MOST NOTEWORTHY: Fiserv, Arbitron and Anadarko Petroleum were today's noteworthy upgrades:
JMP Securities upgraded Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) to Outperform from Market Perform citing a reversal of the Bank of America in-house risk, potential re-branding initiatives, and relative pricing stability.
Bear upgraded Arbitron (NYSE: ARB) to Outperform from Peer Perform citing PPM earnings growth potential, strong industry position, defensive nature of shares, and it views the company as an acquisition target.
Lehman raised Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) to Overweight from Equal Weight citing relative valuation and strong U.S. gas exposure.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Goldman added Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) to its Conviction Buy List.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Anadigics, Crystal River Capital and Canadian Solar were today's noteworthy downgrades:
Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) to Perform from Outperform on valuation following the recent run-up.
Wachovia downgraded Crystal River Capital (NYSE: CRZ) to Market Perform from Outperform citing the uncertain near-term strategic outlook.
Broadpoint downgraded shares of Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Buy from Strong Buy on valuation following yesterday's rally but raised their target to $45 from $29.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Entertainment software stocks, Luxottica and Hansen Medical were today's noteworthy initiations:
Citigroup initiated Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI) with Buy ratings and targets of $75 and $29, respectively; the firm initiated Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO) and THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) with Hold ratings and targets of $23 and $34, respectively.
Citigroup also started shares of Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX) with a Buy rating. The firm believes the company can maintain its dominant market position given its house brands portfolio and early expansion into emerging markets.
Merriman started shares of Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN) with a Buy rating and thinks the company's Sensei System could radically change the landscape of catheter based surgery. The firm believes the stock can trade to the $34-$41 range in 12-18 months.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: CheckFree (CKFR), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Wal-Mart (WMT), Thornburg Mortgage (TMA) and Avery Dennison (AVY) were today's noteworthy downgrades:
Suntrust downgraded CheckFree (NASDAQ: CKFR) to Neutral from Buy based on the Fiserv (FISV) acquisition.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) was removed from Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) was cut to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
Jefferies, RBC Capital, Piper Jaffray, Friedman Billings and Credit Suisse downgraded Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA) to Underperform based on liquidity concerns.
Matrix cut Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) to Sell from Hold, and said Avery is being affected by the growing price competition in North America and Europe for self-adhesive labels and tabs...
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
Merrill downgraded Westwood One (NYSE: WON) to Sell from Neutral.
Morgan Keegan downgraded Haverty Furniture (NYSE: HVT) to Market Perform from Outperform.
Hambrecht cut Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) to Hold from Buy.
Raymond James downgraded Domtar (NYSE: UFS) to Outperform from Strong Buy.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Websence (WBSN), RF Micro Devices (RFMD), Fiserv (FISV), Qwest (Q), and OSI Pharma (OSIP) were today's noteworthy upgrades:
JP Morgan upgraded shares of Websence (NASDAQ: WBSN) to Overweight from Underweight ahead of the renewal period starting in the December quarter and expects this momentum to drive shares higher.
RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup, who said the Sirenza Microdevices (SMDI) deal gives the company its first real prospect for gross margin expansion in years.
Matrix USA upgraded Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) to Buy from Sell, and expects the company to benefit from the Checkfree (CKFR) acquisition.
Lehman upgraded shares of Qwest (NYSE: Q) to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing the hiring of industry veteran Ed Mueller as CEO. The firm believes the new CEO removes an overhang and could lead to a change in strategic direction and significantly increase capital spending.
JP Morgan upgraded OSI Pharma (NASDAQ: OSIP) to Overweight from Underweight based on valuation and upcoming catalysts for Tarceva that should be seen in the next year...
OTHER UPGRADES:
UBS upgraded Allstate (NYSE: ALL) to Neutral from Sell.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: CheckFree (CKFR), Talbots (TLB), SPSS Inc (SPSS), Network Appliance (NTAP) and Pozen Inc (POZN) were today's noteworthy downgrades:
Following FiServ's (NASDAQ: FISV) acquisition of CheckFree, Raymond James cut CKFR shares to Market Perform from Strong Buy and Baird downgraded shares to Neutral from Outperform.
Talbots (NYSE: TLB) was cut to Sell from Hold at Citigroup based on valuation, continued earnings disappointments, and a lack of earnings visibility.
Cowen downgraded shares of SPSS Inc (NASDAQ: SPSS) to Underperform from Neutral citing decelerating growth and poor earnings quality.
Bear Stearns cut Network Appliance (NASDAQ: NTAP) to Underperform from Peer Perform on the negative Q1 pre-announcement. Pacific Crest downgraded shares to Sector Perform from Outperform.
After Pozen (NASDAQ: POZN) received a second approvable letter for Trexima, shares were downgraded by three firms:
To Neutral from Strong Buy at First Albany
To Hold from Buy at Jefferies and Lazard...
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
Oppenheimer downgraded Applebee's (NASDAQ: APPB) to Neutral from Buy.
Gabelli downgraded Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM) to Hold from Buy.
Lehman downgraded Luxottica (NYSE: LUX) and Clorox (NYSE: CLX) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
Thomas Weisel downgraded Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) to Market Weight from Overweight.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Expedia (EXPE), YRC Worldwide (YRCW), Fiserv (FISV), and select radio stocks were today's noteworthy upgrades:
JP Morgan upgraded Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) to Overweight from Neutral on expectations for U.S. bookings growth and margin stabilization.
YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) was raised to Neutral from Underperform based on valuation.
Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC following the CheckFree (CKFR) acquisition.
Banc of America upgraded Citadel Broadcasting (NYSE: CDL), Cox Radio (NYSE: CXR) and Entercom Comm (NYSE: ETM) to Neutral from Sell as they believe it is time to cover short positions with the expected Q3 weakness likely priced into shares. They caution that this upgrade is not a buy signal as downside risk remains...
OTHER UPGRADES:
Wachovia upgraded Cabela's (NYSE: CAB) and KBR Inc (NYSE: KBR) to Outperform from Market Perform.
Baird raised Lear (NYSE: LEA) To Outperform from Neutral.
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Pacific Crest upgraded shares of eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) to Outperform from Sector Perform.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Coca-Cola (KO), Fiserv, Inc (FISV) and several real estate companies were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup, as the firm believes the company is addressing growth issues through recent acquisitions and notes that there are signs of stabilization in Japan.
Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Cowen based on valuation, upside from restructuring, new management's willingness to unlock value, and the potential possibility of a company sale.
RBC Capital upgraded Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH) to Outperform from Sector Perform, citing valuation and improved EPS outlook.
Kenexa Corp (NASDAQ: KNXA) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse, citing valuation and reduced risk from the BrassRing acquisition.
Goldman Sachs added Foster Wheeler (NASDAQ: FWLT) added to its Conviction Buy List, citing valuation and leverage to energy infrastructure build and power.
Goldman also added ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) to its Conviction Buy list, citing upside to FFO guidance, favorable domestic and international demand and above-average development margins.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Small Cap BioTech sector top today's small list of initiations.
The Bank of America initiated five companies within the Small Cap BioTech sector:
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), Array BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY), Nuvelo, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVO) and Keryx BioPharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:KERX) with Buy ratings
and Dendreon Corp (NASDAQ:DNDN) with a Neutral rating.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) was resumed with a Market Perform at Wachovia on valuation
and Century Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTY) was initiated with a Hold at Morgan Joseph on valuation.
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MOST NOTEWORTHY: Fiserv, Arbitron and Anadarko Petroleum were today's noteworthy upgrades:
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