Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup (C) to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Cubist Pharma (CBST) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Pentair (PNR) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Heritage Financial (HFWA) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• SL Green Realty (SLG) and Digital Realty (DLR) to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• MGM Resorts (MGM) to neutral from Sell at Janney Capital.
• Ciena (CIEN) to buy from neutral and Olin (OLN) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Mellanox (MLNX) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• ConocoPhillips (COP) and Canadian Natural (CNQ) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• IDEX (IEX) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Ctrip.com (CTRP) to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Linear Technology (LLTC) and Analog Devices (ADI) to hold from sell at Auriga.
• Quicksilver (KWK) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) to buy from hold based on recent weakness and leverage to a recovery. The firm raised its price target on UPS to $74 from $72 and on FedEx to $100 from $97.
• Bernstein upgraded Medicis (MRX) to outperform from market perform based on valuation and said the company has been executing well over the past few months. The firm has a $28 price target on the stock.
• Citigroup upgraded Weingarten Realty (WRI) to buy from hold, citing valuation and the company's improved balance sheet. The firm maintains a $24 price target for shares.
• Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) were upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.
• NextEra Energy (NEE) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.
• Nokia (NOK) was upgraded to neutral from reduce at WestLB.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMED, FDX, H, HD, HOT, LGF, LOW, MAR, MTB, MRX, NOK, UPS ...

Analyst Calls: AMED, FDX, H, HD, HOT, LGF, LOW, MAR, MTB, MRX, NOK, UPS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Stephens upgraded Martin Marietta (MLM) to overweight from equal weight on valuation and expectations that infrastructure and highway spending will increase. The firm raised its target on shares to $105 from $95.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Shutterfly (SFLY) to buy from neutral to reflect valuation and a reduced pricing overhang after Kodak (EK) raised its 4x6 prices. The firm raised its target on shares to $21 from $18.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Entropic Communications (ENTR) to overweight from market weight. The firm thinks the company is well-positioned for revenue growth in 2010, partly due to MoCA deployments from new customers and design wins for its silicon tuner product. The firm set a $5 target.
• T. Rowe Price (TROW) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Massey Energy (MEE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AOL, CKR, DKS, GEF, MLM, TROW ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AOL, CKR, DKS, GEF, MLM, TROW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Almost Family (NASDAQ: AFAM) is in the home health nursing service business and offers senior citizens in nine states an alternative to spending their days in nursing homes. As the aging Baby Boomer generation looks to keep a level of independence without sacrificing their level of care, Almost Family is a perfect fit.

Almost Family has been buying up local providers to grow its share of the highly fragmented market and increase its margins. Clearly, this strategy is working, as the company's earnings rose 55% to 68 cents per share, compared with 44 cents per share in the first quarter of 2008. What's more, AFAM's revenue increased by a whopping 77% to $69.2 million from $39 million. Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 60 cents per share on revenue of 63 million, so Almost Family posted a 13.3% earnings surprise and a 9.8% sales surprise.

Continue reading Small-cap stock #1: Almost Family (AFAM)

Small-cap stock #1: Almost Family (AFAM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Small-cap stocks are a GREAT place to start if you're serious about rebuilding your wealth and securing your financial future.

But what makes small-cap stocks so spectacular?

The bear market stripped analysts from small stocks -- hardly anyone is covering them anymore. This creates wonderful pricing anomalies and gives the individual investor a significant edge.

Continue reading 5 small-cap stocks to buy now

5 small-cap stocks to buy now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies believes Almost Family (NASDAQ: AFAM) will likely take advantage of the significant consolidation opportunity in home nursing. The firm started shares with a Buy rating and $26 target.
  
• Kevin Dann initiated Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE) with a Sell rating and $35 target and believes the upcoming growth deceleration in North America, Europe and Asia's developed regions could weigh on sales growth and further margin expansion.
  
• Ciber (NYSE: CBR) was assumed with a Buy rating and $9 target at Roth Capital, as they view the company as a compelling investment opportunity for value investors. The firm recommends building positions.

• BMO Capital initiated Bionovo (NASDAQ: BNVI) with a Market Perform rating.
  
• Goldman reinstated Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) with a Buy rating and $15 target.
  
• Canaccord Adams started Amalyin Pharma (NASDAQ: AMLN) with a Sell rating and $23 target.

Analyst initiations: AFAM, CBE and CBR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.