Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of ING Group (NYSE: ING) to Outperform from Market Perform after upgrading the European insurance sector to Overweight from Neutral due to improved risk management.
  
• Keefe Bruyette also upgraded Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect the company's national footprint if the Wachovia (NYSE: WB) deal goes through.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Overweight from Neutral citing top line performance, growth profile and valuation, among other reasons.
• Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Amylin Pharma (NASDAQ: AMLN) was raised to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.
  
• Louisiana Pacific (NYSE: LPX) was upgraded at RBC Capital to Sector Perform from Underperform.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) to Hold from Buy and lowered its target to $50 from $55 to reflect risks to the company's earnings outlook from the weakening economy.
  
• Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) was cut to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank as they believe the economic slowdown will bring slower volumes. Coca-Cola's target was lowered to $56 from $64.

Continue reading Analyst calls: ING, WFC, DLTR, JBL, AMLN, ECL, KO, IACI, FFIV ...

Analyst calls: ING, WFC, DLTR, JBL, AMLN, ECL, KO, IACI, FFIV ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Jefferies started UnitedHealth Group inc NYSE: UNH) with a Hold rating and $48 target and said near-term risk is still present due to unfavorable reserve adjustments to the company's commercial risk business and high expectations for improvement in the company's commercial medical care ratio.

• Aetna Inc (NYSE: AET) was also initiated by Jefferies with a Hold rating based on valuation.

• Credit Suisse started Hercules Inc (NYSE: HPC) with an Outperform rating and $24 target.

• Matrix USA initiated Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) with a Hold rating on valuation...

• Cowen is positive on MIPS Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: MIPS), starting the company with an Outperform rating, and expects a deal with Microchip Technology Inc (MCHP) to be announced soon.

• JP Morgan initiated shares of Headwaters Inc (NYSE: HW) with a Neutral rating.

• Needham assumed coverage of Harris Interactive Inc (NASDAQ: HPOL) with a Hold rating.

• ThinkEquity started Aruba Networks, Inc (NASDQ: ARUN) with an Accumulate rating and $15 target.

• Lazard initiated shares of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CYCC) with a Buy rating and $11 target.

Analyst initiations 4-23-07: AET, ALU and UNH initiated today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Shares of Baldor Electric Co (NYSE: BEZ) were initiated by Baird with an Outperform rating and $42 target. The firm believes that Baldor's already-premium market position is strengthened by their acquisition of Rockwell's Power Systems. The firm believes that as the company starts to realize integration synergies, management's initial earnings accretion forecast of $0.10 in 2007 is conservative, earnings surprises will be likely and the company should be able to sustain their current valuation.

• Harris Interactive Inc (NASDAQ: HPOL) was initiated with a Buy rating and $7 target at Roth Capital. The firm believes Harris Interactive is positioned to take market share in market research as the company operates one of the largest online survey panels with more than 6 million members.

Analyst initiations 2-05-07: Baldor Electric started with an Outperform originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.