Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Red Hat (RHT) to overweight from neutral.
• Honeywell (HON) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Regal-Beloit (RBC) and Actuant (ATU) were upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• RW Baird upgraded MedAssets (MDAS) to outperform from neutral.
• Savvis (SVVS) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at William Blair.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: COST, HON, NFLX, NOC, PCP, RHT, TGT, TXT, WMT ...

Analyst Calls: COST, HON, NFLX, NOC, PCP, RHT, TGT, TXT, WMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• SunTrust upgraded American Express (AXP) to buy from neutral with a $47 price target based on valuation.
• Argus upgraded Verizon (VZ) to buy from hold, with a $39 price target, citing valuation and the company's aggressive 4G LTE network upgrade. However, Bernstein downgraded the stock.
• BMO Capital upgraded Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from market perform, citing the company's cost reduction efforts, and raised its target for shares to $74 from $67.
• Agrium (AGU) was upgraded to sector outperformer from sector performer at CIBC.
• Novatel Wireless (NVTL) was upgraded to hold from sell at Canaccord.
• Essex Property Trust (ESS) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALXA, APOL, AXP, CP, DV, DVA, VZ, WPO, WYNN ...

Analyst Calls: ALXA, APOL, AXP, CP, DV, DVA, VZ, WPO, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded Norfolk Southern (NSC) to outperform from market perform following the company's Q1 results.
• RBC Capital transferred coverage on Gildan Activewear (GIL) with an outperform from sector perform. The firm is positive on Gildan's low-cost producer strategy and free cash flow generation. The firm raised its target to $35 from $26.
• Wunderlich upgraded Delphi Financial (DFG) to buy from hold following the company's Q1 results and raised its target for shares to $31 from $29.
• Aflac (AFL) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.
• Time Warner (TWX) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Pride International (PDE) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: NSC, GIL, DFG, F, DVA, PFWD, PGN, TDS, PSSI ...

Analyst Calls: NSC, GIL, DFG, F, DVA, PFWD, PGN, TDS, PSSI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Mohawk (MHK) to overweight from neutral. The firm finds shares attractive following their recent underperformance and has a positive outlook for the building products space in 2010. JPMorgan has a $53.50 price target on the stock.
• Stephens upgraded Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX) to overweight from equal weight to reflect improving volume trends and the upcoming move of the company's Transport division from Japan to Guam, which it believes will serve as a positive catalyst. Stephens raised its target price on shares to $41 from $26.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Unum Group (UNM) to buy from hold as it believes an acceleration of growth and potential buybacks could serve as positive catalysts. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $25.
• News Corp. (NWS) was raised to neutral from sell at Pali Capital.
• CA Inc. (CA) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Pactiv (PTV) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADP, BAC, HOG, MHK, NWS, T, UNM ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADP, BAC, HOG, MHK, NWS, T, UNM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:40:00 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.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Genentech bid confirms the trend

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Genentech bid confirms the trend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Suntrust expects DaVita's (NYSE: DVA) dominant market share to help in commercial contract negotiations and they view potential Medicare reimbursement changes as more of an opportunity than a risk. The firm started shares with a Buy rating and $62 target.
  
• JP Morgan initiated Dr. Pepper Snapple (NYSE: DPS) with an Underweight rating and expects declining free cash flow in 2008, which they note would be the third straight year.
  
• Ascent Solar (NASDAQ: ASTI) was assumed with a Hold rating and $14 target at Jefferies. The firm sees high development risk with the company just beginning to operate its pilot line and commencing initial planning for its first 30 MW commercial line.

• Stanford initiated ViroPharma (NASDAQ: VPHM) with a Buy rating and $13 target.
  
• Goldman assumed Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) with Buy ratings and targets of $163 and $55, respectively.
• Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) was initiated at Thomas Weisel with an Underweight rating and $44 target.

Analyst initiations: RIMM, QCOM, DVA, DPS, ASTI, VPHM, NILE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they see an "extremely attractive entry point" at current levels. They believe the company's profitable quarter in a tough environment, the Fed's actions to provide liquidity and management's track record all provide downside protection.
  
• Thomas Weisel upgraded shares of Cirrus Logic (NASDAQ: CRUS) to Overweight from Market Weight as they believe Wolfson Microelectronics' contract bid loss with a major tier-1 customer signals potential share gain for CRUS in the portable media player segment. They raised their target to $8.00 from $5.50 on the news.
  
• Heinz (NYSE: HNZ) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein as they expect the company to post solid growth going forward.

• UBS raised DaVita (NYSE: DVA) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Goldman added Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) to its Conviction Buy List.
  
• Merrill upgraded US Steel (NYSE: X) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: LEH, CRUS and HNZ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) closed $19 Friday.

ORCL is scheduled to report Q3 EPS on March 26.

ORCL April option implied volatility of 39 is above its 26-week average of 34 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

DaVita (NYSE: DVA), a dialysis service provider, closed at $46.03 Friday.

DVA overall option implied volatility of 32 is near its 26-week average of 30 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price fluctuations.

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

Option Update: Oracle April volatility elevated at 39 into EPS & outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies downgraded shares of General Communications (NASDAQ: GNCMA) to Hold from Buy after the company's mixed quarter to reflect increased uncertainty from the recent weakness in its network access and commercial business.
  
• Glu Mobile (NASDAQ: GLUU) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank and to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs following its Q3 report. Cantor downgraded shares after the company issued reduced growth expectations.
  
• William Blair downgraded shares of Town Sports (NASDAQ: CLUB) to Market Perform from Outperform to reflect the recent slowdown in new membership additions at mature clubs which they believe creates enhanced risk of operating margin contraction and decelerating EPS growth in 2008.
  
• Baird downgraded Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation and expectations for only modest margin expansion.
  
• Lance (NASDAQ: LNCE) was downgraded at Oppenheimer to Neutral from Buy, as they expect higher wheat costs to significantly impact Q4 and 2008 EPS.

• Citigroup downgraded Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG) to Hold from Buy.
  
• eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  
• DaVita (NYSE: DVA) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Piper Jaffray and to Outperform from Strong Buy at Raymond James.
  
• UBS lowered its rating on YUM! Brands (NYSE: YUM) to Neutral from Buy.

Analyst downgrades: GNCMA, GLUU, CLUB, BBBB and LNCE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merrill cut Novartis (NYSE: NVS) to Neutral from Buy based on a lack of near-term catalysts. Credit Suisse downgraded shares of the company to Underperform from Neutral on expectations of slowing sales growth in 2H07.

• JMP Securities downgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Market Perform from Outperform based on valuation and lower estimates.

• JP Morgan cut Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) to Neutral from Overweight on valuation.

• Syniverse (NYSE: SVR) was cut to Strong Sell from Sell at Matrix USA as competition in North America is creating a cut in Network Services and Number Portability Services revenue.

• Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) was cut to Underperform from Market Perform at Wachovia based on valuation...

• DaVita (NYSE: DVA) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

• Citigroup downgraded the coal sector, including Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI), Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) and Foundation Coal (NYSE: FCL) to Hold from Buy.

• Credit Suisse downgraded ACA Capital Holdings (NYSE: ACA) to Neutral from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades 7-18-07: ACA, INTC, NVS and TOT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• SanDisk Corp (NASDAQ: SNDK) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS with a $53 target, as they believe Apple's (AAPL) new 16GB & 32GB iPod Video products will be NAND flash based. The firm expects SanDisk shares to perform as Apple's products ramp.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of CVS Corp (NYSE: CVS) to Buy from Hold with a $42 target as they believe the bidding process for Caremark Rx, Inc (NYSE: CMX) is over, reducing concerns.

• Prudential upgraded shares of Dow Jones & Co (NYSE: DJ) to Neutral from Underweight to reflect valuation and the company's strong 2007 outlook.

• Piper Jaffray upgraded DaVita Inc (NYSE: DVA) to Outperform from Market Perform with a $59 target on valuation.

• Citigroup upgraded Adolor Corp (NASDAQ: ADLR) to Hold from Sell with a $10 target to reflect GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK) plans for an additional advanced study of Entereg.

• Wachovia upgraded shares of Symmetry Medical Inc (NYSE: SMA) based on analysis that shows inventory levels have fallen at large-cap orthopedics firms while capital expenditures have stabilized, competitors are more upbeat on market outlook, and checks that indicate the supplier market has stabilized.

• Foundry Networks, Inc (NASDAQ: FDRY) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America.

• JP Morgan upgraded Alaska Communications Systems Group (NASDAQ: ALSK) to Outperform from Neutral on valuation.

• Goldman Sachs upgraded PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) to Buy from Neutral with an $82 target.

• Merrill Lynch upgraded shares of Expedia, Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) to Buy from Neutral with a $27 target.

• Matrix USA upgraded AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) to Hold from Sell on valuation.

Analyst upgrades 3-13-07: CVS Corp, Expedia and SanDisk upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.