Analyst Upgrades

• Stifel Financial (SF) and CVR Energy (CVI) to buy from neutral and Principal Financial (PFG) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Suntech (STP) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Internap (INAP) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Andersons (ANDE) to buy from hold at BB&T.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ATH, ANDE, BLK, BUCY, ITRI, LEAP, LM, PFG, SF, STP ...

Analyst Calls: ATH, ANDE, BLK, BUCY, ITRI, LEAP, LM, PFG, SF, STP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BMO Capital upgraded Noble Energy (NE) to outperform from market perform and raised its target to $85 from $78. The firm upgraded Noble based on Niobrara field potential and record-breaking reserve potential at the Leviathan prospect.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Raytheon (RTN) to outperform from market perform based on relative valuation, strong balance sheet and International sales exposure.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Cerner (CERN) to buy from hold based on valuation and EMR momentum. The firm raised its price target on shares to $86 from $80.
• Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) was upgraded to buy from hold at Societe Generale.
• Cavium Networks (CAVM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• CSG Systems (CSGS) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZO, CERN, CIS, INTC, LMT, LULU, NE, RTN, SNY, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: AZO, CERN, CIS, INTC, LMT, LULU, NE, RTN, SNY, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Deere (DE) to overweight from neutral and raised its target on shares to $65 from $52. JPMorgan believes the company's fundamentals are improving and sees signs of a recovery in forestry, turf and earth-moving equipment.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Valmont (VMI) to neutral from underweight on valuation following the company's Q4 results. The firm lowered its target price on shares to $70 from $74.
• Soleil upgraded Group 1 Automotive (GPI) to buy from hold on valuation with a $36 price target. The firm believes negative news flow for Toyota has created an opportunity to accumulate shares.
• Bernstein upgraded Deutsche Telekom (DT) to outperform from market perform.
• Nucor (NUE) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• American Eagle (AEO) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CTXS, DE, GPI, NTAP, VMI, XNPT ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CTXS, DE, GPI, NTAP, VMI, XNPT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) to Buy from Hold to reflect the company's better than expected Q3 results and improved volume outlook. Deutsche raised its target on shares to $100 from $72.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Motorola (NYSE: MOT) to Overweight from Market Weight and raised its target to $11 from $7 and said they expect Motorola to benefit from several upcoming catalysts that include new Android-based smartphone products and they believe the handset division could break even by year end of 2010.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC) and Cinemark (NYSE: CNK) to Buy from Neutral on expectations both companies will benefit from a strong box office in Q4. The firm has a $14 price target on Regal shares and a $13.50 target on Cinemark shares.
• Marshall & llsley (NYSE: MI) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan.
• F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
• William Blair upgraded Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN) to Outperform from Market Perform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: FCX, MOT, CHK, MON ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: FCX, MOT, CHK, MON ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Stephens upgraded The Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) to Overweight from Equal Weight on expectations the company is benefiting from good space income opportunities and better ethanol profitability. The firm raised its target price to $31 from $28.
  
• Jefferies upgraded NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) to Buy from Hold as the analyst believes Exelon (NYSE: EXC) will have to materially raise its offer to close the acquisition. The firm raised its target on shares to $25 from $22.50.
  
• FBR Capital upgraded FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) to Outperform from Market Perform after meeting with management to reflect the company's 2011 growth potential. The firm raised its target on shares to $51.
• J. Sainsbury (OTC: JSAIY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• SVB Financial (NASDAQ: SIVB) and Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) were upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANDE, CAR, YUM, INTC, NKE ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANDE, CAR, YUM, INTC, NKE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Merriman upgraded Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN) to Buy from Neutral on expectations shares will react positively to the full IMPACT data release on April 28. The firm thinks Provenge could represent the first cancer immunotherapy approved in the U.S. and raised its valuation range on the stock to $33-$34 from $18-$19.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) as it believes the valuation is attractive, investor expectations are low, and the company's fertilizer and rail segments could recovery in FY10. The firm has a $19 target on shares. Goldman upgraded the auto sector to Neutral from Cautious and added Ford (NYSE: F) to its Conviction Buy list. The analyst does not believe Ford will have to declare bankruptcy and sees the company benefiting from Chrysler share declines and GM's (NYSE: GM) reduced product offerings. Ford's price target is $6
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded U.S. Airways (NYSE: LCC) to Buy from Underperform.
• Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DNDN, ANDE, the auto sector, DGX, MTB, ADVS, ITG, MF and PCLN

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DNDN, ANDE, the auto sector, DGX, MTB, ADVS, ITG, MF and PCLN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $26.50 from $25 on valuation as they believe MidAmerican Energy will consummate the merger. The firm points out shares are trading at a 14% discount to the $26.50 offer.
  
• Merriman upgraded Denny's Corp. (NASDAQ: DENN) to Buy from Neutral as they believe the company's restructuring and successful menu and food cost management should stabilize operating margins.
  
• Daimler (NYSE: DAI) was upgraded at Merrill to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the stock is oversold at current levels.
• Taiwan Semi (NYSE: TSM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at HSBC.
  
• Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE) was lifted to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
  
• Goldman raised PMC Sierra (NASDAQ: PMCS) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades:

Continue reading Analyst calls: RIMM, NYX, NDAQ, PMCS, DENN, DAI . . .

Analyst calls: RIMM, NYX, NDAQ, PMCS, DENN, DAI . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Calyon upgraded major network carriers based on falling oil prices and capacity cuts. The analyst is positive over the next 12 months but cautious short-term given the uncertain economy, and volatile markets and oil prices. AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) and Delta Air (NYSE: DAL) were upgraded to Add from Neutral and UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) was raised to Neutral from Reduce.
• Ryanair (NASDAQ: RYAAY) was upgraded at Citigroup to Buy from Hold.
• Boardwalk Pipeline (NYSE: BWP) was raised to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cowen lifted Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) to Outperform from Neutral.
• JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Neutral from Underweight following the better-than-expected Q3 report.
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) to Outperform from Perform on valuation, the company's minimal exposure to economic conditions, and expectations for margin improvement and a rebound in organic growth.

• Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) and AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) were downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
• UBS downgraded Embarq (NYSE: EQ) to Neutral from Buy following the CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) merger announcement.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AMR, DAL, UAUA, RYAAY, BIIB, SHW, EQ, INTU, NYT, GOOG, YHOO ...

Analyst calls: AMR, DAL, UAUA, RYAAY, BIIB, SHW, EQ, INTU, NYT, GOOG, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) lifted its outlook on improved performance of its Plant Nutrient Group.
• BP Plc (NYSE: BP) was upgraded by Societe Generale due in part to its earnings prospects.
• Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) has developed an earnings improvement plan based on collective bonuses.
• Corel Corp. (NASDAQ: CREL) solid Q2 results did not address a buyout offer from Vector Capital.
• Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) Q2 earnings were boosted by dumping its Goldfish card division.
• Fortune Brands Inc. (NYSE: FO) lowered its earnings outlook on challenging consumer environment.
• Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (NASDAQ: ISLE) blamed dismal results on floods and smoking bans.
• MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MXB) strong Q2 results didn't save it from being dumped by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS).
• PAREXEL International Corp. (NASDAQ: PRXL) lifted its Q4 and full-year guidance, leading to an upgrade.
• Texas Industries Inc. (NYSE: TXI) was downgraded due to fears about its earnings prospects.
• Taleo Corp. (NASDAQ: TLEO) reaffirmed its outlook as an acquisition would boost results.
• WD-40 Co. (NASDAQ: WDFC) posted solid Q3 results and offered conservative guidance.

More highlights from this past week: Apollo Group, Family Dollar, Kroger, Deutsche Bank and others

Also, while Jim Cramer ponders what will signal the bottom, many investors will be looking at next week's earnings results for General Electric (NYSE: GE), the world's largest conglomerate, as a sign of the direction of the global market. And BusinessWeek reminds us that cheap stocks -- even with big names such as Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S), and Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA) -- are no bargain if they have no earnings.

Upcoming results to watch for include Alcoa (NYSE: AA), Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG), Marriott International (NYSE: MAR), and General Electric (NYSE: GE).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: BP, Discover, Corel, Citigroup, WD-40, MSCI and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) is a diversified firm, with interests in the U.S. agriculture, transportation and retail markets. Its Grain & Ethanol Group purchases and merchandises grain; operates grain elevator facilities; manages ethanol production facilities; and engages in grain and ethanol trading. The Rail Group buys, sells, leases, rebuilds, and repairs various types of used railcars and rail equipment. The Retail Group offers hardware, plumbing, electrical, and building supplies, as well as specialty foods and wines. The Plant Nutrient and Turf & Specialty Groups formulate fertilizers. The company has operations in ten states and Puerto Rico, plus rail leasing interests in Canada and Mexico.

The firm pleased investors last week, when it boosted its FY08 EPS guidance from $3.65-$4.00 to $4.40-$4.80. Analysts had been looking for $3.79. Management attributed the favorable outlook to the improved performance of the Plant Nutrient Group.

Continue reading The Andersons (ANDE): Price defines bullish 'flag' consolidation pattern

The Andersons (ANDE): Price defines bullish 'flag' consolidation pattern originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Anderson (NASDAQ:ANDE) is up 14% on strong earnings.

AK Steel (NYSE:AKS) is up 3% after being added to the S&P 500.

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) is down almost 5% after Sony Ericsson reported poor earnings.

Palm (NASDAQ:PALM) is down 4% on week earnings.

Stocks may traded differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers (ERIC) (PALM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS downgraded Large Cap Oilfield Services stocks citing a "more sober 2008 outlook." The firm downgraded Smith International (NYSE: SII) and Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI) to Neutral from Buy, citing delays in offshore growth for the Smith downgrade and execution issues for Baker Hughes.
  
• Banc of America downgraded shares of Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) to Neutral from Buy following the company's Q4 results to reflect a lack of visibility on FY08 growth.
  
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Unilever (NYSE: UN/UL) to Hold from Buy to reflect an increase in commodity costs.

• Lehman lowered PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) to Equal Weight from Overweight; shares were also downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
  
• Friedman Billings downgraded Thomas & Betts (NYSE: TNB) to Market Perform from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades: Large cap oilfield services, ANDE, UN/UL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of International Paper (NYSE: IP) to Buy from Hold on valuation and their belief that recent declines in the dollar will support pulp, paper and paperboard prices going forward.
  
• Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies after their proprietary survey yielded positive data points going into Q3. They also raised their estimates due to currency. Broadpoint raised its rating on Oracle to Buy from Neutral on valuation following the recent underperformance.
  
• Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) was also upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC, as they believe the company's growing product portfolio, improving margins and successful acquisition strategy should continue to drive double-digit EPS gains.
  
• William Blair added Vistaprint (NASDAQ: VPRT) to its Current Better Values List. The firm believes the company has a large market opportunity and expects its business momentum to continue. They view the recent weakness as a buying opportunity.

• Merrill Lynch upgraded Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to Neutral from Sell.
  
• UBS upgraded Eagle Bulk Shipping (NASDAQ: EGLE) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE: AMG) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.
  
• Banc of America upgraded Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: IP, ADSK, ORCL and VPRT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Diversification is often a key to success in business and there are few firms that can claim to have implemented that wisdom more broadly than a certain outfit in Maumee, Ohio. Among the many things they will sell you are ethanol, animal bedding products, filtration systems, fertilizers, electrical supplies, wine and a box car.

Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) serves interests in the U.S. agriculture, transportation and retail markets. Its Grain & Ethanol Group purchases and merchandises grain, operates grain elevator facilities, manages ethanol production facilities and engages in grain and ethanol trading. The Rail Group buys, sells, leases, rebuilds, and repairs various types of used railcars and rail equipment. The Retail Group offers hardware, plumbing, electrical, and building supplies, as well as specialty foods and wines. The Plant Nutrient and Turf & Specialty Groups formulate fertilizers. The company has operations in seven midwestern states, plus rail leasing interests in Canada and Mexico. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE: ADM) is a major competitor.

Continue reading The Andersons: About as diversified as it gets

The Andersons: About as diversified as it gets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Agricultural transportation company The Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) reported good numbers for first-quarter 2007 on May 2. The company is composed of five segments, three of which returned increases in revenues and profits. Overall, revenues were $409 million for the quarter, and net income was $9.2 million, which works out to diluted EPS of $0.51. These numbers are all improvements over 1Q 2006 figures. For the 43rd straight quarter, Andersons will pay a cash dividend, this time $0.0475 per share.

Grain and Ethanol is Andersons's largest business unit. On total revenues of $247 million, it earned operating income of $10.2 million, five times what it earned in 1Q 2006. Andersons was helped by a 40% average increase in grain prices, and by continuing demand for ethanol, of which Andersons sold more than $30 million in the quarter. The company just brought a second ethanol production plant into operation in May. So many companies are rushing into ethanol production that there may soon be excess production capacity, which will lead to price reductions and lowered earnings down the road.

Andersons specializes in the transportation of grain commodities by rail. Its Rail segment showed a small operating income for the quarter, $3 million, about half of what this unit earned in 1Q 2006. Total rail transport revenues were down due to a 5% decline in US rail traffic across the board. This unit sold fewer rail cars and had substantially higher maintenance costs for its wholly owned railcar fleet. 1Q 2006 was a particularly profitable quarter for this unit with the repair of so many rail cars damaged in Hurricane Katrina, so quarter-over-quarter comparisons are not completely accurate.

Continue reading Andersons reports respectable 1Q earnings

Andersons reports respectable 1Q earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Banc of America downgraded shares of Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) to Neutral from Buy, as well as VeraSun Energy (NYSE: VSE), Pacific Ethanol (NASDAQ: PEIX) and Aventine Renewable Energy (NYSE: AVR) to Sell from Neutral. The firm believes new ethanol supply will depress ethanol's premium to gasoline, drive corn prices higher and pressure distillers' grains values.
• Novacea Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVC) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns based on valuation and lack of catalysts until 2H08; the firm believes the company's deal with Schering-Plough (NYSE: SGP) is a positive.
• Aimco Properties (NYSE: AIV) was downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Lehman, as the firm does not view AIV as an attractive takeover target.

• EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns based on valuation.
• UBS downgraded shares of Iomai Corp. (NASDAQ: IOMI) and ICICI Bank (NYSE: IBN) to Neutral from Buy.
• Goldman Sachs downgraded Parexel Intl. (NASDAQ: PRXL) to Neutral from Buy and PRA International (NASDAQ: PRAI) to Sell from Neutral.
• Janus Capital Group (NYSE: JNS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
• Security Bank (NASDAQ: SBKC) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Sandler, O'Neill & Partners on valuation.
• Bradley Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: BDY) was downgraded to Hold from Buy on valuation at Matrix USA.

Analyst downgrades 5-31-07: Ethanol producers to Sell originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 May 2007 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer's ethanol stock picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So your shopping list includes ethanol, a filtration system, fertilizer, wine, plumbing supplies and a locomotive. Know any outfits that have it all? There's one in Maumee, Ohio.

Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) is a widely diversified firm, with interests in the U.S. agriculture, transportation and retail markets. It Grain & Ethanol Group purchases and merchandises grain; operates grain elevator facilities; manages ethanol production facilities; and engages in grain and ethanol trading. The Rail Group buys, sells, leases, rebuilds, and repairs various types of used railcars and rail equipment. The Retail Group offers hardware, plumbing, electrical, and building supplies, as well as specialty foods and wines. The Plant Nutrient and Turf & Specialty Groups formulate fertilizers. The company has operations in seven midwestern states, plus rail leasing interests in Canada and Mexico.

The firm pleased investors last month, when it reported Q4 earnings of 76 cents per share and revenues of $463.4 million. Analysts had been expecting 64 cents and $395 million. The news kept ANDE shares cycling through a positive six-month trading channel. The price is currently consolidating near the base of that channel, where oversold Stochastic, CCI and MACD technical parameters suggest the potential for a rise back toward the top.

Brokers recommend the shares with three "strong buys," two "buys" and two "holds." Recent price targets are in the upper $40s and low $50s. Analysts see a 24% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The ANDE P/E ratio (18.45), PEG ratio (0.77), Price to Sales ratio (0.49), Price to Book ratio (2.62), Price to Cash Flow ratio (11.64), and Revenue per Employee ($1.14M) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutions hold about 60% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $31.05 and $62.70. A stop-loss of $35.40 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Andersons Inc: Ethanol and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.