MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merrill downgraded Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) to Sell from Neutral citing expectations of margin erosion.

• Brean Murray cut Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) to Hold from Buy following their disappointing Q2 report and outlook.

• Select Comfort (NASDAQ: SCSS) was cut to Strong Sell from Hold at Matrix based on weak performance and high risk characteristics.

• Anadys Pharma (NASDAQ: ANDS) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Cowen, citing pipeline setbacks over the last 12 months, and lack of near-term catalysts...

• Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS) was cut to Hold from Aggressive Buy.

• Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) was cut to Hold from Buy at Needham.

Analyst downgrades 8-30-07: CWTR, SIGM and WMT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• McAfee Inc (NYSE: MFE) was initiated with an Accumulate rating at ThinkEquity, as the firm is positive on the company's competitive positioning in security, refocused business and streamlined operations.

• JP Morgan initiated shares of Wabtec Corp (NYSE: WAB) with an Overweight rating, as the firm believes Wabtec's strong market presence should support 22% and 12% EPS growth in 2007 and 2008.

• Nollenberger feels that the core PacSun concept is challenged to re-establish a niche in the competitive teen marketplace, and initiated shares of Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) with a Neutral rating and $22 target.

• Nollenberger also initiated shares of Aeropostale (NYSE: AEO) with a Buy rating and $49 target and recommends buying the stock into back to school.

• Cantor initiated shares of Amdocs (NYSE: DOX) with a Hold rating and $37 target on valuation...

• Midas, Inc (NYSE: MDS) and Monro Muffler Brake, Inc (NASDAQ: MNRO) were initiated with Neutral ratings at JP Morgan.

• JP Morgan also initiated shares of Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) with a Neutral rating.

• Sterne Agee initiated shares of Colwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) with a Buy rating.
  

• Vascular Solutions (NASDAQ: VASC) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $12 target at RBC Capital.

Analyst initiations 7-20-07: AEO, DOX, MFE and PSUN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Brean Murray started shares of Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) with a Buy rating and $25 target, expecting second-half upside from new merchandise this year.

• Keybanc is positive on Celadon's (NASDAQ: CLDN) disciplined approach to strategic acquisitions and leverage in its operating model, starting shares with a Buy rating and $20 target.

• CRT Capital believes Berry Petroleum (NYSE: BRY) has the ability to continue to deliver double digit percentage production/reserves growth and started shares with a Buy rating and $40 target.

• American Technology believes SiRF Technology Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRF) will continue to be a market leader in GPS chipsets and finds the company's wireless business undervalued, starting shares with a Buy rating and $26 target...

• Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc (AMEX: JAV) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Leerink Swann.

• UBS started Arris Group, Inc (NASDAQ: ARRS) with a Buy rating and $18 target.

• Publicis Groupe (NYSE: PUB) was started with a Buy rating at ING.

• Thomas Weisel initiated shares of Ambassadors International (NASDAQ: AMIE) with an Overweight rating and $41 target. Baird started

• Capella Education Co (NASDAQ: CPLA) with an Outperform rating and $46 target.

Analyst initiations 5-21-07: ARRS, CWTR, PUB and SIRF originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 May 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• UBS upgraded shares of Weyerhaeuser Co (NYSE: WY) to Neutral from Reduce citing the stock's recent weakness.

• Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE: JTX) to Equal Weight from Underweight on valuation as the firm believes yesterday's sell-off was overdone.

• Hewlett-Packard Co (NYSE: HPQ) was upgraded to buy from Neutral at American Technology on valuation.

• Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America based on the company's favorable risk/reward.

• BB&T upgraded shares of Pacer International, Inc (NASDAQ: PACR) to Buy from Hold citing the company's operational changes and new $100M shares' repurchase.

• Goldman upgraded Spherion Corp (NYSE: SFN) to Neutral from Sell.

• SkyWest, Inc (NASDAQ: SKYW) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Prudential.

• Bear Stearns upgraded shares of Sonic Corp (NASDAQ: SONC) to Outperform from Peer Perform on expectations of an acceleration in partner drive-in same store sales and system wide unit expansion.

• Citigroup upgraded Corinthian Colleges, Inc (NASDAQ: COCO) to Buy from Hold after a company visit as the firm believes expectations are finally low enough and recent initiatives are taking hold. Further, Citigroup believes takeover speculation will limit downside as their analysis suggests an LBO could work.

Analyst upgrades 4-04-07: Hewlett-Packard & Coldwater Creek upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY

• First Albany initiated Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: ENDP) with a Strong Buy rating and $41.25 target; the firm believes the company's strong balance sheet can be used to strengthen the pipeline through the acquisition of product rights or companies.

• Thomas Weisel started Coldwater Creek Inc (NASDQ: CWTR) with an Underperform rating based on the fourth-quarter miss, and believes appreciation could be limited here.

• Yamana Gold Inc (NYSE: AUY) was initiated with a Sector Performer rating and $20 target at CIBC, explaining that Yamana's production profile is expected to expand by 150% in the next two years, making it one of the fastest-growing gold companies in North America.

• Oppenheimer considers PF Chang's China Bistro's (NASDAQ: PFCB) valuation attractive and started the restaurant chain with a Buy rating and $53 target.

Analyst initiations 2-1-07: Coldwater started with an Underperform originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. Competitor Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) cut its fourth quarter EPS outlook citing slower-than-expected customer traffic throughout holiday season. Wachovia said this is "not" company specific and is indicative of the weaker women's retail environment.
2. Buckingham had cautious/negative comments on Tween Brands this morning. The firm advised remaining Neutral, citing a lack of clarity on the timing of improved apparel trend in the company's Limited TOO stores. January sales have not picked up as expected, prompting an unplanned "Buy 1 Get 1 at 50% off" markdown which could create additional downside to the firm's most recent 4Q06 EPS estimate.

Tween Brands down -- Women's retail looking bleak originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.