A great university, but an even better stock. Why? American Public University System (APUS), wholly owned by American Public Education, Inc. (APEI), makes a strong case for leadership in its segment by providing online programs to address critical challenges in higher education. As America faces the dual challenges of reining in crippling tuition costs while significantly increasing the number of college graduates receiving a quality education, APUS has found a business model that seems to accomplish both goals.

Continue reading APEI: A Diamond in the Rough

APEI: A Diamond in the Rough originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Red Hat (RHT) and American Public (APEI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• KBR (KBR) and Foster Wheeler (FWLT) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Bio-Rad (BIO) to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Oceaneering (OII) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• ASM International (ASMI) and Avid Technology (AVID) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Dominion Resources (D) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Nationwide Health Properties (NHP) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Vivus (VVUS) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Intersil (ISIL) to buy from hold at Canaccord.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALTR, CBOE, D, ETR, JCI, KBR, MMM, NFLX, OII, RHT, WY ...

Analyst Calls: ALTR, CBOE, D, ETR, JCI, KBR, MMM, NFLX, OII, RHT, WY ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: More QE2 Confusion Influencing Markets (ABK, LDK, UNG, RGLD, LVLT, AKAM, LLNW, APEI)

Closing Bell: More QE2 Confusion Influencing Markets (ABK, LDK, UNG, RGLD, LVLT, AKAM, LLNW, APEI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: An Economic Day That Wasn't So Bad (NANO, BP, AIG, CROX, APEI, SD, KLIC)

Closing Bell: An Economic Day That Wasn't So Bad (NANO, BP, AIG, CROX, APEI, SD, KLIC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded T. Rowe Price (TROW) to outperform from market perform, citing strong flows and a potential recovery in the U.S. equity markets.
• UBS upgraded BorgWarner (BWA) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $50 from $48. The firm expects BorgWarner to benefit from fuel economy regulation.
• Cowen upgraded Celgene (CELG) to neutral from underperform, citing improved fundamentals and valuation for the upgrade.
• TRW Automotive (TRW) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Finish Line (FINL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Jazz Pharmaceutical (JAZZ) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, BWA, CELG, FINL, MMC, NLY, PPO, ROSE, SNDA, TROW, VVUS ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, BWA, CELG, FINL, MMC, NLY, PPO, ROSE, SNDA, TROW, VVUS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American Public Education Inc. (APEI) received an analyst upgrade following the Q4 report and guidance.
• Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) traded higher after it reported swinging to a profit in Q4, but revenue declined year over year.
• Blackstone Group (BX) reported adjusted Q4 earnings, compared to a year-ago loss, and postive renvenue too.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) higher Q2 earnings beat estimates, but shares fell on so-so revenue results.
• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (DWA) lower Q4 earnings beat expectations but net income for the full year rose.
• Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) topped analysts' Q4 earnings expectations but shares fell after it warned of lower margins.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Campbell, Dreamworks, Home Depot, Safeway, Target ...

Earnings Highlights: Campbell, Dreamworks, Home Depot, Safeway, Target ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Sterne Agee upgraded American Public Education (APEI) to buy from neutral following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $50 target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to hold from underperform citing valuation and the improved ad market. The firm raised its target $30 from $22.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Wilmington Trust (WL) to neutral from sell following the company's $250M stock offering and raised its target price on shares to $13 from $10.
• AeroVironment (AVAV) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.
• Scripps Networks (SNI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• TheKnot (KNOT) was raised to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: APEI, CPB, FSLR, GLW, KFT, PALM ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: APEI, CPB, FSLR, GLW, KFT, PALM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Thomas Weisel upgraded PerkinElmer (NYSE: PKI) to Overweight from Market Weight on valuation as it sees limited downside to consensus estimates. The firm raised its target on shares to $20 from $18.
• Jefferies upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX) to Hold from Underperform following the Q2 results as it believes the company's cross-selling strategy is paying off. The firm raised its target on shares to $12 from $5.
• FBR Capital upgraded J. Crew (NYSE: JCG) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect the company's trend-right product, inventory control, unit growth, and strong management. The firm raised its target on shares to $36 from $25.
• Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley.
• Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• HearUSA (AMEX: EAR) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Roth Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMTD, JCG, JNJ, MOS, NOK ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMTD, JCG, JNJ, MOS, NOK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After testifying before a Senate committee about AIG (NYSE: AIG) last week, the Fed's Ben Bernanke participates in a Council of Foreign Relations event Monday evening.

Economic data due to be released this week include wholesale trade and job vacancies for January on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Treasury budget for February on Wednesday, retail sales for February and business inventories for January on Thursday morning, and the U.S. trade balance for January on Friday morning.

Continue reading The week in preview: Bernanke, earnings winners, and Raymond James conference

The week in preview: Bernanke, earnings winners, and Raymond James conference originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded MSC Industrial (NYSE:MSM) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as they believe shares are attractive at current levels. The firm raised their target price to $44 from $32.
  
• UBS upgraded DuPont Fabros (NYSE:DFT) to Buy from Neutral and raised their target to $7 from $2. The firm believes DuPont Fabros will receive a waiver on its CH1 Construction loan for at least a year.
  
• Royal Bank of Scotland upgraded Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) to Buy from Hold to reflect the company's derisking of its trading book.
• Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman and added to the Conviction Buy List; Cigna (NYSE:CI) was also added to the Conviction Buy List.
  
• Affymetrix (NASDAQ:AFFX) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• Airtran Holdings (NYSE:AAI) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jesup & Lamont.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CS, CI, UNH, AMAT, NFLX

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CS, CI, UNH, AMAT, NFLX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• William Blair initiated American Public Education (NASDAQ: APEI) with an Outperform rating, as they believe the company is still in the early stages of its growth.
  
• Gabelli believes Micrus Endovascular (NASDAQ: MEND) can sustain its rapid growth in the coming years and does not expect it to remain independent in the medium-to-long term. The firm started shares with a Buy rating.

• Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ: CRZO) was initiated with a Neutral rating at JP Morgan.
  
• Goldman initiated Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst initiations: APEI, AKAM and MEND originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.