Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup upgraded 3M Company (MMM) to buy from hold on expectations the company will deliver superior financial returns over the next 9 to 12 months and on valuation. The firm raised its target on shares to $92 from $84.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded CA Inc. (CA) to buy from hold as it believes cloud computing could accelerate the company's growth over the next 2 to 3 years. The firm raised its target on shares to $28 from $22.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Cooper Companies (COO) to outperform from market perform as it believes that the company has largely eliminated its execution risks while its new products should enable it to grow more quickly than the market.
• BioMarin (BMRN) was upgraded to buy from hold at Collins Stewart.
• Liquidity Services (LQDT) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• RealNetworks (RNWK) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Barrick Gold, Bank of Nova Scotia and Wal-Mart were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• CIBC upgraded Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer based on stronger 2H08 production.
  
• RBC Capital upgraded Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS) to Sector Perform from Underperform citing expectations for benign credit deterioration near-term, retail momentum, and asset growth in international banking.
  
• Morgan Keegan upgraded Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) to Outperform from Market Perform based on improving productivity and earnings outlook.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Rangold Resources (NASDAQ: GOLD) was upgraded at HSBC to Overweight from Neutral.
  
• Goldman raised ORIX Corp (NYSE: IX) to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT) was upgraded at Pacific Crest to Sector Perform from Underperform.

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reported a record quarter due in part to improved distribution.
• Blyth Inc. (NYSE: BTH) trounced EPS estimates and raised its guidance.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) raised its earnings forecast for Q2 on strength in merchandising.
• Donaldson Co. (NYSE: DCI) beat estimates due to strength in international markets.
• J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) posted a solid quarter due to strength in both store and direct sales.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) narrowed its loss, but foresees further store closures.
• Liquidity Services Inc. (NASDAQ: LQDT) posted a strong quarter, benefiting from the sluggish economy.
• Merck & Co. Inc.'s (NYSE: MRK) earnings forecasts for 2007 and 2008 fall short of expectations.
• Netezza Corp. (NYSE: NZ) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) forecast a loss for the current quarter due to product delays.
• Royal Bank of Scotland's (NYSE: RBS) better-than-expected forecast buoyed European banks.
• SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC) reported a profit when analysts expected a loss.
• Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) had a "blowout" quarter, beating even the most optimistic analyst.
• SkillSoft (NASDAQ: SKIL) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) posted a lower-than-expected loss, its first quarterly loss in 21 years.

Also, Brian White looks at how loss of market share contributed to Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ: DELL) recent results. Both Douglas McIntyre and Jim Cramer mull the effect on the cable industries of Comcast Corp.'s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) lowered guidance. And Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is among retailers warning about earnings in the current quarter.

Upcoming results to watch for include: H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), and Lehman Bros. (NYSE: LEH).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT) operates online marketplaces for wholesale, surplus and salvage assets (the websites include www.liquidation.com, www.govliquidation.com, www.liquibiz.com and www.goWholesale.com). It's certainly a good business as seen with the fiscal Q4 results.

Revenues increased 30% to $51.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 43% to $5.8 million.

The marketplaces for Liquidity Services are certainly getting lots of traction. For example, there are on average five auction participants per completed transaction (for the year). As seen with eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), getting qualified buyers is key for growth.

Going into 2008, the company is looking to ramp up volume customers as well as add more services. In fact, the sluggish economy may be a benefit for Liquidity Services, since companies are trying to cut costs.

For Q1, the company expects to post adjusted earnings of 11 cents. And for 2008, the earnings are forecast at 53 cents to 55 cents.

In today's trading, the shares of Liquidity Services are up 27% to $14.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates DealProfiles.com.