Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coca-Cola (KO) has more than $13 billion in cash.

The top five companies (according to market cap) are:

• Exxon Mobil (XOM): $398.3 billion
• Apple (AAPL): $309.0 billion
• Microsoft (MSFT): $237.5 billion
• General Electric (GE): $215.0 billion
• Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A): $202.5 billion

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Did You Know ... ?

Comfort Zone Investing: Did You Know ... ? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Getting Back On Track (AMB, PLD, XOM, INTC, AMD, GENZ, EGPT, CCME)

Closing Bell: Getting Back On Track (AMB, PLD, XOM, INTC, AMD, GENZ, EGPT, CCME) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

• CLSA upgraded Freeport McMoRan (FCX) to Buy from Sell and has a price target of $85 based on expectations for improved copper prices. The analyst believes China is mostly done with tightening measures and that downside in copper prices is limited.
• Jefferies upgraded Concur Tech (CNQR) to Buy from Hold due to improvements in corporate travel and structural growth drivers from international and SMB. The firm has a price target of $55 on the stock.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded ESCO Technologies (ESE) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company will announce a contract with SoCal Gas within two months. The firm upped its target for shares to $35 from $33.
• Wells Fargo (WFC) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
• Human Genome (HGSI) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• Brown & Brown (BRO) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

• Canaccord downgraded Netflix (NFLX) to Hold from Buy following the Q2 report and has a $107 price target on the stock. The firm is growing more cautious on ARPU pricing pressure, higher churn rates and higher SAC.
• Deutsche Bank downgraded Airgas (ARG) to Hold from Buy following the company's Q1 results due to valuation. The firm has a $65 price target for shares. Note shares were also downgraded at Soleil this morning.
• Goldman downgraded Piper Jaffray (PJC) to Neutral from Buy and lowered its price target to $35 from $46. The firm said Piper's ROE remains below peers.
• AMB Property (AMB) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill.
• Odyssey Healthcare (ODSY) was downgraded to Negative from Neutral at Susquehanna.
• Trina Solar (TSL) was downgraded to Outperform from Strong Buy at Raymond James.

• BofA/Merrill started Cognizant Technology (CTSH) with a Neutral rating.
• Stifel Nicolaus initiated Brigham Exploration (BEXP) with a Buy rating and $24 target.
• ThinkEquity assumed Dick's Sporting (DKS) with a Buy rating.
• Petrohawk Energy (HK) was initiated with a Perform rating at Oppenheimer.
• E.ON AG (EONGY) was initiated with a Buy rating at RBS.
• Atlas Energy (ATLS) was initiated with an Outperform rating at BMO Capital.

Analyst Calls: FCX, WFC, HGSI, NFLX, ARG, TSL, CTSH, ATLS, DKS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Salesforce.com (CRM) to Buy from Neutral based on positive feedback on the Chatter product and increasing confidence the company can beat FY11 guidance. The firm raised its price target to $111 from $90.
• Leerink upgraded Vivus (VVUS) to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm believes Qnexa issues raised by the FDA are labeling and marketing issues, and not approval issues. The firm expects a positive panel vote for Qnexa.
• Goldman upgraded AK Steel (AKS) to Buy from Netural citing lower iron ore prices. The firm has a $17 price target on the stock.
• Kinder Morgan Energy (KMP) was upgraded to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Shire (SHPGY) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Canadian National (CNI) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CRM, VVUS, AKS, KMP, SPWRA, TSL, JASO, ALL

Analyst Calls: CRM, VVUS, AKS, KMP, SPWRA, TSL, JASO, ALL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Transocean (RIG) to outperform from market perform as it believes congressional hearings and reports indicate the company's blowout preventer at the Deepwater Horizon likely worked properly. The firm has an $87 price target for shares.
• Auriga upgraded First Solar (FSLR) to buy from hold as it believes the recent sell-off in shares as created an attractive entry point. Despite upgrading, the firm lowered its target for shares to $138 from $147.
• Soleil upgraded Priceline.com (PCLN) to buy from hold, citing a favorable risk-reward profile. Despite the upgrade, the firm lowered its target for shares to $230 from $250.
• Blackrock (BLK) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Abbott (ABT) was upgraded to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ABT, AON, APA, BX, CSIQ, FSLR, GRMN, GXDX, PCLN, RIG, XOM ...

Analyst Calls: ABT, AON, APA, BX, CSIQ, FSLR, GRMN, GXDX, PCLN, RIG, XOM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 May 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded CME Group (CME) to Buy from Hold and has a $330 target on the stock. The firm believes increased regulatory concerns have created a buying opportunity and notes that CME Group's fundamentals are stable-to-improving.
• Susquehanna upgraded Priceline.com (PCLN) to Positive from Neutral and has a $230 target on the stock. The firm believes Priceline.com likely outperformed expectations in Q4.
• Citigroup upgraded AutoZone (AZO) to Buy from Hold citing an attractive valuation, favorable industry trends, and the potential for margin expansion. The firm raised its target price on shares to $188 from $176.
• Genzyme (GENZ) was raised to Sell from Conviction Sell at Goldman.
• Disney (DIS) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
• Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded at Collins Stewart to Buy from Hold.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CME, AZO, XOM, DNB, GENZ ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CME, AZO, XOM, DNB, GENZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Oppenheimer upgraded Hubbell (HUB.B) to outperform from perform to reflect the company's improving operations, margin expansion and valuation. The firm raised its target price on shares to $53 from $51.
• UBS upgraded Weingarten Realty (WRI) and Taubman Centers (TCO), Boston Properties (BXP), ProLogis (PLD) and AMB Property (AMB) to neutral from sell and SL Green Realty (SLG) to buy from neutral, citing the recent correction in the group.
• Benchmark Co. upgraded Time Warner (TWX) to buy from hold on expectations the company is positioned for steady, sustainable growth as advertising demand rebounds. The firm has a $35 price target on shares.
• Eastman Chemical (EMN) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Constellation Energy (CEG) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Noble Corporation (NE) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADY, BXP, CYT, DNDN, LZ, ORCL, TWX ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADY, BXP, CYT, DNDN, LZ, ORCL, TWX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Research in Motion (RIMM) to hold from sell to reflect the company's Q3 results and guidance. The firm raised its target price on shares to $75 from $60.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Northern Trust (NTRS) and State Street (STT) to outperform from market perform to reflect valuation and favorable longer-term secular trends. The firm keeps a $58 price target on Northern Trust and a $51 target on State Street.
• UBS upgraded Universal Health (UHS) to buy from neutral and raised its target to $38 from $31. The firm said hospital checks indicate bad debt has not increased vs. Q3 and that Universal Health should report an in-line to better-than-expected Q4.
• Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) was upgraded to hold from sell at Kaufman Bros.
• Whiting Petroleum (WLL) was raised to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• BP Plc (BP) was upgraded at Goldman to buy from neutral.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: RIMM, NTRS, STT, UHS, POT, BCR, O, JCI, GPS, WMG

Analyst Calls: RIMM, NTRS, STT, UHS, POT, BCR, O, JCI, GPS, WMG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Roth Capital upgraded MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $90 from $70, citing encouraging Q2 results, new product cycle catalysts, a lift from Europe, and cost reductions.
• William Blair upgraded Costco (NASDAQ: COST) to Outperform from Market Perform after meeting with management as it believes sales and earnings could beat expectations over the next year.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $29 from $23. The firm cites higher Samsung capex forecast, high leverage, and low expectations.
• Home Properties (NYSE: HME) and Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) were upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBC Capital, while Douglas Emmett (NYSE: DEI) and Duke Realty (NYSE: DRE) were raised to Market Perform from Underperform.
• Agilent (NYSE: A) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
• Cytec Industries (NYSE: CYT) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, COST, HPQ, JACK, MOS, NVLS, WMT ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, COST, HPQ, JACK, MOS, NVLS, WMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Royal Bank of Scotland upgraded shares of Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) to Buy from Hold to reflect the company's dividend yield.
  
• JMP Securities expects HFF Inc. (NYSE: HF) to benefit from increased U.S. commercial real estate sales and mortgage volumes. Shares were upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm has a $5 target on shares.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Church & Dwight (NYSE: CHD) to Outperform from Perform as it believes Church & Dwight's value-oriented portfolio should continue to benefit from the consumer trade-down and that concerns over distribution are overblown. The firm set a $62 price on shares.
• Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  
• Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• AMB Property (NYSE: AMB) was lifted to Neutral from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: VOD, CBS, BCS, MS, ICE, AU ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: VOD, CBS, BCS, MS, ICE, AU ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AMB Property (NYSE: AMB), a global developer and owner of industrial real estate, closed at $13.25 Wednesday. Goldman Sachs says: "We remain cautious on REITS." AMB December option implied volatility of 107 is above its 8-week average of 66 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS), a REIT with the majority of real estate consisting of apartment communities, closed at $74.33 Wednesday. ESS December option implied volatility of 81 is above its 26-week average of 51 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

AvalonBay (NYSE: AVB), an owner or indirect owner of 178 apartment communities containing 50,370 apartment homes, closed at $55.03 Wednesday. AVB December option implied volatility of 83 is above its 26-week average of 54 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: REIT volatility elevated on economic pressures; AMB, ESS, AVB originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch begins in earnest this coming week, with companies from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) to Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG) scheduled to report results for the quarter just ended. But with the ongoing turmoil in the markets, much attention is on the tech and financial sectors. This week will provide plenty to mull over on both counts.

Wall Street expectations for tech stocks are fairly optimistic. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are looking for chip maker Altera Corp. (NASDAQ: ALTR) and software/service company iGate Corp. (NASDAQ: IGTE) to be the sector's biggest earnings gainers of the week. Altera is expected to report earnings of 30 cents per share (up 33.3% from a year ago) on revenue of $355.1 million. Altera had previously forecast flat sales for the quarter, and shares fell to a 52-week low last week. iGate is expected to report earnings of 14 cents per share (up 42.9%) on revenue of $55.6 million. India-based iGate recently spun off its Mastech consulting services. Shares are down 45.0% in the past three months, and also reached a new 52-week low last week.

San Jose-based Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS), on the other hand, is expected to report that net income tumbled 90.4% from a year ago to 4 cents per share, on revenue of $245.6 million. Novellus fell to a 52-week low early last week, and shares are down 44.5% year to date.

Continue reading The week in preview: Mulling over techs, financials

The week in preview: Mulling over techs, financials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• ThinkPanmure believes Nova BioSource's (AMEX:NBF) biodiesal production process is economically superior to traditional processes but higher feedstock costs will make scaling difficult. Shares were initiated with an Accumulate rating.
  
• ThinkPanmure also initiated Aventine Renewable (NYSE:AVR) with an Accumulate rating and $8 target. The firm does not expect share upside until margin visibility improves, which will not occur until next year's corn crop materializes in early 2009.
  
• Lehman initiated the REIT sector with a Neutral rating; the firm started AMB Property (NYSE:AMB) and Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM) with Overweight ratings and CBL & Associates (CBL) with an Underweight rating.

• JP Morgan initiated BLADEX (NYSE:BLX) and Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) with Overweight ratings.
• KeyBanc assumed Capital Lease Funding (NYSE:LSE) with a Hold rating.

Analyst initiations: NBF, AVR and the REIT sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Thomas Weisel downgraded shares of eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) following the company's Q2 results, as they did not see an improvement in the underlying fundamentals. Goldman lowered eBay to Neutral from Buy and cut its target to $30 from $38.
  
• UBS downgraded Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) to Neutral from Buy citing valuation and reduced capital flexibility.
  
• Merrill downgraded shares of ASML Holdings (NASDAQ:ASML) to Underperform from Neutral as they believe the company's demand slowdown could carry into next year.

• Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Piper.
  
• Wachovia downgraded Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE:AHT) and Strategic Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:BEE) to Underperform from Market Perform.
  
• AMB Property (NYSE:AMB) was lowered at JP Morgan to Neutral from Overweight.

Analyst downgrades: EBAY, WFC and ASML originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of UBS (NYSE: UBS) to Neutral from Underweight as they believe the company can start fresh after yesterday's pre-announcement.
  
• Banc of America upgraded shares of ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) and AMB Property (NYSE: AMB) to Buy from Neutral to reflect their positive outlook on global industrial REITs and believes they are positioned to benefit from global demand for industrial space.
  
• Navteq Corporation (NYSE: NVT) was upgraded at Deutsche Bank to Hold from Sell to reflect the acquisition by Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK).
  
• Wachovia raised shares of PDL BioPharma Inc (NASDAQ: PDLI) to Outperform from Market Perform following the CEO resignation and potential sale of the company.

• Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) was upgraded to Buy from Gradually Accumulate at Soleil.
  
• Gabelli upgraded Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) to Hold from Sell.
  
• Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
  
• Roth Capital upgraded Conexant Systems (NASDAQ: CNXT) to Hold from Sell.

Analyst upgrades: UBS, PLD, AMB, NVT and PDLI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Goldman downgraded Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH) to Neutral from Buy on valuation.

• Hawaiian Electric (NYSE: HE) was cut to Underweight from Equal Weight at Lehman based on valuation and the regulatory environment.

• AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at MorganStanley based on the reduced buyback, the $1.6B restructuring charge and potential for Nexium generics in Europe.

• Citigroup cut AMB Property (NYSE: AMB) and ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) to Sell from Hold citing the tight capital markets and the impact on costs for the downgrades...

• JP Morgan downgraded D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) to Neutral from Overweight.

• Roth Capital downgraded Century Casinos (NASDAQ: CNTY) to Hold from Buy.

• Keybanc downgraded shares of Diebold (NYSE: DBD) to Hold from Buy.

• DA Davidson cut Sunrise Senior Living (NYSE: SRZ) to Sell from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: AZN, CNTY, DBD and DHI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.