restaurants (DRI) and the food industry were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) to Hold from Sell with a $36 target to reflect the Dolan's bid for the company.

• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) to Outperform from Neutral citing valuation and capacity reductions.

• Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman Brothers citing valuation and potential upside in the pharma business.

• Bear Stearns raised Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) to Outperform from Peer Perform citing the announcement of the divestiture of Smokey Bones, which takes away a drag on earnings.

• Wachovia upgraded the food industry to Overweight from Equal Weight, saying food companies are beginning to drive higher prices through the supply chain and yields look attractive.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Susquehanna upgraded Healthways, Inc (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Positive from Neutral.

• Matrix USA raised Waste Connections, Inc (NYSE: WCN) to Hold from Sell.

• Buckingham raised DSW Inc (NYSE: DSW) to Accumulate from Neutral with a $46 target.

• Dusa Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: DUSA) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Roth Capital.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Cemex ADS (NYSE: CX) to Buy from Hold with a $41 target.

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

Monday March 5

• Landstar Systems Inc (NASDAQ: LSTR) to hold Q1 mid-quarter update conference call at 2pm.
• Federal Reserve St Louis Bank President William Poole to speak at 11am, Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to speak at 2pm.

Tuesday March 6

• International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT), a "global company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines and systems products," to hold its annual shareholder meeting at 1pm.

Wednesday March 7

• Saks Inc (NYSE: SKS) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 10am.
• PDUFA date for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) Humira, a Tumor Necrosis Factor blocker, which is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis.
• PDUFA date for Merck and Co Incs (NYSE: MRK) Janumet, a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.

Thursday March 8

• Monthly Same Store Sales to be reported by Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), Aeropostale Inc (NYSE: ARO), Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS), Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (NASDAQ: PSUN), Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) Nordstrom Inc (NYSE: JWN) and J.C. Penney Co Inc (NYSE: JCP).

Friday March 9

• PDUFA date for Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) Cymbalta, a treatment for depression.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Bristol Myers Squibb Co (BMY), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc (KKD), Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc (MSO) and New Century Financial Corp (NEW) were some of today's more notable upgrades:

• UBS upgraded shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) to Buy from Neutral. The firm finds the recent pullback an attractive buying opportunity given the possibility of a takeover approach. The broker also believes BMY will likely win its Plavix patent case.

• CIBC resumed coverage of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc (NYSE: KKD) with a Sector Performer rating, up from its recent Underperformer rating, citing resolutions to numerous accounting and legal issues for the upgrade.

• Morgan Stanley upgraded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc (NYSE: MSO) to Equal Weight from Underweight.

• Bear Stearns upgraded New Century Financial Corp (NYSE: NEW) to Peer Perform from Underperform saying downside risk is limited to $10-$11, but sees upside if business stabilizes and liquidity improves...

OTHER UPGRADES:

• JP Morgan raised Eaton Vance Corp (NYSE: EV) to Neutral from Underweight to reflect the company's strong fund sales and continued capital returns to shareholders.

• AG Edwards replaced Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) on its Focus Portfolio, adding Chevron Corp (CVX) to reflect the company's improved financial strength and attractive valuation.

• Lehman Brothers upgraded Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) to Overweight from Equal-Weight with a $105 target based on the recent pullback in shares.

• Friedman Billings raised Hess Corp's (NYSE: HES) rating to Outperform from Market Perform, based on growth reserves and an improving outlook.

• Merrill Lynch upgraded Logitech International SA (NASDAQ: LOGI) to Buy from Neutral.

• Matrix upgraded Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) to Buy from Hold on valuation.

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