"Most of us have probably checked out out the annual lists of companies that are good to work for, but Parnassus Workplace (PARWX) may be the only mutual fund to actually use these lists -- along with their own research on employee-friendliness -- as a basis for a fund portfolio," notes fund expert Walter Frank.

The editor of the MoneyLetter explains, "Jerome Dodson, president of Parnassus Investments and portfolio manager of the fund, states, "I've always felt that companies that treat their employees well do better than those that don't.

"Parnassus is well known as a socially responsible investment shop. And the 'workplace excellence' screen is one more layer on its other socially responsible, financial and valuation screens.

The stock of LCD star Corning (GLW), first discussed on April 30, 2010, at a price of $19.65, has pulled back to about $21 after pushing $24, but investors should just view that retreat as an opportunity to scoop up shares of a premiere company.

Corning's revenue will probably surge 10% to 12% in 2011, after a 24% jump in 2010, as the recovery in the display sector continues.

Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, is well-positioned to benefit from increased demand for flat-panel televisions, as well as computer monitors.

Analyst Upgrades

• Aetna (AET) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Kellogg (K) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• PetSmart (PETM) to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• NetApp (NTAP) and Scripps Networks (SNI) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Thoratec (THOR) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• ArcelorMittal (MT) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Bristol-Myers (BMY) to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Eaton Vance (EV) to neutral from sell at Ticonderoga.
• Adtran (ADTN) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

LCD giant Corning Incorporated (GLW), first discussed on April 30, 2010, at a price of $19.65, appears to be starting to reward investors' patience, after meandering for the second half of 2010, hence the trade has been maintained.

Look for Corning's revenue to surge 25% to 30% in 2010, then rise 8% to 12% in 2011, as the recovery in the display sector continues.

Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, is well-positioned to benefit from increased demand for flat-panel televisions, as well as computer monitors. Rising China-based demand, ample room for market share gains in other emerging market countries, a solid balance sheet, and cost cuts add to the positive story. Also, margins should rise to about 42% in 2011.

Analyst upgrades:

• Verizon (VZ) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• CSX (CSX) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• AK Steel (AKS) to overweight from neutral, as well as Lorillard (LO) and Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) to neutral from underweight, at JPMorgan.
• Marathon Oil (MRO) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Corning (GLW) to buy from outperform at CLSA.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to buy from hold at Jefferies and to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from hold at Weeden and to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate (STX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Corning (GLW - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said this morning that it expects Q4 LCD glass market volumes to be consistent with those from Q3. Previously Corning had forecast volumes to be flat or down slightly. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on GLW.

GLW opened this morning at $19.02. So far today the stock has hit a low of $18.89 and a high of $19.27. As of 12:15, GLW is trading at $18.94 up 0.30 (1.6%). The chart for GLW looks bullish and S&P gives GLW a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

I first discussed Corning (GLW) on April 30, 2010, at a price of $19.65, and the shares continue to meander. But the calculation here is to maintain the trade. Even so, GLW is trying investors' patience.

Corning's shares should have exhibited some traction by now. Corning's revenue will likely surge 25% to 30% in 2010, then rise 7% to 10% in 2011, as the recovery in the display sector continues.

Corning Incorporated (GLW) issued Q3 numbers earlier today. The market decided to give the stock a boost after digesting the data, but results were somewhat mixed.

The press release says that adjusted profit increased over 20% to 51 cents per share. This was in comparison to last year's performance. On a sequential basis, per-share income actually declined 12%. Also, according to this summary from Briefing.com, expectations were set at 52 cents per share. If only the management team could have delivered an extra penny or two. Can't always happen, my investing friends.

Corning (GLW - option chain) shares are rising today after GLW CFO James Flaws told attendees at an investment conference this morning that he expects Q3 glass volume to be down about 5% from the second quarter due to an inventory correction. He added that the company expects glass pricing to remain at Q2 levels, LCD TV sales have remained strong outside the US, and all other business segments are on track or exceeding expectations in the third quarter. Finally, Flaws said GLW thinks it can reach $10 billion in sales in the next few years. GLW posted $5.4 billion in sales in 2009. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on GLW.

GLW opened this morning at $17.03. So far today the stock has hit a low of $17.03 and a high of $17.89. As of 12:05, GLW is trading at $17.88 up $1.07 (6.4%). The chart for GLW looks bullish and S&P gives GLW a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo believes Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) da Vinci procedures remain under penetrated and that consensus estimates are too low. The firm upgraded shares to outperform from market perform and raised its valuation range to $340 to $360.
• Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Westamerica (WABC) to buy from hold due to the company's FDIC-assisted acquisition of Sonoma Bank and what the firm sees as Westamerica's defensive nature. The firm set a $62 target on the stock.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Corning (GLW) to outperform from perform based on valuation and the belief that downward revisions have peaked. The firm has a $20 target on the stock.
• Quality Systems (QSII) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• OpenTable (OPEN) and Windstream (WIN) were upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded Republic Services (RSG) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $34 from $32. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded MeadWestvaco (MWV) to buy from hold due to valuation and keeps a $29 price target for shares.
• UBS upgraded Symantec (SYMC) to buy from neutral.
• Lloyds Banking (LYG) upgraded to add from neutral at WestLB.
• Ternium (TX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Analyst Upgrades

• Bernstein upgraded Corning (GLW) to outperform from market perform based on Gorilla glass prospects and valuation. The firm raised its price target to $22 from $21.
• RBC Capital upgraded Beckman Coulter (BEC) two rating levels to outperform from underperform, citing valuation and customer checks that indicate high retention rates. The firm upped its target for shares to $65 from $55.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from underperform. The firm expects Canadian Pacific to have stronger-than-average Q2 volume growth, improved productivity and notes leverage to growth in Asia, among other reasons for the upgrade. The firm raised its target to $75 from $59.
• Freeport McMoRan (FRX) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Solera (SLH) was upgraded to strong buy from buy at Needham.
• Jefferies upgraded IPC The Hospitalist Co. (IPCM) to buy from hold.

Analyst Upgrades

• Bernstein upgraded Boeing (BA) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation. The firm also raised its price target to $81 from $80.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Thomas & Betts (TNB) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation and an expected recovery in North American nonresidential construction.
• RBC Capital upgraded Susquehanna (SUSQ) to outperform from sector perform and has a $14 target on the stock. The firm thinks the stock's valuation is attractive as its decline in response to the European debt crisis and financial regulatory reform has been overdone.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Genzyme (GENZ) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• RightNow (RNOW) was upgraded to overweight from market weight at Thomas Weisel.

Analyst Upgrades

• Argus upgraded Weyerhaeuser (WY) to buy from hold, citing the better-than-expected Q1 report and expectations that the company is about to be profitable. The firm has a $59 target on the stock.
• Weeden upgraded Cameron (CAM) to buy from hold as it views the recent sell-off as overdone.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Mobile Mini (MINI) to outperform from perform based on valuation and what the firm sees as the company's attractive risk/reward ratio. The firm set a $25 target.
• Johnson Controls (JCI) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• EnerNOC (ENOC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.
• Checkpoint (CKP) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.

Is Corning's Inc. (GLW) latest quarterly performance signaling something about the drivers of U.S. GDP growth in the years ahead? Perhaps.

Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, reported first quarter earnings of 52 cents per share on strong demand for flat-screen TVs in China. The performance trounced the 45 cent Thomson/Reuters First Call first quarter estimate.

First quarter revenue rose 57% to $1.55 billion, compared to the First Call estimate of $1.58 billion.