Analyst Upgrades

• Interpublic Group (IPG) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Radware (RDWR) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Fluor (FLR) and Waddell & Reed (WDR) to buy from hold, as well as AllianceBernstein (AB) to hold from sell, at Citigroup.
• MetroCorp (MCBI) and American Capital (AGNC) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• International Flavors (IFF) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• BioCryst (BCRX) and Southern Company (SO) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Bunge (BG) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AB, BG, CMG, CSCO, DF, EXPE, JLL, MU, NLSN, S, SO ...

Analyst Calls: AB, BG, CMG, CSCO, DF, EXPE, JLL, MU, NLSN, S, SO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Allscripts (MDRX) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and potential synergies from the company's pending merger with Eclipsys (ECLP). The firm upped its target price for shares to $20 from $19.
• SunTrust upgraded Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) to buy from neutral based on completion of its turnaround plan, stabilizing end markets and favorable comparisons. The firm has a $25 price target on the stock.
• Morgan Joseph upgraded C.R. Bard (BCR) to buy from hold based on valuation and upside to estimates from the share buyback program. The firm has a $97 price target on the stock.
• Shire (SHPGY) was upgraded to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.
• Onyx Pharma (ONXX) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• AvalonBay (AVB) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AVB, BCR, CREE, DAI, HRB, HSP, MDRX, NANO, NWL ...

Analyst Calls: AVB, BCR, CREE, DAI, HRB, HSP, MDRX, NANO, NWL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup upgraded Freeport McMoRan (FCX) to buy from hold to reflect valuation, as well as its increased forecasts for copper and aluminum. The firm raised its price target on shares to $95 from $85.
• Citigroup also upgraded Alcoa (AA) to buy from hold and reiterated a buy rating on Cliffs Natural (CLF).
• William Blair upgraded WESCO International (WCC) to outperform from market perform. The upgrade reflects the firm's belief that WESCO's sales trends will become increasingly positive from easy comparisons over the next 12 months.
• RBC Capital upgraded Thomson Reuters (TRI) to top pick from outperform. The firm sees attractive returns over the next 12 to 18 months as the company's headwinds subside, and it raised its target price on shares to $43 from $41.
• Motorola (MOT) was upgraded to hold from sell at Societe Generale.
• American Express (AXP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Schnitzer Steel (SCHN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AA, DE, DUK, FCX, HYS, MA, MOT, V ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AA, DE, DUK, FCX, HYS, MA, MOT, V ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYB) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect a new valuation framework. The firm raised its target on U.S. Bancorp to $21 from $14 and on New York Community Bancorp to $10 from $9.
• Stephens upgraded Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) to Overweight from Equal Weight to reflect the company's top-line growth prospects and reasonable expectations. The firm raised its target on shares to $14 from $8.
• Baird upgraded Athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $46 from $37 based on expectations for revenue and gross margin expansion, and relative valuation.
• Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
• Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE: PVH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Reliant Energy (NYSE: RRI) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation following the company's Q4 results but lowered its target on shares to $134 from $137.
• Citigroup upgraded Calpine (NYSE: CPN) to Buy from Hold on valuation following Wednesday's sell-off. The firm believes Harbinger's share sale reflects an issue with the shareholders, not with the company, and raised its price target on the stock to $16.50 from $13.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Knight Transportation (NYSE: KNX) to Neutral from Underperform and raised its target to $17 from $16 based on valuation and the improved freight environment.
• Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Buy at Goldman.
• Webster Financial (NYSE: WBS) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
• Dr. Reddy's Labs (NYSE: RDY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, AZO, BBBY, CAH, CPN, LLL, LTD ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, AZO, BBBY, CAH, CPN, LLL, LTD ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) to Hold from Sell following the company's Q2 results, believing the worst may be behind the company. Citi raised its target on shares to $24 from $18.
• Goldman upgraded AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN) to Buy from Neutral and raised its target to $13 from $6.50, citing improved merchandising and inventories.
• Baird upgraded TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) to Outperform from Underperform and raised its target to $12 from $9, citing the better-than-expected Q2 report and guidance, strong balance sheet, and valuation.
• F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Sanmina (NASDAQ: SANM) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, CS, MCO, NRG, RHT, TJX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, CS, MCO, NRG, RHT, TJX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American Capital Agency Corp. (NASDAQ: AGNC) earnings prospects earned it an analyst's upgrade.
• Broadpoint Securities Group Inc. (NASDAQ: BPSG) earnings prospects improved with recent acquisitions.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) was upgraded on the belief that its fiscal year outlook is too conservative.
• Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) earnings prospects resulted in an upgrade from JPMorgan.
• Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) Q1 profit and same-store sales fell and it offered a weak outlook.
• Movado Group Inc. (NYSE: MOV) bested Q1 expectations and forecast a considerable profit for the full year.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Clorox, Deutsche Bank, Movado, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments ...

Earnings highlights: Clorox, Deutsche Bank, Movado, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD) to Hold from Underperform on valuation as it believes concerns over the company's Impella heart pump are priced in at current levels. The firm lowered its target price to $7 from $8.
  
• Suntrust upgraded Somanetics (NASDAQ: SMTS) to Neutral from Reduce. The firm believes most of the risk is out of Somanetics shares and that the Q1 report could be a positive catalyst.
  
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded shares of Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) to Buy from Neutral on valuation and believes the company's revenue trends are improving.
• China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) and Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) were upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABMD, TI, DKS, SCHW ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABMD, TI, DKS, SCHW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies believes British Sky Broadcasting's (NYSE:BSY) exposure to discretionary household expenditure seems more dangerous than it is. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating.
  
• Oppenheimer assumed ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) with a Perform rating and said it is waiting for margins to re-accelerate before becoming more constructive on shares.
  
• Chordiant Software (NASDAQ: CHRD) was initiated at B. Riley with a Buy rating and $7 target and believes the recent sell-off is overdone.

• JMP Securities initiated American Capital (NASDAQ:AGNC) with an Outperform rating and $23 target.
  
• UBS assumed Omnicom Group (NASDAQ: OMC) and Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) with Neutral ratings and targets of $50 and $9.50, respectively.
  
• Real Goods Solar (NASDAQ: RSOL) was assumed at Broadpoint with a Buy rating and $10 target.

Analyst initiations: BSY, SOL and CHRD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JMP Securities said Monogram Biosciences (NASDAQ: MGRM) has a broad platform enabling it to develop multiple personalized medicine product offerings and has significant growth prospects from its HIV diagnostic business and its diagnostic test in oncology. Shares were initiated with an Outperform rating and $3.50 target.
  
• Jefferies assumed Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) with a Buy rating and $11 target. The firm believes the current valuation does not reflect the company's turnaround, which they believe is gaining traction.
  
• Friedman Billings initiated Blue Coat Systems (NASDAQ: BCSI) with a Market Perform rating and $18 target. The firm prefers to wait on the sidelines given the near-term headwinds from a difficult spending environment in North America and integration risks from the Packeteer acquisition.

• American Capital (NASDAQ: AGNC) was initiated at Merrill with a Buy rating and at RBC Capital with an Outperform rating and $32 target.
  
• UBS assumed Quality Systems (NASDAQ: QSII) with a Buy rating and $39 target.
• HSBC initiated Daimler AG (NYSE: DAI) with an Overweight rating.

Analyst initiations: MGRM, IPG and BCSI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.