- Barrington upgraded Global Payments (GPN) to outperform from market perform following the company's Q3 results and raised earnings guidance.
- FBR Capital upgraded Foot Locker (FL) to outperform from market perform to reflect the company's improving comps and international expansion. The firm set a $17 price target for shares.
- Keefe Bruyette upgraded Legg Mason (LM) to outperform from market perform and raised its target for shares to $37 from $34.
- Acuity Brands (AYI) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
- Ann Taylor (ANN) was upgraded to hold from underperform at Jefferies.
- Waddell & Reed (WDR) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
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Analyst upgrades: IN, BRP, CVGI, MGI and WHQ
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Intermec, Brasil Telecom and W-H Energy Services were today's most noteworthy upgrades:- Intermec (NYSE: IN) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Standford Financial Group. After Intermec's stock fell 10.5% since April 1, and 5.1% on Friday, Stanford believes most of the bad news is priced into the stock.
- Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BRP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank and raised their target to $90 from $87 as they believe the recent weakness presents a good buying opportunity.
- W-H Energy Services (NYSE: WHQ) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank following the Q1 miss as they believe the company is well positioned to benefit from a pickup in U.S. onshore activity and a significant acceleration in international and deep water work.
- Commercial Vehicle Group (NASDAQ: CVGI) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at J.P. Morgan.
- MoneyGram (NYSE: MGI) was upgraded to Buy from Add at Calyon Securities based on valuation.
Intermec (IN): Shares define bullish 'flag'
Intermec (NYSE: IN) is
engaged in the design, development, manufacture and integration of wired and wireless identification, data collection, mobile computing, bar code printing, and labeling products and systems. Its scanners, readers and sensors are used by customers involved with distribution, warehousing, manufacturing and retailing. The firm also serves government clients. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is a major competitor.
Intermec pleased the Street earlier in the month, when it reported Q4 EPS of 27 cents and revenues of $253 million. Analysts had been expecting 23 cents and $236.2 million. The CEO noted that it was a record revenue quarter, with growth across all geographic regions. Management also guided Q1 EPS to 10-13 cents (10 cent consensus) and Q1 revenues to $208-$213 million ($203.67M consensus).
Continue reading Intermec (IN): Shares define bullish 'flag'
Analyst downgrades: CHK, CVC, KNOT and WWY
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Knot Inc (KNOT), Cablevision (CVC), Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK), Green Mountain Coffee (GMCR) and Intermec (IN) were today's noteworthy downgrades: - Merriman downgraded shares of Knot Inc (NASDAQ: KNOT) to Neutral from Buy following the company's mixed outlook to reflect poor visibility.
- Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia following its disappointing Q2 report and guidance. The firm does not expect a higher Dolan bid.
- Wachovia also downgraded shares of Chesapeake Energy Corp (NYSE: CHK) to Market Perform from Outperform. The firm said management expects an equity offering in the next 6-9 months, which is in contrast to recent comments regarding capital discipline and funding plans.
- Green Mountain Coffee (NASDAQ: GMRC) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Piper Jaffray on valuation and tough year/year comparisons.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
- Lehman downgraded Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
- Davenport downgraded Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co (NYSE: WWY) to Neutral from Buy on valuation.
- Delta Petroleum (NASDAQ: DPTR) was downgraded at Merrill Lynch to Sell from Neutral.
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